Senior Lawyer - Family Law

• Location: Preston, VIC
• Salary: $106,233.40 + Super + Salary Packaging
• Employment Type: Full Time, 12-Month Fixed Term (strong potential for renewal)

Help keep Aboriginal families together and advocate for safer futures.

Every day at the Victoria Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), our lawyers make a tangible difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Victoria.

We're looking for an experienced Senior Lawyer to join our Aboriginal Families Practice. This role is ideal for a passionate family lawyer who wants to combine high-quality legal advocacy with meaningful community impact. You'll represent clients in family law and family violence matters, work alongside an experienced multidisciplinary team, and help deliver culturally safe legal services that empower Aboriginal families.

If you're motivated by purpose, value collaboration, and want your legal career to create lasting change, we'd love to hear from you.

About VALS

The Victoria Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and Victoria's only specialist legal and support service dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Established in 1973, we provide culturally safe legal advice and representation across criminal law, family law, civil and human rights, youth justice, and specialist litigation. We also deliver a range of community support services including:

• 24/7 Custody Notification Service
• Family violence programs
• Transitional housing for women exiting custody
• Community legal education
• Holistic client support services

Everything we do is guided by self-determination, cultural safety, and access to justice.

About the Aboriginal Families Practice

Our Aboriginal Families Practice provides specialist legal advice and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients across Victoria in matters involving:

• Family violence intervention orders
• Parenting arrangements
• Child recovery applications
• Lawyer-assisted mediations
• Child protection matters
• Family law proceedings (excluding property disputes)

Our lawyers regularly appear in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia while working closely with clients, communities, and partner organisations to achieve the best possible outcomes.

About the Role

As a Senior Lawyer, you'll manage a varied and rewarding caseload while appearing as an advocate in family violence and family law matters.

You'll provide strategic legal advice, negotiate positive outcomes for clients, and mentor through your leadership and professionalism within a collaborative legal team.

This role also offers opportunities to contribute to policy development, community legal education, and law reform initiatives that improve outcomes for Aboriginal communities across Victoria.

What You'll Be Doing

• Represent clients in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
• Manage a complex family law and family violence caseload.
• Deliver high-quality legal advice, advocacy, negotiations and dispute resolution.
• Prepare applications for grants of legal assistance and meet Victoria Legal Aid reporting requirements.
• Build trusted relationships with clients through culturally safe legal practice.
• Participate in outreach services across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
• Contribute to law reform, legal education and community engagement initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with Victoria Legal Aid, community organisations and multidisciplinary internal teams.
• Stay current with legal developments and emerging issues affecting Aboriginal communities.

About You

You'll be an experienced family lawyer who combines strong technical legal capability with empathy, professionalism and a genuine commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal communities.

You'll bring:

• Admission (or eligibility for admission) as an Australian Legal Practitioner in Victoria and the High Court of Australia.
• Approximately 3 to 4 years' post-admission experience in family law and family violence matters.
• Demonstrated advocacy experience in court.
• Experience conducting Family Violence Intervention Order matters and family law proceedings.
• A willingness to undertake child protection matters.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational and case management abilities.
• Confidence working both independently and collaboratively.
• Sound computer skills, including Microsoft Office and the ability to learn new systems quickly.

Mandatory Requirements

Successful applicants will be required to hold or obtain:

• Employee Working with Children Check
• Current Victorian Driver Licence
• National Criminal History Check
• Evidence of Australian work rights

Why Join VALS?

In addition to meaningful work that makes a genuine difference, you'll enjoy:

• Salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• Superannuation
• Professional development opportunities
• Supportive and culturally safe workplace
• Opportunities to contribute to law reform and systemic advocacy
• Collaborative multidisciplinary team
• Flexible and inclusive workplace culture
• The opportunity to build a rewarding career with one of Victoria's leading Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're looking for more than just your next legal role and want to use your expertise to create meaningful change for Aboriginal families across Victoria, we'd love to hear from you.