Senior Lawyer, Children, Families and Education Law Unit
Contact: Sarah Nicholson, Principal Lawyer and Manager
037022 0924
VPS5 Fixed Term - Full Time until 30th June 2026
About us
The Department of Education is responsible for delivering and regulating state-wide learning and development services to approximately one-third of all Victorians across the early childhood and school education sectors. The department is also one of Victoria's biggest employers, with approximately 80,000 teaching staff and around 5,000 public service employees.
The Legal Division provides highly valued legal services to support the delivery of the department's strategic objectives, key reforms and to manage legal risk. In doing so, Legal Division provides direct, practical and strategic legal advice to portfolio ministers, the secretary, other senior staff and over 1,600 government schools, supporting approximately over 650,000 Victorian Government school students.
About the role
An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a lawyer to further progress their legal career working in an outstanding legal team, in the Children, Families and Education Law (CFEL) Unit of the Workplace and Education Law branch in the Legal Division of the Department of Education.
The role of Senior Lawyer offers an exciting opportunity to make an impact and undertake rewarding work. You will be providing high quality, fast paced, and practical advice to Victorian government schools, regional offices and corporate staff in the Department of Education across a variety of areas of law including family law, intervention orders, child protection, school community safety orders, trespass, privacy and information sharing, duty of care, subpoenas and witness summonses and other school-related legal matters in accordance with the VPS values.
The CFEL unit also manages proceedings, inquiries and investigations such as those conducted by the Coroners Court of Victoria and Commission for Children and Young People. The unit provides legal review of Department policies and guidelines, correspondence and Cabinet documents and assistance in legal policy issues related to early childhood, schools and higher education.
The successful candidate will be able to provide high quality and fast-paced legal advice both in writing and verbally, and be motivated to work in a team environment with lawyers who are passionate about their work and genuine about supporting career aspirations.
* Be part of a passionate, high-performing team - Legal Division is proud to be a 2023 finalist of the Australian Law Awards ‘In-house team of the year'.
* Meaningful work that is varied, satisfying and rewarding - As part of a career in the public sector you can help shape Victoria's future, serve the community and follow your ambition.
* Flexible and hybrid working arrangements — Part time, flexible start and finish times, work from home to help manage your work and personal commitments.
* Competitive salary - Bi-annual salary increases in line with the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement.
* Diversity and inclusion - As one of Victoria's largest employers, the department is committed to creating an organisation that is inclusive and ensuring it has a workforce that represents the community it serves.
* Values - The department has adopted the public sector values which are set out in the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees, which are Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.
* Employee assistance program — for emotional, mental and general psychological wellbeing and support.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to submit a CV and a cover letter summarising their skills and experience (no more than two pages).
Please refer to the relevant position description attached.
For a confidential discussion, please phone Sarah Nicholson, Principal Lawyer and Manager, (03) 7022 0924 OR
Applications close 11:59pm on Sunday, 26th January 2025.
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