Legal Officer

About Us

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria's courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission.

Collectively, Victoria's Supreme, County, Magistrates', Children's, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the `Courts Group'.

Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdiction's own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

SCV

The Supreme Court of Victoria is the highest court in Victoria and comprises the Court of Appeal and the Trial Division. The Court deals with major criminal and civil matters, plus appeals against decisions of lower courts.

The Supreme Court of Victoria recognises that its people are integral to its ability to meet and exceed community expectations and to achieve its goal of being an outstanding superior court. We continually strive to create a high-performance workplace that is characterized by creativity, innovation, flexibility, and quality delivery.

Funds in Court (FIC) supports the Senior Master, who holds funds, investments, and assets, principally for people with a disability. FIC works to ensure the safe and effective investment of clients' funds at low cost, and to use funds in a manner that responds to clients' diverse needs and aspirations. FIC is a self-funded, not-for-profit division of the Court that also manages funds paid into Court pending the outcome of a proceeding, as dispute monies and security for costs, and pursuant to the Trustee Act 1958 (Vic).

About the Role

The Legal Officer is part of the FIC Legal Services team. Legal officers provide the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar with legal advice in relation to a wide range of legal issues affecting clients and their funds in Court. Such matters generally include property, domestic building law, deceased estates, consumer law, infringements, legal capacity, guardianship & administration, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, criminal law and family law.

As a Legal Officer, you will conduct legal research and prepare memoranda to provide legal advice and recommendations to the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar regarding a wide variety of legal matters affecting clients and their families and carers. You will also ensure that payments into and out of Court comply with organisational and legislative requirements, draft and review orders and assist with the development and maintenance of policies and procedures. You will use your strongly developed communication skills to engage with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including clients, their families, law firms, other courts and statutory bodies.

The role will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide advice and recommendations to the Senior Master and Judicial Registrar
• Verify that payments into and out of Court comply with orders of the Court, relevant legislation, and organisational policies
• Draft Court orders, deeds, undertakings, statutory declarations and applications
• Interpret relevant legislation and policies
• Consult, liaise and negotiate with applicants, their representatives and other stakeholders on often sensitive legal matters

About You

The ideal candidate will be admitted to practice as a Barrister/Solicitor or Australian Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

You will also demonstrate knowledge and experience in:

• general practice and procedures of the Supreme Court of Victoria
• knowledge of relevant legislation affecting persons under a disability including family law, trusts, deceased estates, real property, domestic building law and/or victims of crime
• excellent verbal and written communication skills
• building effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and confidently argues complex concepts, negotiating with tact and diplomacy on difficult issues

You will also have excellent problem solving skills and highly developed conceptual and analytical skills to support decision making.

A minimum of two year post admission experience will be highly regarded.

How to apply

Click the `Apply Now' button, ensuring you include the following in your application:

• resume
• a short cover letter

Other information

CSV is the employer of staff at Courts Group. CSV has a firm commitment through its Koori Employment Plan to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce.

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. Those from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of all ages, with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and those who are neurodiverse, are encouraged to apply.

We aim to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to email the contact person listed in the advertisement.