Principal Solicitor, Litigation & Dispute Resolution - Victorian Government Solicitor'S Office

Unique opportunity to work at the heart of government and represent the State in a broad range of litigation across multiple jurisdictions.

Experience: Handling general civil tortious / personal injury claims is required, and experience in police civil and tortious claims, insurance claims, and/or coronial matters would be highly regarded.

Work Environment: Hybrid working from home/office environment.

Employment Type: Ongoing Full-time.

Salary: VPS 6.1 $134,593 - $157,355 p.a. plus superannuation.

About the VGSO: The Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO) serves the rule of law exclusively for the State. The VGSO provides responsive legal services exclusively for the Victorian Government and public sector. Our place within government ensures we are at the centre of legal change, reform, and problem-solving.

We operate as a service-driven legal professional practice and strive for excellence in this competitive environment. In all aspects of our operations, we aim to role model and live by our values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Insight, Collaboration, and Excellence.

About the Branch: The Litigation & Dispute Resolution Branch comprises several legal teams that provide specialist legal services to government departments and statutory bodies on matters which are topical and often involve public interest issues.

The day-to-day work of the team includes managing diverse, complex, and sensitive litigation including:

• State care, personal injury and negligence claims (including institutional abuse claims involving minors and young persons who were formerly in the care of the State).
• General civil, police civil and tortious claims.
• Applications under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried Act 1997 (Vic).
• Coronial investigations including inquests.
• Contempt of court, defamation, injunctions, vexatious litigant applications, commercial litigation, judicial review, and statutory interpretation matters.
• Subpoenas to government departments.

About the Role: An exciting opportunity has become available for a senior and experienced lawyer seeking to pursue or continue their career in public law, by joining the VGSO as a Principal Solicitor in our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Branch.

You will have the opportunity to conduct litigation for and provide legal advice to State government departments and public entities on a range of complex and interesting matters within the team and branch's areas of practice.

In this role, you will work collaboratively with your colleagues as part of a tightly knit and busy team.

Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in conducting complex and sensitive proceedings in state courts and tribunals, particularly personal injury/civil litigation, including a sound knowledge of relevant court practices and procedures.
• Experience providing comprehensive written and oral legal advice which is fit for purpose.
• Experience acting for government or statutory authorities and/or insurers would be highly regarded.
• Proven experience supervising files and/or mentoring staff.
• Good interpersonal communication skills to truly connect with team members and work together to deliver exceptional results for our clients.
• Proven ability to effectively manage competing priorities within a fast-paced dynamic environment.
• Practical and client-focused problem-solving and research skills.
• A strong focus on turnaround time and ability to work under pressure.

Benefits: VGSO offers an inclusive, collegiate, and collaborative work environment where you will be well-supported and mentored to develop your knowledge. You will also be given excellent career opportunities to progress and develop within the organization. VGSO embraces flexibility and welcomes a conversation to help you achieve work-life balance.

We currently work in a hybrid environment with employees enjoying a balance of working from home and in the office.

How to Apply: If this sounds like the opportunity for you, apply now! Applications must include a cover letter and resume. Please note it is not a requirement to respond to the Key Selection Criteria separately, but applicants should outline their relevant experience in their cover letter.

To find out more about this role, please view the position description attached. Alternatively, you can contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at vgso.recruitment@vgso.vic.gov.au. Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday 2 December 2024. Preferred candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including but not limited to reference checks, pre-employment misconduct screening, and criminal record checks.