-
Lead Legal excellence and drive meaningful impact
-
Shape Coronial Justice in Victoria
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.
The Coroners Court of Victoria (CCOV) is responsible for:
-
Independently investigating deaths and fires.
-
Reducing preventable deaths.
-
Promoting public health and safety and the administration of justice.
Why join CCOV
Working at CCOV offers:
-
the opportunity to lead a team performing work of real significance to the Victorian community
-
a meaningful role in a unique judicial environment
-
flexible and innovative work practices that support balance between work and family life
-
a workplace committed to diversity, inclusion, safety and respect
-
attractive salary and access to training and development opportunities
About the Role
Lead a high-performing legal team and help make a meaningful difference to the Victorian community.
The Coroners Court of Victoria is committed to reducing preventable deaths through independent investigations and informed recommendations. Reporting to the Director, Legal Services, the Principal Solicitor plays a critical leadership role in delivering exceptional legal, case management and advocacy services that support Coroners in their vital work.
As Principal Solicitor, you will lead and develop a team of legal professionals responsible for managing complex coronial matters, preparing inquests, providing legal advice, and appearing as counsel assisting Coroners. You will also contribute to Supreme Court appeal proceedings, service improvement initiatives, and strategic projects that enhance the Court's legal services.
Key responsibilities include:
-
Leading, mentoring and developing a high-performing team of Coroners Solicitors.
-
Overseeing legal workflows, case allocation, quality assurance and service delivery.
-
Providing expert legal advice and support on complex inquests, appeals and significant legal matters.
-
Driving operational improvements, innovation and best-practice legal processes.
-
Building strong relationships with Coroners, court staff and external stakeholders.
-
Contributing to policy, reform and organisational initiatives across the Court.
About You
You are an experienced litigation lawyer and people leader with a passion for public service and delivering quality outcomes in a complex and sensitive environment.
You will bring:
-
Extensive litigation experience, ideally within the coronial jurisdiction.
-
Proven leadership experience managing and developing legal teams.
-
Strong case management skills and the ability to manage complex, high-volume workloads.
-
Excellent advocacy, stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
-
Sound judgement, resilience and the ability to navigate sensitive and challenging matters.
-
Admitted to practice as a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of Victoria (or equivalent Australian jurisdiction).
-
Eligible to hold a cur rent unrestricted Victorian practising certificate.
-
Substantial post-admission experience.
This is a unique opportunity to lead impactful legal work that directly contributes to public safety and supports families and communities during some of their most difficult times. You'll join a collaborative, purpose-driven organisation committed to dignity, respect, integrity and excellence.
How to apply
Click the ‘Apply Now' button, ensuring you include the following in your application:
-
Resume
-
A short cover letter - (not exceeding two pages) demonstrating attributes and experience relevant to the role (see the Key Selection criteria in the Position Description).
-
A short response to the following wellbeing question (in addition to the two pages above and must not exceed 1 page):
CCOV is an environment that can expose staff to images, case history, testimony and behaviour that can cause stress and/or distress at times.
Question: What strategies would you employ to help deal with these potential stressors?
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.
The coronial jurisdiction is a sensitive and demanding environment. Employees may be exposed to challenging material and interactions with families and loved ones experiencing distress. CCOV is committed to psychological safety and provides programs, services and support to help employees manage these demands.
As part of our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, CSV conduct pre-employment checks, including reference checks, police checks and misconduct screening. These checks are handled confidentially, with care and are a standard part of our hiring process to ensure the right fit for both candidates and Court Services Victoria.
