New Lawyers Program

12 full-time ongoing positions starting February 2026

Starting salary of $90,871 + superannuation and generous salary packaging (up to $15,900p.a.)

Structured two-year graduate pathway with ongoing role at completion

Diverse placements across Victoria, including regional offices

Launch your legal career with purpose

The 2026 New Lawyers Program (NLP) is your chance to begin your legal career with one of Victoria's most dynamic and diverse legal practices. Over two years, you'll rotate through three placements, each eight months long, gaining hands-on experience in different areas of law and working directly with clients who need your support most.

This is more than a graduate program - it's the start of a career where your skills and commitment will make a difference every day.

About the New Lawyers Program

The NLP is a structured two-year pathway designed to accelerate your career while making a real difference for Victorians.

Through three set placements, you'll gain practical experience across areas such as criminal law, family violence, child protection, youth crime, civil justice, and access to justice services.

Most pathways involve at least one regional placement. Each move means stepping into a new office and community, adapting to different teams, clients, and requirements. At the end of the program, you'll transition into an ongoing lawyer role within VLA, ready to continue a rewarding career in social justice.

Why this work matters

As an NLP lawyer, you'll represent some of Victoria's most vulnerable people, including clients with experiences of trauma, family violence, child protection involvement, mental health issues, disability, substance dependency and systemic disadvantage.

The work can be challenging and emotionally demanding - but also incredibly rewarding. You'll see the direct impact of your advocacy every day and contribute to shaping a fairer, more just Victoria.

We'll also support you every step of the way with :

• Expert supervision from senior lawyers and practice leaders (including 60+ accredited specialists)
• Dedicated mentors and structured training to grow your legal, advocacy and leadership skills
• Development in resilience and wellbeing strategies to sustain a long-term legal career

Placement Pathways

The program is designed to give you breadth of experience and prepare you for your career at VLA. Placements may include :

Some pathways are metro-based, while others require relocating (temporarily or permanently) to a regional area. If you relocate for a single rotation, we may provide accommodation for the placement.

Regional placements are a unique career opportunity. They offer :

These placements are often career-defining experiences, and we strongly encourage applicants to preference an outer regional pathway.

Each placement pathway includes three rotations and is linked to a home directorate, where you'll be placed permanently after completing the program.

About you

We're looking for early-career lawyers who are passionate about social justice, are adaptable, and ready to grow. You'll bring :

We strongly encourage applications from Australian First Nations lawyers and from people of diverse backgrounds and with lived experience.

About Victoria Legal Aid

We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1500 staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

At VLA, we offer more than just a job - we offer a career with purpose. You'll be part of a diverse, inclusive organisation that values your ideas and perspectives.

Benefits include :

How to apply

To apply, please submit :

in particular, addressing key selection criteria 2 and 5 noted in the attached Position Description

Practical Legal Training completion; and

Unfortunately, applications that do not meet all above requirements will not be progressed .

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team .

Important eligibility information

VLA is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

Want more information?

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 26 October 2025

Unlock job insights

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Victoria Legal Aid helps people with their legal problems.

We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. We provide legal information, legal advice, and education with a focus on prevention and early resolution of legal problems. We prioritise more intensive legal services such as legal advice and representation for people who meet eligibility criteria, based on their financial situation, the nature and seriousness of their problem and their individual circumstances. We also conduct strategic litigation to change policies and processes and remedy legal problems for individuals and the broader community.

Victoria Legal Aid helps people with their legal problems.

We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. We provide legal information, legal advice, and education with a focus on prevention and early resolution of legal problems. We prioritise more intensive legal services such as legal advice and representation for people who meet eligibility criteria, based on their financial situation, the nature and seriousness of their problem and their individual circumstances. We also conduct strategic litigation to change policies and processes and remedy legal problems for individuals and the broader community.

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