The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) is an independent statutory authority responsible for preparing and conducting criminal prosecutions in Victoria on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Matters prosecuted by the DPP and the OPP involve serious crimes or matters that are of significance to the fair and effective operation of the Victorian criminal justice system. The OPP consists of the Solicitor for Public Prosecutions and a staff of approximately 400 providing legal and corporate support to the DPP, the Chief Crown Prosecutor and Crown Prosecutors in the exercise of their independent roles in the criminal justice system.

Principal Solicitor - Geelong

The Office of Public Prosecutions has an exciting opportunity to join our organisation as a Principal Solicitor in our Geelong division. The successful candidate will have primary responsibility for the preparation and conduct of the most highly complex matters in all jurisdictions - Magistrates' Court, County and Supreme Courts.

About the role:

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Identify and respond to new and emerging legal issues;
• Advise and assist management on issues arising from the prosecution of criminal cases, resources, points of law and provide detailed reports as requested.
• Provide guidance, support and mentorship to staff within the team and broader office

The position is based in our Geelong office, occasional regional travel may be a requirement of the position. Predominantly the role will service the Western regions of Victoria. A vehicle and overnight accommodation are provided as required.

As our ideal candidate you will:

• Be passionate about helping us achieve our vision to make a positive difference to the community through the justice system;

• Have extensive working knowledge of criminal law and procedure, evidence and sentencing law, Court of Appeal processes, and experience in performing high level research on very complex issues;

• Demonstrate exception interpersonal skills, and possess an ability to formally and effectively mentor staff.

For more information please refer to the attached Position Description.

To apply, you will need to submit a resume, cover letter and complete the online questionnaire which can be found on the last page of the application process. This questionnaire will ask you to address the Key Selection Criteria.

In accordance with the VPS recruitment process all candidates are subject to complete a pre-employment misconduct screening declaration. Further information is available on the VPSC website: https://vpsc.vic.gov.au/resources/pre-employment-screening-misconduct-victorian-public-service/

The OPP is a diverse employer and welcomes applications from applicants from all backgrounds.

Persons considering applying for this position should note that the recruitment process for this position may be used to fill a commensurate position/s within 3 months of the completion of the recruitment without any further advertisement or interview.

Please note this recruitment process, including interviews, will be conducted remotely.

Applications close 11:59PM Wednesday 27 January 2021