Junior Government Lawyer - Environmental & Resource Law in Melbourne

Step into a dynamic, delivery-focused environment where you can undertake exciting and interesting work in a general government practice across environmental law, administrative law, natural resource management, fire and emergency management and dispute resolution.

Join a positive, supportive workplace culture in a highly skilled team environment. An exciting opportunity for a talented junior lawyer, with relevant post-admission experience to join a forward-thinking State government legal team that supports the diverse work of the Department by being a responsive, strategic advisory service delivering complex, high-value work.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is looking for a lawyer with an interest and post-admission experience in administrative law and statutory interpretation, Crown land use and development, natural resource management, fire and emergency management, Aboriginal self-determination reform, litigation and dispute resolution, who can work under broad direction to deliver excellent government legal services, in an ongoing role.

This role will suit someone who is passionate about being part of, and contributing to, an inclusive, collaborative and team-oriented workplace culture that promotes knowledge sharing, cross-skilling of work and strongly embodies the values of teamwork, service excellence, ownership and wellbeing and safety. We want you to feel proud of your contributions and empowered by being part of our high performing team.

If you have excellent research, legal analysis and writing skills and you want to contribute to an exciting and busy agenda that supports the Victorian environment and Victorians, we welcome your application.

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• An Australian lawyer holding or eligible to hold an Australian practising certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria) (mandatory).
• Demonstrated capability in providing legal advice and litigation management under broad direction in some of the following key practice areas: administrative law and statutory interpretation, commercial law, dispute resolution, environment law, energy law, agriculture and earth resources, Crown land use and development, natural resource management and fire and emergency management.
• Experience in either broader general in-house government legal practice or some of DEECA's areas of specialisation (energy, natural resources management, Crown land management, emergency management and agriculture) is desirable but not essential.

This is an ongoing position. The work location for this position is 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne with hybrid work arrangements available.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience. Please refer to the Key Selection Criteria provided in the Position Description, including the mandatory requirements.

How to Apply:

If you are a current DEECA employee, please apply via DEECA Careers. Click the ‘Apply' button and you'll be redirected to a new platform and create an account. Applications close 11.59pm on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We are unable to consider email or manual applications at this time.

Other relevant information:

• Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.
• To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

An inclusive, culturally safe and flexible workplace. DEECA fosters an inclusive workplace culture and is committed to a fair, accessible, and equitable recruitment process. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We recognise the strengths, knowledge and perspectives First Nations people bring and DEECA is committed to a culturally safe and respectful workplace. If you need support to participate, please contact ***************@deeca.vic.gov.au.

We support flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work, varied hours, part-time work and job sharing. For more information about our recruitment processes, visit applying for a role with us.