New employees

This section is designed for applicants who have already received an offer of employment from Victoria Legal Aid in writing.

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our organisation. As you are commencing soon, Human Resources has put together this online induction in an effort to give you an understanding and overview of Victoria Legal Aid.

Please take the time to read over the information and polices. It is important that you read, download and fill out the required forms prior to or on commencement.

Offers of employment are conditional upon applicants providing certified copies of any qualification included in their application. These qualifications will be verified with the relevant institution. Applicants for some positions may also be required to submit to a police records check or working with children check, which will be listed in the relevant position description and will be required upon commencement.

Induction program

You will be contacted shortly after your commencement to attend a two day organisation induction session run by Human Resources. You may also contact a member of Human Resources upon commencement should you have any issues you wish to clarify.

What documentation is required on or before my first day at VLA?

  • Birth certificate, extract or Australian Passport
  • Photo ID (e.g. driver’s licence)
  • Certified copies of Practicing Certficate or qualifications held 
  • Medical and fixed term employment declarations (via written offer of employment) 
  • Completed forms:
    • Personal details form, see 'Forms' (below)
    • Tax file number declaration form (available from post offices, ATO or Human Resources)
    • Super guarantee contributions – super choice form, see 'Forms' (below)

To download copies of the relevant forms above, see 'Forms' (below).

What policies should I be aware of before starting with VLA?

Please familiarise yourself with the following policies:

Further organisational policies will be available to you via VLA's intranet upon your commencement.

What are the employment conditions for VLA employees?

All conditions of employment are subject to the VLA Certified Enterprise Agreement 2005-2008 and the VLA award 1999. For further information about your conditions of employment at Victoria Legal Aid, see Employment conditions.

If I am a lawyer, what must I do before practising?

Lawyers must read VLA’s professional practice standards for casework.

VLA will pay for your Law Institute of Victoria membership and your practising certificate. To apply for a practising certificate or inform the Legal Services Board that you are now working for VLA, download and complete one of the two Legal Services Board forms

Notification of change of information kept on register – local legal practitioner
This form is required to be filled out by practitioner when:

  • there is a change of address
  • change of name
  • a new practitioner commences employment with VLA and does not need to change the type of practising certificate (see 'Forms' below). 

Application/Variation of Practicing Certificate 
This form required to be filled out by practitioner when:

  • applying for a first local practicing certificate
  • applying to recommence practice
  • a practitioner changes position and need to change the type of practising certificate held, for example, from principle to employee (see 'Forms' below).

You are also required to complete the
Law Institute of Victoria membership form (new window) (PDF - 94KB).

What are my salary packaging options?

As VLA is a not-for-profit organisation, we are able to offer you attractive salary packaging options. To find out more details, please visit the Remunerator website (new window)

Please note: you will need to enter the username vla and password vla2000 to access the VLA page.

Further salary packaging information will be available to you upon your commencement.

What superannuation fund will I be a member of?

Victoria Legal Aid offers choice of superannuation fund. Upon commencement you can nominate which super fund receives your 9% Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contribution by completing the standard choice form (see 'Forms' below).

If you chose not to nominate a fund, your SG contribution will be paid into VLA’s default fund, VicSuper. For more information about VLA's default fund, visit the VicSuper website (new window).

Some superannuation funds require VLA to become a 'participating employer' before making contributions. VLA will not agree to become a ‘participating employer ‘of any superannuation fund.

Forms

New employees are required to download and complete the following forms prior to commencement of work at Victoria Legal Aid.

Personal details form - PDF, 57.0kb Form for all new employees to complete, indicating personal contact details
Choice of superannuation fund form - PDF, 737.0kb Form for all new employees to choose fund for superannuation guarantee
Application for/ Variation of Practicing Certificate - PDF, 2.9mb Application for/ Variation of Practicing Certificate
Notification of change of information kept on register - local legal practitioner - PDF, 44.0kb Notification of change of information kept on register - local legal practitioner