Associate to a Judicial Officer of the County Court of Victoria - Judicial Registrar (Criminal Division) in Melbourne CBD, Australia

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 jurisdictions own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

CCV
The County Court of Victoria (CCV) within Court Services Victoria is established pursuant to the County Court Act 1958. It has original and appellate jurisdiction and is the principal trial court in the State of Victoria.
Cases are heard across three divisions: Criminal, Common Law and Commercial.

The Criminal Division is headed by His Honour Judge Wraight and has jurisdiction to hear indictable offences under Victorian and Commonwealth Law and appeals from the Magistrates' Court and Children's Court. This Division of the Court hears all criminal matters except treason and murder and certain other murder- related offences. The broad range of offences includes serious theft, armed robbery, drug trafficking, sexual offences, fraud and dishonesty offences, culpable driving, serious assault and income and sales tax offences.

All trials listed are heard before a judge and a jury. Many matters are case managed by the Judicial Registrars in the Criminal Division.

Judicial Registrar (Criminal Division)

A Judicial Registrar in the Criminal Division presides over a variety of hearings including over lists of matters heard regularly at 9.00am. These hearings are primarily focused on case management issues such as resolution prospects, disclosure, funding and timetabling.

The 9.00am General Crime List is primarily responsible for the case management of all indictable matters committed to the Court on a plea of not guilty. The exception is matters involving stalking, sexual offending or family violence offending which are heard in the Sex Offence and Family Violence List (SOFVL).

The 9.00am Appeals List is primarily responsible for the case management of all conviction and sentence appeals.

Learn more: Criminal Division - County Court of Victoria

About the Role

A Judicial Registrar in the Criminal Division has two associates who assist and support them in chambers and in court. You will work within a high-volume and fast-paced environment, alongside another associate and collaboratively with a Criminal Division Lawyer.

This is an exciting opportunity to gain valuable experience in the Court and exposure to complex legal matters, judicial reasoning, and advocacy styles. You will gain a thorough working knowledge of legal principles and legislation in a complex, demanding and sensitive environment.

Duties include:

• Providing operational, administrative and technical support to a Judicial Registrar both in chambers and in court, including daily list management, maintenance of case management spreadsheets, liaising with parties and drafting administrative records of orders.
• Providing administrative support to a Judicial Registrar during hearings, including facilitating and coordinating court room processes, liaising with court users and members of the general public, conducting arraignments and callovers, organising future listing dates and recording orders made in Court, in case management systems.
• Efficiently managing competing priorities and regularly re-prioritising, with strict deadlines and complex schedules with a high level of accuracy in a sensitive, high-pressure and complex environment.
• Coordinating the effective management and progression of matters, including hearings, often in high-volume lists, and the preparation and maintenance of court documentation and records.
• Supporting the efficient conduct of court proceedings, including facilitating courtroom processes and ensuring accurate and timely recording and dissemination of orders.
• Communicating clearly, confidently and professionally with judicial officers, legal practitioners, court staff and court users to support the effective functioning of the Judicial Registrar's chambers.
• Preparing and managing correspondence, documentation and materials to support judicial decision-making and the operation and management of a Judicial Registrar's chambers.
• Managing the Judicial Registrar's schedule of engagements and commitments as well as assisting with the coordination and case management of matters, including court sittings.

An Associate must be highly proficient in the use of technology as the role involves utilising technology, often integrated with video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Webex, to facilitate the remote appearance of hearing participants and court users.

About you

As a preferred candidate, you will have:

• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability writing legal correspondence in a precise and accurate manner
• The ability to work both autonomously and as part of a small team
• Demonstrated strong computer literacy skills with the ability to work on several online programs and case management systems
• Highly proficient skills in the use of technology, particularly for video conferencing platforms
• Strong organisational awareness
• Demonstrated experience planning and prioritising workloads
• The ability to maintain flexibility with changing priorities in a sensitive and confidential environment

A law degree and/or experience in legal practice or an associated field will be considered highly desirable.

Applications close: Sunday 18 October 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Note: Applications will be considered as they are received, and you may be contacted prior to the application close date. We encourage early applications.