Public Interest Law Careers Guide - Applying for work in the Victorian Public Service

Tailor your application to the program or department you are applying for- generic applications will be screened out. Answer the key selection criteria and offer examples of how you meet them.
To be successful applicants must agree to a police check. Candour is well-regarded and applicants should be advised that minor convictions will not significantly affect their chances.
Much Government recruitment is done internally, so one way to start a legal career in government is to find an entry-level generalist position such as policy officer, corporate services or contract management and then apply for legal positions when they become available.
Candidates wishing to pursue a legal career in Government are advised not to apply for specialist entry-level positions unless they are sure they want to work in that specialty long-term - it may be hard to break out of. Generalist positions like those described above are preferable.
Doing temp work for government is a good way to make contacts, experience the culture of different departments and get a foot in the door. Temp agencies may change every few years. At the time of writing, temp agencies are Hoban Recruitment and Randstad
Applicants of any career level are encouraged to read the Australian Policy Handbook, available from Allen & Unwin and most university libraries.

More advice and tips on how to apply are available on the PickVic and Careers.gov websites: