Legal Advisor - Medical Panels

Legal Advisor – Medical Panels

• $137,963 per annum + 12% superannuation
• 2 years fixed term, full time position
• Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung/Melbourne based role (hybrid work from home – 3 days a week in office)

About the opportunity

As an alternative medical dispute resolution service under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act and the Wrongs Act 1958, Medical Panels play an important role in the fair assessment of medical disputes. A Medical Panel consists of Members who are Governor in Councils appointments, and are selected by the Convenor of Medical Panels or a Deputy Convenor for the purposes of responding to a medical referral where there is disagreement or uncertainty about aspects of an injury or medical condition.

The Legal Advisor supports Medical Panels to be independent, fair and timely and to answer medical questions in a way that meets legal requirements. Their key role is to work closely with Panel Members to provide them with advice and support on workers’ compensation and administrative law issues, as well as the correct application of the AMA Guides. They have a key role in ensuring documentation is both accurate and finalised within legislative timeframes. The Legal Advisor will also contribute to policy, legal research and education sessions.

Key accountabilities

• • Reviews opinions, determinations and reasons to ensure they meet legislative requirements and timeframes
  • Advises individual Medical Panels on workers’ compensation law, impairment benefit claims, Wrongs Act referrals, procedural fairness and related issues
  • Exercise a high degree of sound judgement in the management and review of Medical Panel referrals to ensure the fair, effective and timely resolution of disputes
  • Contributes to the development and presentation of information sessions and learning materials
  • This position requires occasional availability for after-hours and weekend work to support training sessions, meetings, events and other ad hoc operational needs

Please ensure you review the Position Description on the WorkSafe Victoria Careers site for additional information on accountabilities for this role.

About you

You are a personal injury lawyer with a solid foundation of post-admission experience, who is confident operating in an environment that is subject to close public scrutiny. You appreciate the importance of integrity, discretion and accountability and you’re motivated by work that has real impact on individuals and the broader community. You enjoy liaising with high-performing professionals and you bring superior interpersonal, negotiation and motivational skills. Further you will also possess:

• • Technical legal knowledge of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, Accident Compensation Act 1985 and Wrongs Act 1958 as they relate to medical questions, dispute resolution and referrals to Medical Panels
  • Technical knowledge of AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (4th Edition). Completion of Impairment Assessment Training – AMA4 (Victoria) would be highly valued or a willingness to undertake such training
  • Demonstrated highly developed analytical and conceptual abilities including the ability to detect patterns and similarities in cases in order to advise Medical Panels towards consistent and fair outcomes
  • Strong plain English writing skills and knowledge of medical terminology.

Qualifications

• • Tertiary qualification in law (or currently underway with experience in the legal field)

Working with us

At WorkSafe, our goal is for every employee to feel connected, safe, and valued within their team, for teams to feel appreciated in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be respected in the community.

We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community. We strongly encourage applications from all individuals, including First Nations people, people with disabilities, those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and individuals of all sexualities and genders.

What’s next?

Applications close 11:00pm Tuesday 2nd June, 2026. Click the link to apply, and join us in making a difference to Victorian lives.

Only applications submitted via the WorkSafe Careers website will be considered.

Preferred candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process.

Eligibility for ongoing employment with WorkSafe Victoria requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.

Due to the volume of applications received, individualised feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to interview stage.

To ensure a fair and open recruitment process, we request that you complete your written application and any online interviews without the use of AI tools. We want to understand your professional skills, experience and capabilities. We acknowledge that candidates may choose to use AI as part of background research.

For further enquiries please contact Talent Acquisition Specialist, Brittany Walker via email – ***email_hidden***.