Victorian VPS legal costs policy: when work-related proceedings may be covered
A summons or direction to participate in an external proceeding is different from a dispute with your employer. Clause 23 can cover reasonable legal costs arising directly from the legitimate and proper performance of duties, including certain investigations, inquests and inquiries.
What to check
Confirm whether the proceeding and anticipated costs fall within the clause before incurring fees. Preserve the summons or written direction and check any secrecy or confidentiality order before sharing details. A costs decision may depend on whether the duties were performed properly.
Do not assume coverage for an internal show-cause response, termination, discrimination claim against the employer or agreement dispute. The policy excludes costs for work by non-lawyers, paralegals and administrative staff. Ask for the scope of any employer approval in writing.
Source and status
This VPS common policy was listed as updated 30 May 2025 and guides clause 23. The agreement and legislation prevail over inconsistent policy, and the common policy takes precedence over inconsistent agency policy. Check coverage before relying on it.
Read the official PDF and check the common policy register. General workplace information only.
Read the official policy PDF on this page
© Copyright State Government of Victoria. Unaltered copy of the official source PDF, reproduced under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Check the official source for later updates.
Comments