Celebrating World Public Service Day 2026

For Anna Taylor, Managing Principal Solicitor in VGSO’s Commercial, Property and Technology team, a career in public service law was not part of the original plan.

After studying law and commerce, including an honours year in finance, Anna began her career in private practice, working in mergers and acquisitions at a large commercial law firm before moving into an in‑house legal role. While these roles offered valuable experience and exposure to complex commercial work, they also prompted her to reflect on the broader purpose of her work.

That reflection ultimately led her to VGSO.

“I don’t think I could quite articulate it at the time, but I was looking for something more in my work,” Anna says.

“Through my earlier roles, I had some exposure to matters involving the State government, which made me consider what it might be like to contribute to work with a public purpose.”

Since joining VGSO, Anna has built a career at the intersection of commercial and public law. Her work spans major projects, procurement and complex commercial arrangements, providing advice that supports government to deliver key services and initiatives for the Victorian community.

For Anna, the defining feature of working in public service is the connection between legal advice and real world outcomes.

“Working in public service means using my skills to contribute to outcomes that go beyond purely commercial drivers,” she explains.

“You can see how legal advice shapes policy and ultimately impacts the services the community relies on. That gives the work a more distinct sense of purpose.”

This sense of purpose is reflected in her approach to legal practice. Anna is focused on delivering advice that is not only technically sound, but also clear, practical and workable in a complex public sector environment.

“On a day to day level, it’s about helping clients make confident decisions,” she says.

“Good advice plays a role in how projects get off the ground and how they operate in practice. While much of our work is behind the scenes, it contributes to outcomes that benefit the community.”

Anna’s career at VGSO has been defined by variety and the opportunity to work on high profile and often novel matters. She has contributed to work across major procurement processes, joint venture partnerships, licensing of significant State activities and organisational reform projects.

“No two days are quite the same,” she says.

“I’ve had the chance to work on a broad range of matters where commercial and public law intersect, which keeps the work interesting and challenging.”

Equally important to Anna is the collaborative culture at VGSO.

“I’m fortunate to work with exceptional colleagues who genuinely support each other,” she says.

“Over time, I’ve also built strong relationships with clients, which I really value.”

Like many roles in public service, the work comes with its challenges. Managing competing priorities across multiple matters requires strong judgement and adaptability. There is also an added level of accountability that reflects the public context in which the work is undertaken.

“There is a need to be mindful that the work may be subject to public scrutiny,” Anna says.

“It also requires a broad skillset, as the matters are often novel and diverse. You do not need to be an expert in everything, but you need to be able to identify issues and know when to bring in the right expertise.”

Reflecting on her career path, Anna encourages others to consider the public sector, particularly those from commercial law backgrounds who may not immediately see it as an option.

“The public service is not always the first place people think of for a career in commercial law and it wasn’t for me,” she says. “But if you are interested in work that is challenging, varied and purposeful, it is a very rewarding place to practise.”

Through her work, Anna continues to demonstrate how commercial expertise can play a critical role in supporting government outcomes. Her career highlights the breadth of pathways into public service and the value of bringing diverse experience to the sector.