DCCEEWD

Senior Legal Officer

The Legal Division is managed by the Chief Counsel and is comprised of both lawyers and non-lawyers. Together we are responsible for all legal services and advice required by the department. We partner with the business areas of the department, the Executive, and the Secretary to identify and manage legal risk across the department and facilitate excellent legal outcomes for our clients.

As a member of the Division, you will have a key role in growing this department which has been established to deliver on matters which are at the forefront of our national agenda. You will be involved in interesting and important work which may span environment protection, energy, climate change and heritage, and on-ground operations in Commonwealth national parks and Antarctica.

About the role

  • Salary rate: $115,663 to $141,651
  • Ongoing - Full-Time ; Part-Time
  • Easy to fill timesheet, on-time weekly payment, and option for Real-Time Remuneration
  • APS Classification: Executive Level 1
  • Locations: Adelaide SA, Brisbane QLD, Canberra ACT, Melbourne VIC, Sydney NSW

As Senior Legal Officer, you will:

Senior Legal Officers draw on their experience to provide high-quality legal services to the department, Ministers, and portfolio agencies. There are multiple positions available across all practice areas. These positions are leadership roles driving the vision and direction as set out by the Principal Legal Officers and the Senior Executive within the Division.

  • Use your technical legal expertise to provide clear, concise, and practical legal advice that meets the needs of the client
  • Work on complex and sensitive matters
  • Work in a team within the Division that specialises in a particular area of law, or services in a particular area of the department
  • Ensure knowledge of, and compliance, with legislative, financial, and administrative frameworks, government decision-making processes, and agency guidelines and regulations
  • Work with client areas to understand their business and be their main point of contact for their legal needs
  • Work with a significant degree of autonomy
  • Settle routine and moderately complex work prepared by other lawyers
  • Supervise and mentor junior lawyers where appropriate
  • Help identify where external advice is required and prepare documentation seeking quotes and engaging external legal providers
  • Contribute to divisional activities, such as helping to arrange training, preparing briefing and reporting material, or drafting divisional process documents and policies
  • Represent the department or Division as required at inter-agency or external meetings
  • Assist your Principal Legal Officer with the management of the team by making suggestions, contributing to team discussions, and identifying areas for innovation
  • Take responsibility for your development and identify relevant training needs with your manager.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor of Laws and admission to practice in Australia.
  • Experience in legal practice, ideally with a minimum of three years post-admission experience.
  • Candidate must be an Australian citizen.
  • Obtain and maintain Baseline Vetting security clearance.
  • Successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in a senior administration, case management, or project management role. It does not require legal experience.
  • Ability to quickly gain, an understanding of the legislative frameworks, decision-making processes, and guidelines relevant to the department.

The department is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, mature aged employees, and careers.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability