Senior Legal Officer (Various)

Who we are

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 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 be involved in interesting and important work which may span energy, climate change, heritage, water, environment and on-ground operations in Commonwealth national parks and Antarctica. The Legal Division operates in a fast paced, exciting environment. We focus on ensuring our staff are supported and developed so that they are in the best position to take on and enjoy the challenges of the work. We provide competitive conditions and remuneration and provide opportunities for lawyers to either specialise or diversify their skills, while learning from and being supported by highly skilled senior lawyers.

Work across the Legal Division includes:

• Advising on commercial matters including procurements, underwriting arrangements, funding activities, and other financial arrangements (including work on key projects such as Capacity Investment Scheme, as well as supporting the operations of the Australian Antarctic Division, the Commonwealth’s water purchasing programs, and ICT procurements).
• Advising on employment law matters.
• Providing advice on privacy, data protection, disclosure of information and secrecy provisions (including in the context of AI).
• Supporting the department to deliver on the Government’s ambitious legislative reform agenda.
• Developing and coordinating legislation bids and processes.
• Providing legal advice on a broad range of issues including statutory interpretation and administrative law, regulatory actions and investigations.
• Managing the department’s litigation across a broad range of matters including merits review, judicial review, regulatory enforcement, commercial disputes, and Work Health and Safety matters, in a range of Courts and Tribunals.
• Developing legal risk and mitigation strategies, particularly in areas of novel or complex work.
• Developing legal guidance resources and policies and delivering training to the department.
• Coordinating freedom of information requests.
• Providing administrative and financial support services to the Division.

We have opportunities across the practice for Senior Legal Officers. Our current priority needs are in the commercial and advising teams. However, we often have opportunities arise across our teams. As a Senior Legal Officer, you will provide high quality legal services in an in-house environment, including legal research, analysis and problem-solving advice. These positions support the leadership of the Division, and you will assist with driving the vision and direction as set out by the Principal Legal Officer and the Senior Executive. You will be responsible for motivating, mentoring and, supervising Legal Officers in your team to deliver on initiatives and goals whilst striving to create an inclusive, responsive and effective environment.

The job

In this role you will:

• 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 with a significant degree of autonomy
• Work in a team within the Division which specialises in a particular area of law, or which services 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
• 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
• Assist the Principal Legal Officer with management of the team by making suggestions, contributing to team discussions, and identifying areas for innovation
• Contribute to the positive culture in the Legal Division.

What you'll gain from the experience

If you enjoy a challenge and want to work in a team in a fast-paced and exciting legal environment, then this is the role for you. A merit pool will be established for future opportunities.

What we are looking for

Candidates must hold a degree in law and be admitted to practise in Australia. We thrive when our teams are made up of people from different backgrounds, cultures, genders, education, training, and skills. Ideally candidates will have a minimum of three years of relevant post-admission experience. The successful candidate will have, or have the ability to quickly gain, an understanding of the legislative frameworks, decision-making processes and guidelines relevant to the department.

The successful candidate will:

• Demonstrate an ability to identify and analyse complex issues or problems, provide high-quality, clear, concise, and practical legal advice that meets the needs of the client.
• Provide strategic advice or solutions which demonstrate sound judgement and an awareness of the context in which they are operating.
• Understand priorities and adapt when those priorities change, take responsibility for their workload, and understand when to escalate issues.
• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders as a trusted in-house adviser.
• Work collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a team, contributing to ideas, coordinating projects, and suggesting improvements.
• Leading and developing other team members as appropriate.

Eligibility

• Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.
• Security Clearance - this position requires a Baseline Vetting security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
• Mandatory qualifications – Bachelor of Laws and admitted to practice in Australia. Your suitability for employment will be dependent on you holding relevant mandatory qualifications.
• Pre-employment checks - your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period.