Legal Officers, Office of International Law - APS Level 5 & APS Level 6

Employment Opportunity

The Office of International Law (OIL) is responsible for supporting the Attorney-General as First Law Officer, through the provision of legal advice on Australia's international legal obligations to the Attorney-General, Cabinet and Government entities. OIL is also responsible for the conduct of all international dispute settlement (with the exception of World Trade Organization disputes).

OIL seeks to fill APS5-6 vacancies across multiple practice areas.

• The Rights, Regulatory, Air and Space Law (RRASL) practice group advises on international human rights and refugee law, air law, space law and certain other regulatory areas of general international law. Additionally, RRASL manages the Government's response to individual human rights communications, as well as proceedings in relation to the downing of Flight MH17 and the legal action against Afghanistan under the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
• The Security, Cyber, Criminal and Immunities Law (SCCIL) practice group advises on matters of international law relevant to Australia's security, defence and foreign policy interests. This includes advising on the law on the use of force, international humanitarian law, cyber, intelligence and law enforcement activities, ADF operations and capability, privileges and immunities law, and international economic law. SCCIL also administers key legislation regulating state immunity, visiting forces and certain war crimes, ensuring Australia meets its international legal responsibilities.
• The Oceans, Environment, Climate, Antarctic and Nuclear Law (OCEAN) practice group advises on the law of the sea, international environmental law, climate change, Antarctic law and nuclear law, including supporting Australia's development of nuclear-powered submarine capability under the AUKUS partnership. In addition, OCEAN administers key legislation relating to Australia's maritime zones, as well as shipping and admiralty laws.

How you can help us make a difference

We seek people who bring new ideas, diverse experience, and global perspectives. People who work with us will display leadership at all levels, apply information effectively to solve problems, and work collaboratively to achieve outcomes.

We welcome applications from lawyers with skills and experience in government legal practice and/or public international law, including human rights and refugee law, international criminal law, the law of armed conflict and the use of force, cyber and intelligence law, oceans and environment law, nuclear law, diplomatic law, the law of international organisations and air and space law.

The tasks and key projects that Legal Officers may be allocated include:

• providing legal and legal policy advice to Australian government agencies on complex matters of international law
• undertaking research and analysis on complex subject matter and distilling information into clear and concise written products
• assisting with the conduct of international litigation and dispute settlement processes, including preparation of written and oral pleadings and managing evidence
• advising on the negotiation and implementation of treaties on a range of subjects
• advocating for Australia's interests in international organisations
• engaging collaboratively with other areas of the department and with clients and stakeholders across government
• supervising junior staff

For these positions, applicants must hold a degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution or comparable overseas qualification, which, in the opinion of the Secretary, is appropriate to the duties of the office, and be admitted in Australia as a legal practitioner (or be eligible to be admitted).

Merit Pools

A merit list or pool may be created as part of this selection process and be used to fill similar vacancies in Canberra, ACT.

Flexible work arrangements will be considered and supported where possible. These may include:

• Job Share
• Hybrid Work
• Remote Work
• Compressed Hours
• Bandwidth Modification

AGD is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation to apply and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible.

For more information about this opportunity, including contact details for adjustment requests, please refer to the Candidate Information Kit.