• Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide
• Applications close 10 November 2024

About the Department

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.

If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.

Please see the APSC’s APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.

About the team

The Legal Practice provides pragmatic and accurate legal advice to help the department identify and manage legal risk in delivering its strategic agenda. We advise on nationally and internationally significant, complex and innovative policies and programs from inception to implementation including:

• Science, technology and innovation, and emerging technologies such as quantum computing, civil space programs and international collaboration
• Growing Australian industries through research and development, commercialisation and trade
• Minerals and energy resources, including critical minerals, oil and gas and securing Australia’s domestic gas supply and radioactive waste management.

Lawyers engage in interesting and rewarding work across a range of legal practice areas including administrative law, commercial law, information law, regulatory compliance and enforcement, litigation support and supporting the development of legislation. We partner with clients to identify and resolve legal matters and help decision-makers manage legal risk.
We provide a supportive, flexible and inclusive working environment which is fast paced, intellectually challenging and enjoyable. The team is collaborative and dynamic and provides opportunities for lawyers to develop depth and breadth in their skills by working on a range of priority matters.

Our ideal candidate

We are seeking to fill various positions that may be based in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide. Candidates may be generalist lawyers, or may have (or be willing to develop) expertise in administrative law, commercial law, information and privacy law or litigation. In these roles, you will work in a team, or across multiple teams, to support a range of priority projects including those identified above and/or to provide a specialist function such as litigation support. To be successful in this role, you will preferably have skills and experience in:

• one or more areas of law relevant to in-house government practice (e.g. administrative law, regulatory law, commercial law, information and privacy law or litigation)
• providing concise legal advice that provides practical solutions and options and differentiates between legal requirements and legal risk, including in complex policy, political and legal environments
• building and maintaining productive stakeholder relationships using outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• supervising and/or mentoring junior lawyers.

Our department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work. This reflects the importance we place on our people and on creating a workplace culture where each and every one of us is valued and respected for our contribution. Our ideal candidate will add to this culture and our workplace in their own way.

What you will do

Senior Legal Counsels perform work that is complex or sensitive with a degree of independence, seeking guidance and input from Principal Legal Counsels where appropriate. They are trusted advisors with reputations for being solution-focused, and being proactive and collaborative to assist in the management of legal risk. Senior Legal Counsels perform an important leadership role in the Practice and take responsibility for managing key priority matters or client areas to ensure early identification of legal risk.

• use your technical expertise and professional judgment to provide legal advice that facilitates policy implementation and best practice program and service delivery
• identify and engage with key clients to understand priorities and projects and work cooperatively to identify legal needs and develop strategies for implementation
• demonstrate sound judgement in escalating matters to your Principal Legal Counsel or Deputy General Counsel
• settle routine and moderately complex advice prepared by other lawyers in the Practice
• obtain external advice from panel firms in appropriate matters, including managing the costs of the advice
• support and assist the Principal Legal Counsel in managing, mentoring and guiding junior lawyers
• embrace and contribute to the Practice culture of client-focussed service and responsiveness while fostering wellbeing within the Practice.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold:

• admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory, and
• hold, or be eligible to hold a practising certificate issued by the Law Society of the ACT or in their state or territory of residence.

In addition, applicants for Senior Legal Counsel positions in South Australia must hold, or be eligible to hold, an unrestricted practising certificate issued by the Law Society of South Australia. It is also desirable that applicants in for Senior Legal Counsel positions in South Australia meet the requirements under South Australian law to supervise staff who hold a restricted practising certificate.

To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.

Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Notes

The department offers flexible work opportunities for may roles. Current vacancies can be based in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide, and flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.
A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette.

Application information

Your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your application responses, CV and any other documents. The selection panel may not consider applications containing classified information.

Please provide a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role and why you are the best candidate for the position. Your pitch can contain no more than 750 words and should align to the key duties listed above.

Please complete your application online and provide your current CV with your application. (CVs must be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format).

Accessible application documentation is available in other formats on request. Please contact recruitment@industry.gov.au or (02) 6276 1235 if you require assistance with your application.

Please refer to our Applying for a position information for additional information on how to apply.

Contact Information

For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact Luke Suitor on 02 6213 7609 or via email on luke.suitor@industry.gov.au

How to apply: