Deputy General Counsel Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Department of Defence; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Defence seeks an Executive Level 2 lawyer to lead the Dispute Resolution and Litigation team, providing strategic advice on litigated and non-litigated claims across commercial and civil matters, and support for inquiries.

You will advise Defence operations, manage staff in a high tempo environment, supervise external legal services, mentor junior lawyers, and contribute to leadership of the Legal Division, with close collaboration across Defence Legal.

Qualifications

• Experience advising on complex litigation caseload.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor staff in a high-tempo setting.
• Experience working with external legal service providers.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice for litigation and dispute resolution.
• Lead and mentor junior team members and supervise workload.
• Collaborate with internal client areas and external advisers.
• Support leadership of Defence Legal.

Skills

Litigation experience

Staff leadership

External counsel management

Communication and client engagement

Job description

Deputy General Counsel Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Defence Legal is a national organisation, which provides legal advice and other legal support services to Defence. We draw upon the professional talent of our people to pursue excellence in support of Defence operations, command, management and administration. The role of an Executive Level 2 lawyer in Dispute Resolution and Litigation team has a broad application, encompassing litigated and non-litigated claims – across commercial and civil claims and judicial review, and support for external inquiries such as Work Health and Safety matters, Coronial inquiries, and other Commissions of inquiry. The role works closely with other areas in Defence Legal to facilitate the provision of legal advice affecting Defence operations and exercises.

To be successful, you will need:

Experience in advising on handling a factually and legally complex litigation caseload;
Experience in leading and managing staff in a high tempo operational environment;
Experience in working with external legal service providers in managing and reviewing work; and
Excellent communication, relationship management, client engagement and team building skills that are in accordance with the work level standards for an EL 2 Level Lawyer.
The role will also include managing, supervising and mentoring more junior team members. The role is also responsible for supporting the leadership of the Legal Division.

About our Team

GC-DRL, within Defence Legal, provides strategic legal advice on all litigation and dispute resolution, on behalf of Defence. GC-DRL is an integrated team of APS lawyers, paralegals, contracted lawyers and administrative staff. The team works on a diverse range of matters, including significant litigation, and regularly engages with a variety of internal client areas, external stakeholders, other areas of Defence Legal, external legal advisers and counsel, while adhering to internal and Court-related deadlines.

Some of the main streams of work in GC-DRL are:

Managing claims against the Commonwealth including inquests, contractual disputes, commercial claims, personal injury claims, work health and safety matters (including prosecutions), judicial review challenges, debt recovery actions and compensation claims.
Responding to court orders such as subpoenas and summonses, legislative requests and police requests and search warrants and assisting with the protection of information.
Managing common law compensation claims relating to alleged historic abuse.
Managing historic contamination-related claims.

Our Ideal Candidate

Our Ideal Candidate:

Excellent communication, relationship management and client engagement skills
An ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing work priorities, to assign work and monitor progress.
An ability to adhere to deadlines.
Excellent attention to detail.
Excellent communication skills.
A collaborative, positive, team focused and collegiate outlook.

Application Closing Date: Saturday 31 January 2026

For further information please review the job information pack, reference ASG/09544/25 onwww.defence.gov.au/apscareers