Legal Adviser

Victorian Government; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Victorian Government’s Department of Government Services (DGS) seeks an experienced lawyer admitted to practice in Australia to advise on public law and dispute matters. The role involves representing DGS in complex disputes, supporting Local Government Victoria, Births Deaths and Marriages, and Consumer Affairs Victoria, and delivering well-reasoned legal guidance to internal clients.

You will join the Office of the General Counsel, collaborating with an energetic team to shape policy, provide

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer and eligible to hold a Victorian practising certificate.
• This ongoing role requires appropriate rights to work in Australia.
• Pre-employment checks include a National Police Check and compliance with OH&S policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice in public law and dispute matters involving DGS, including challenges to DGS decision making.
• Handle matters brought against Local Government Victoria, Births Deaths and Marriages, Consumer Affairs Victoria and DGS entities.
• Conduct legal research and analysis with strong statutory interpretation skills.
• Support and work with the OGC executive and leadership team.
• Draft reports, Cabinet and Ministerial papers, briefing notes and submissions on complex issues.
• Provide timely legal advice and implement practical strategies for DGS staff.
• Maintain effective relationships and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to review and development of public law legislation relevant to DGS.
• Support regulatory advice within the OGC team.

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: 12980

About Us
The Department of Government Services (DGS) wasestablishedon 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government.We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses.We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.

The Office of the General Counsel
OGC is part of DGS’ Organisational Strategy, Governance and Performance Group. OGC navigates legal and policy challenges with technically outstanding legal advice and practical, evidence-based solutions.

We provide high profile legal advice at the centre of Government in relation to public law, regulatory, corporate, commercial, contracting and procurement issues, and perform an in-house legal advice function for DGS’ internal operations.

About the role
The position provides expert legal advice in relation to public law and dispute matters involving DGS, including challenges to DGS decision making. This includes matters brought against Local Government Victoria, Births Deaths and Marriages, Consumer Affairs Victoria and DGS portfolio entities, offices and assets (including statutory funds and accounts).

The successful candidate will join an energetic and innovative team formed from multiple Departments. We are driven to achieve client-centred outcomes that improve everyone’s experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government. We work flexibly and promote a positive and supportive work environment.

The position provides expert legal advice in relation to public law and dispute matters involving DGS, including challenges to DGS decision making. This includes matters brought against Local Government Victoria, Births Deaths and Marriages, Consumer Affairs Victoria and DGS portfolio entities, offices and assets (including statutory funds and accounts).

Key Accountabilities

• Manage and instruct in multiple complex and sensitive public law and disputes matters involving DGS, including appeals to the Supreme Court of Victoria. This may include some appearance work.
• Undertake legal research and analysis on legal public law and disputes matters involving DGS with outstanding statutory interpretation skills.
• Support and work collaboratively with the OGC executive and leadership team.
• Contribute to the identification of new and emerging legal public law and disputes issues within the operational framework relevant to DGS with the potential to impact on the delivery of key Government initiatives in this field.
• Provide advice on reports, Cabinet and Ministerial papers, briefing notes and submissions on complex legal, policy and operational issues relating to DGS.
• Provide quality and timely legal advice and develop associated practical implementation strategies including support and training to DGS staff.
• Maintain effective working relationships, ongoing communication and successful negotiations with key stakeholders both internal and external to the Department.
• Contribute to the review and development of public law and disputes legislation relevant to DGS.
• Contribute to the strategic objectives and work of OGC more broadly, including providing regulatory support and advice as required.
  

Mandatory requirements

• You must be admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer and eligible to hold a Victorian practising certificate.

This is an ongoing position. The position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

For more information and the key selection criteria, please see the Position Description.

Other relevant information:
To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing role is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Pre-employment Declaration and Consent Form. Employment of successful candidates will be subject to a National Police Check.

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees and clients and consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OH&S Act), to support this DGS has a COVID-19 Vaccination policy which strongly recommends all DGS employees be fully vaccinated.

DGS actively promotes diversity,inclusionand an equalopportunityworkplace.All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.

Applications close Wednesday 4 November 2026 at 11.59pm