Legal Adviser

Department of Government Services; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Government Services in Melbourne seeks an experienced lawyer to provide expert public law and dispute advice. The role involves challenging DGS decisions, working across Local Government Victoria, Births Deaths and Marriages, and Consumer Affairs Victoria, with a focus on client-centred outcomes.

You will join an energetic OGC team, support senior leadership, and contribute to regulatory and policy work while working in a flexible environment to deliver timely, quality legal

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer and eligible to hold a Victorian practising certificate.

Responsibilities

• Manage and instruct in complex public law and disputes matters involving DGS, including appeals to higher courts.
• Undertake legal research and analysis on public law and disputes matters involving DGS.
• Support and collaborate with the OGC executive and leadership team.
• Provide advice on reports, Cabinet and Ministerial papers, briefing notes and submissions on complex legal, policy and operational issues relating to DGS.
• Maintain effective working relationships and negotiate with key stakeholders both internal and external to the Department.

Skills

Legal research

Public law

Dispute resolution

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent

Admitted Australian lawyer

Job description

Department of Government Services – Melbourne VIC

About Us

The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 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.

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, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.