Legal Counsel (Temporary)

Sydney Catholic Schools; Sydney; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive annual salary

Salary packaging up to $15,900 annually

Discount on school fees for parents of SCS students

Ongoing training and development opportunities

Discounts on gym classes and memberships

Generous Employee Referral Program

Job summary

An educational institution in Sydney is seeking a Legal Counsel (Temporary) to oversee legal and contractual risk, provide high-level legal advice, and support compliance with legislative obligations. The ideal candidate has at least 6 years of legal experience, strong knowledge of various laws, and exceptional negotiation and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of employment, corporation, commercial and/or family law.
• Ability to work independently and with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience in leading or mentoring others.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to SCS leadership and staff.
• Represent SCS in legal proceedings and disputes.
• Supervise and mentor SCS lawyers and paralegals.

Skills

Legal expertise in education sector

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Attention to detail

Education

Minimum six years post-admission experience in law

Job description

Overview

Legal Counsel (Temporary) role at Sydney Catholic Schools

Commencement Date: Monday, 20 October 2025

Closing Date: Monday, 15 September 2025

Capacity: Full-Time, Temporary (7-months)

About the Role

The Governance and Legal Directorate is responsible for overseeing Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) legal and board functions. The Legal Counsel plays a pivotal role in managing legal and contractual risk, providing high-level advice, and supporting compliance with legislative obligations. Reporting to the Manager: Legal Services, this senior position combines strategic and operational responsibilities, including supervising and mentoring SCS lawyers and paralegals, and contributing to the strategic direction of the Directorate.

Accountabilities will include, but are not limited to:

• serving as a subject matter expert in all aspects of school-related law, bringing deep expertise and sound judgement to complex legal matters
• representing SCS in legal proceedings, including dispute resolution, court and tribunal appearances, and engagement with regulators and external stakeholders
• providing leadership and guidance to the Legal Team, acting as the first point of referral for lawyers and paralegals. You’ll review legal advice and correspondence, support professional development, and collaborate with the Manager: Legal Services to oversee daily operations and address strategic and operational legal risks
• ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations and advise senior leaders, including the Manager: Legal Services and Director of Governance and Legal, on corporate governance and advisory matters, escalating risks where appropriate
• delivering high-quality, timely, and independent legal advice to SCS leadership and staff across a range of legal issues
• drafting, reviewing, and negotiating legal agreements and documentation, and undertaking other duties as required to support the mission and operations of SCS.

About You

To be successful in this position, you must possess:

• a minimum of six years post-admission experience in law
• strong knowledge of employment, corporation, commercial and/or family law
• a commercial and strategic approach
• demonstrated ability to work independently and with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders
• proven exceptional communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• demonstrated ability to be proactive and results-driven, with demonstrated high attention to detail
• proven track record of providing accurate and effective legal counsel
• demonstrated exceptional negotiation and consultation skills
• demonstrated strong leadership and relationship management skills
• demonstrated exceptional time management skills, ability to prioritise competing demands and work effectively in a high volume environment
• experience in leading or mentoring others
• willingness to respect, support and uphold the mission, ethos and teachings of the Catholic Church and the values of Sydney Catholic Schools.
• experience providing legal counsel in the Education sector

Why work for Sydney Catholic Schools

In joining SCS, you will be part of the largest Catholic education community in NSW. With a unified vision and shared resources, we encompass over 145 schools and over 74,000 students. We enable job mobility across the system, diverse career opportunities, and an extensive suite of professional development programs.

SCS is renowned for excellence, with six schools in the top 100 and 13 in the top 150 of the 2024 HSC rankings. Over 51% of results were Band 5 or 6, and our students achieved 2,819 Distinguished Achiever mentions.

Be part of a system that fosters academic, creative, and vocational success, shaping future leaders every step of the way.

In addition, we offer:

• a competitive annual salary
• salary packaging of up to $15,900 annually
• up to 25% discount on school fees for parents of SCS students
• ongoing training and development opportunities
• discounts on gym classes and memberships, activewear, healthy meals, and wellbeing products
• a generous Employee Referral Program.

Application Process

To apply for this position please click APPLY and follow the prompts.

To support your application, you will be required to provide:

• your current CV
• cover letter highlighting the criteria above.

For any queries or questions, please contact the People & Culture Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Click here to access SCS\' Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and join us in creating a culture of child safety and wellbeing.

Working With Children Check (WWCC)

This role is classified as child-related work and therefore requires a WWCC clearance prior to commencement of employment.

Be seeking applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and candidates with diverse backgrounds.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Temporary

Job function

• Legal

Industries

• Primary and Secondary Education