Legal Officer

Queensland Government; Ipswich City; On-site; AUD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A government entity of Queensland is seeking a full-time Legal Officer located in Ipswich to provide independent legal services in child protection matters. The ideal candidate will be admitted to practice law in Queensland and possess strong negotiation and client interaction skills. This role involves preparing legal documentation and representing the department in court. Applicants must be willing to be on-call for emergency legal issues.

Qualifications

• Admitted or eligible for immediate admission to practice law in Queensland.
• Possess a 'C' class driver's license for travel.
• On-call availability for emergency legal advice.

Responsibilities

• Deliver independent legal and court services for Queensland Government.
• Provide legal advice and representation for emergency applications.
• Prepare materials for court and support child protection applications.

Skills

Legal expertise

Negotiation skills

Client interaction

Education

Admission as Barrister-at-Law or Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland

Job description

We are seeking a temporary flexible full‑time Legal Officer to take on a position delivering high quality, independent legal services on behalf of OCFOS to departmental staff within the Department. As a Legal Officer, you will be part of a team of lawyers providing practical, independent and strategic legal advice and representation on complex child protection matters.

The role also provides an opportunity to contribute to improvements to the child protection litigation system in Queensland. The position will be located in Ipswich or by negotiation and will involve travel and attendance at courts and CSSCs across the state to support the Department and its clients.

For further information and how you will be assessed for this role, please refer to the attached Role Profile and Candidate Information Package for full details.

Your Mandatory Requirements

• You are required to be admitted or eligible to gain immediate admission, as a Barrister-at‑Law or solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
• You are required to possess a “C” class driver's licence to undertake travel.
• You are required to be on‑call to address out of hours emergency legal advice and support.

Role Specific/technical Skills

You possess expertise in relation to the department’s services in a court environment and apply your knowledge to provide high quality legal services. This role requires the technical ability to litigate, negotiate, provide legal advice, and to interact with clients and stakeholders in a complex legal environment including within the department and the Director of Child Protection Litigation in child protection matters.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Ensure that high quality independent legal and court services are delivered on behalf of the Queensland Government - including undertaking duties out of hours in relation to urgent applications.
• Provide expert independent legal advice, support and representation on behalf of CSSCs in emergency applications under the Child Protection Act 1999.
• Provide expert, independent legal advice, representation and preparation of court material in support of child protection applications and other related matters, such as family law, human rights, adoptions and criminal law to the extent that they interface with the Child Protection Act 1999, including:
• Independent legal advice to departmental staff early during their interactions with children and their families.
• Liaison and negotiation with the CSSCs, regional staff and the Director of Child Protection Litigation.
• Preparation of high quality material for court on behalf of departmental staff to support applications for child protection orders.
• Preparation of timely and high quality briefs to the Director of Child Protection Litigation in proceedings on applications for child protection orders.
• Contributing to the Department’s obligations to the Director of Child Protection Litigation in relation to the duty of disclosure obligations.
• Coordinate and represent the Director‑General’s participation in child protection related legal matters in accordance with the relevant legislation, policies, programmes and procedures.
• Establish and maintain constructive and enduring relationships with key stakeholders to ensure a consistent, coordinated and effective approach to the provision of legal services by OCFOS.
• Provide independent legal advice to departmental staff in relation to court matters, including preparation of evidence, quality assuring material, witness support, and the development and delivery of local training initiatives.
• Work as part of a team to support other legal officers and senior legal officers to meet priorities and ensure deadlines are met (both regionally and across the State).
• Contribute to the building of and maintenance of a culture in OCFOS that supports the vision and values of the Department and achieves agency objectives.

This position is aligned to the Individual Contributor profile of the Queensland Public Service Leadership competencies for Queensland. To be successful in this role, you will be required to demonstrate capability in the areas detailed within the Candidate Information Package.

Delegations

This position is an authorised officer under the Child Protection Act 1999 and has a range of statutory delegations in relation to this.

This position reports to the Senior Legal Officer.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Job Ad Reference: QLD/670267/25

Closing Date: Thursday, 27th November 2025

Occupational group

Justice & Legal