Principal Government Lawyer

LoweBuys; Canberra; On-site; AUD 173,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education in Canberra seeks a Principal Government Lawyer (EL2) to lead a legal team and deliver high-quality services across education policies and reforms.

The role emphasizes professional judgement, autonomy, strategic collaboration, and influence across the APS and department-s important initiatives.

Qualifications

• Degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification.
• Admission as a legal practitioner in an Australian Court, and
• Eligibility to hold a restricted Government practising certificate.

Responsibilities

• Leading and managing one of the department's legal teams and ensuring delivery of high-quality legal services.
• Exercising professional judgement with autonomy and collaborating across teams.
• Contributing to leadership, practice management, and capability development within the legal division.

Skills

Legal leadership

Policy advisory

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor of Laws or equivalent

Admission as a legal practitioner in Australia

Eligibility for restricted Government practising certificate

Job description

• $173,197 - $187,464 + 15.4% superannuation

About the Department of Education

We contribute to Australia's economic prosperity and social wellbeing by creating opportunities and driving better outcomes through access to quality education and learning.

The Role

As a Principal Government Lawyer at the Department of Education, you will have the opportunity to work at the centre of some of Australia's most significant education policies, programs and reforms. This is more than a traditional legal role. It is an opportunity to influence the development and delivery of major government policies, navigate novel and complex legal challenges, and help the department achieve its goals in a rapidly changing environment. You will bring strong technical expertise, sound judgement, a collaborative leadership style and a practical, solutions-focused approach to helping clients achieve outcomes.

The department's legal practice comprises a number of teams that provide legal services to specific business groups across the department, as well as specialist legal teams that deliver expertise in key legal disciplines. This structure provides lawyers with the opportunity to build strong partnerships with clients, develop a deep understanding of the department's work, and engage in a diverse and intellectually stimulating range of legal matters. Our lawyers regularly work across teams and subject areas, fostering professional growth, collaboration and the sharing of expertise.

We are also exploring filling a Special Counsel position. This is a senior Principal Government Lawyer who works flexibly across the Division with additional responsibilities to provide support including potentially in legislative development and in management of complex or significant legal issues with a high degree of autonomy.

The legal practice operates as an integrated and flexible workforce. You are invited to express interest in leading any one or more of the above teams or the Special Counsel role and offers for successful candidates will take into account their experience, preferences and strengths, as well as the operational needs of the department.

Job Level and Location

Principal Government Lawyer - EL2

Canberra, ACT

$173,197 - $187,464 + 15.4% superannuation

Duties and Responsibilities

In this role, you will be responsible for leading and managing one of the department's legal teams and ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services. You will be expected to exercise a high degree of professional judgement, demonstrate sound decision-making, and work with an appropriate level of autonomy.

Your responsibilities will include the following:

• Leading and managing a legal team to deliver timely, accurate, clear and risk-based legal services.
• Developing and maintaining effective and collaborative relationships with colleagues across the legal practice and the department, as well as with external stakeholders.
• Contributing as a member of the legal leadership team by promoting the strategic direction and values of the department and the APS, supporting effective practice management, and fostering capability development and a positive team culture.

In the Special Counsel role, you will report directly to the General Counsel and the responsibilities will be as set out above except for the requirement to lead and manage a specific team.

Qualifications and Education

To be eligible for this position applicants must have:

• A degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification
• Admission as a legal practitioner in an Australian Court, and
• Eligibility to hold a restricted Government practising certificate.

Eligibility

Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

Security Clearance - our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance.

Please refer to the Job Information Pack for more information about the role.