Principal Government Lawyer (EL2)

Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment – Canberra ACT is seeking a Principal Government Lawyer to lead a legal team delivering high-quality advice on complex matters and contribute to the leadership of the Legal Division.

You will exercise professional judgement, provide strategic guidance on policy and regulatory issues, and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering high-quality legal services in complex environments.
• Strong leadership and people management capability.
• Excellent judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Admission as an Australian legal practitioner and eligibility for a restricted Government practising certificate.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a legal team to deliver timely, accurate and risk-based legal advice.
• Provide strategic legal guidance on complex policy, legislative, commercial or regulatory issues.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to leadership, capability development and culture of the Legal Division.
• Support the department’s strategic priorities and major reform initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Problem-solving

Judgement

Education

Admission as an Australian legal practitioner

Eligibility for restricted Government practising certificate

Job description

Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment – Canberra ACT

The Department of Education’s Legal Division provides strategic legal advice and services across the department. Our lawyers work on some of Australia’s most significant education policies, programs and reforms, partnering with clients across government to navigate complex legal issues and achieve practical outcomes. The Division comprises specialist teams covering commercial law, corporate and information law, early childhood, higher education, schools, litigation and legislative matters.

About the role

As a Principal Government Lawyer, you will lead and manage a legal team delivering high-quality legal services on complex and high-profile matters. You will exercise a high degree of professional judgement, provide strategic advice and contribute to the leadership of the Legal Division.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and managing a legal team to deliver timely, accurate and risk-based legal advice.
• Providing strategic legal guidance on complex policy, legislative, commercial or regulatory issues.
• Building collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contributing to the leadership, capability development and culture of the Legal Division.
• Supporting the department’s strategic priorities and major reform initiatives.

As a Special Counsel, you will be a senior Principal Government Lawyer working flexibly across the Division. You will support legislative development and the management of complex or significant legal issues, exercising a high degree of autonomy.

The legal practice operates as an integrated and flexible workforce. You are invited to express interest in leading one or more of our legal teams, or undertaking the Special Counsel role. Successful candidates will be placed having regard to their experience, preferences and strengths, as well as the operational needs of the department.

An attractive remuneration package is available, commensurate with the successful candidate's skills and experience, and consistent with departmental policies.

About you

We are seeking an experienced lawyer with:

• Extensive experience delivering high-quality legal services in complex environments.
• Strong leadership and people management capability.
• Excellent judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Admission as an Australian legal practitioner and eligibility to hold a restricted Government practising certificate.

Applications

Applications from fulltime and part-time candidates will be considered.