Principal Legal Advisor

Essential Services Commission of South Australia; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid work model

Professional development

Job summary

Essential Services Commission of South Australia is seeking a Principal Legal Advisor to deliver practical, solutions-focused legal advice across regulatory and corporate functions. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will conduct complex legal research, support investigations and provide guidance on legislation, contracts and information access.

The role involves spearheading governance initiatives, external counsel management and policy work, with hybrid working options and a values-driven

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Law and a current unrestricted Category C Practising Certificate under the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA) or ability to obtain one.
• Minimum of three years’ post-admission full-time equivalent legal practitioner experience.
• Experience providing practical, evidence-based legal and policy advice across regulatory and corporate functions.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert, practical advice on complex regulatory, corporate and governance matters.
• Advise on compliance investigations, regulatory actions and enforcement proceedings.
• Interpret legislation and advise on its application to Commission functions and decisions.
• Develop and review corporate policies, procedures and governance frameworks.

Skills

Legal analysis

Regulatory law

Administrative law

Governance

Research and analysis

Communication (written)

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor of Law or equivalent

Category C Practising Certificate (SA)

Job description

Full-time, 12-month contract LEC3 - $120,018 - $130,919 plus superannuation

Do you:

• have significant experience providing practical, solutions-focused legal advice on complex regulatory, administrative or corporate matters?
• enjoy interpreting legislation, undertaking legal research and supporting sound, evidence-based decision-making in a collaborative environment?
• have a desire to experience the opportunities that come from working in an in-house environment by contributing flexibly across governance, regulatory, compliance and policy functions?
• appreciate flexibility and the option to undertake hybrid working?

If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to join the Essential Services Commission of South Australia as our Principal Legal Advisor. This varied in-house role extends beyond traditional legal advisory work and provides opportunities to contribute to corporate governance, internal assurance and audit, regulatory and policy work.

About the role

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Principal Legal Advisor provides expert, practical and solutions-focused legal advice across the Commission’s regulatory and corporate functions. The position undertakes complex legal research and analysis, supports regulatory compliance investigations and enforcement matters, and provides advice on legislation, governance, contracts and corporate policies.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Legal advice : Provide expert, practical and solutions-focused advice on complex regulatory, corporate and governance matters.
• Compliance and enforcement : Advise on complex compliance investigations, regulatory actions and enforcement proceedings involving potential breaches by regulated entities.
• Statutory interpretation : Interpret legislation and provide advice on its application to the Commission’s functions and decision-making.
• Corporate governance : Develop and review corporate policies, procedures and frameworks and provide advice to support organisational compliance and a strong governance culture.
• Contracts and information access : Provide advice on significant contracts and agreements and manage Freedom of Information applications.
• External legal services : Engage and direct external legal advisers, experts and consultants as required.
• Research and emerging issues : Monitor legal and governance developments relevant to economic regulation and the Commission’s work.

About you

To be successful in this position, you will need to demonstrate:

• Legal qualifications and admission: Tertiary qualifications in Law and a current unrestricted Category C Practising Certificate issued under the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA), or equivalent, or the ability to apply for and immediately obtain one.
• Legal experience: A minimum of three years’ post-admission full-time equivalent experience as a legal practitioner.
• Legal analysis and advice: Significant experience undertaking legal and policy research and analysis and providing high-quality, evidence-based and solutions-focused legal advice across a wide variety of regulatory and corporate functions and obligations.
• Administrative and regulatory law: Strong experience in administrative law, statutory interpretation, government decision-making, corporate governance and the interpretation and application of legislation and policy.
• Communication skills: High-quality written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, concise and accessible legal advice, briefings, contracts, policies, reports and correspondence.
• Judgement and initiative: The ability to think analytically, creatively and laterally, exercise independent judgement and proactively identify and address legal risks with a high standard of integrity.
• Stakeholder engagement: Strong consultation, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Planning and organisation: The ability to prioritise work, manage competing demands and deliver multiple projects and tasks within deadlines.
• Use of technology: Experience using artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and effectiveness and support lawful, evidence-based decision-making along with digital literacy in using office-based systems and databases.
• Values-driven approach: A genuine commitment to the Commission’s core values: accountability, collaboration, agility, respect, and integrity.

About the Commission

The Commission is a statutory authority established as an independent economic regulator and advisory body to protect the long‑term interests of South Australian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services. We add long‑term value to the South Australian community by meeting our objective through independent, ethical and expert regulatory decisions and the provision of robust advice to Government. Our work is anchored in our core values of Accountability, Collaboration, Agility, Respect, and Integrity. Our role incorporates licensing, consumer protection, service standards, pricing, monitoring, compliance and public reporting in the water, electricity and gas industries, and access regulation of essential ports and rail infrastructure. We also provide advice and conduct Inquiries to inform the South Australian Government on economic and regulatory policy issues and provide advice to local government.

What we can offer

The Commission and the South Australian public sector promote diversity and flexible ways of working, including part‑time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role. We support our employees to deliver high‑quality outcomes by genuinely providing a great work culture, fostering employee relations and valuing health and wellbeing. We also offer all staff ongoing professional development and access to generous learning and development provisions. We offer hybrid ways of working for all staff and support flexibility for our people. We are committed to an inclusive workplace that values diversity and actively promote a culturally safe workplace by developing and implementing inclusion‑based action plans, including a Reconciliation Action Plan and Disability Access Inclusion Plan. In addition, the Commission is proudly White Ribbon Australia accredited and adopts a zero‑tolerance approach towards domestic violence and disrespectful behaviours of any kind in the workplace and in the broader community.

Special Conditions for Employment

• A current unrestricted Category C Practising Certificate issued under the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA), or equivalent, or the ability to apply for and immediately obtain one.
• Employment is dependent upon the provision of a National Police Certificate that the Commission considers satisfactory.
• Some out of hours work may be required to meet critical deadlines.
• Some intrastate and/or interstate travel may be required.

Applications close 11.00pm on 4 November 2026.