Principal Legal Counsel, Executive Level 2, Anti-Dumping Commission

Acendre; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 153,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency is seeking a Principal Legal Counsel to provide legal advice, manage case work, and mentor junior lawyers. Candidates need at least 5 years of post-admission experience and a Bachelor of Laws degree. The role is based in Canberra or Melbourne and offers flexible work opportunities. Applications close on 20 October.

Benefits

Flexible work opportunities

Qualifications

• 5 years post-admission experience required.
• Must possess an unrestricted practicing certificate.
• Must be an Australian Citizen.

Responsibilities

• Prepare legal advice and supervise team members.
• Manage compliance with legislative obligations.
• Provide legal advice to investigators.

Skills

Effective verbal communication

Client focus

Administrative law knowledge

Legal drafting skills

Organizational skills

Mentoring junior lawyers

Collaboration skills

Integrity

Learning anti-dumping legislation

Understanding WTO obligations

Education

Bachelor of Laws degree

Job description

Principal Legal Counsel, Executive Level 2, Anti-Dumping Commission

The salary range for this role is $153,302 - $164,019. The role is based in Canberra or Melbourne, with applications closing on 20 October.

About the Department

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources is integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda, aiming to build a better future for all Australians through a productive, resilient, and sustainable economy enriched by science and technology. This is achieved by growing innovative and competitive businesses, industries, and regions, investing in science and technology, and strengthening the resources sector.

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector

About the team

The Anti-Dumping Commission is Australia’s international trade remedies authority, responsible for investigating allegations of unfair trade practices and administering anti-dumping legislation. The commission is led by the Anti-Dumping Commissioner and is staffed by employees from the department, including lawyers providing specialist legal services.

The opportunity

As a Principal Legal Counsel, you will prepare legal advice, supervise team members, and participate in meetings to support good decision-making by the Commissioner. Your day-to-day work will involve operational oversight of compliance with legislative obligations, building the team’s legal skills, and working closely with the department’s legal area, external legal providers, and other government agencies.

Our ideal candidate

We are looking for motivated and skilled legal professionals with:

• 5 years post-admission experience
• Effective verbal communication skills and a strong client focus
• Strong understanding of administrative law and statutory interpretation principles
• Experience providing well-reasoned, evidence-based, written legal advice
• Experience drafting submissions for merits review and judicial review proceedings
• Well-developed planning and organisational skills
• Experience mentoring and second counselling the work of junior lawyers
• Highly developed collaboration skills
• High standards of professional and personal integrity
• The ability to quickly learn and apply Australia’s anti-dumping legislation
• Ability to learn Australia’s obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Anti-Dumping Agreement

What you will do

This role requires you to:

• Manage case work, including providing effective legal advice to investigators
• Supervise lawyers providing client-focused legal services to case teams
• Build a positive, productive, and mutually supportive team environment
• Work with the Executive Director, Legal, to identify opportunities for continuous business improvement
• Evaluate and advise on developments arising from judicial or merits review, and WTO cases

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must have a Bachelor of Laws degree, an unrestricted practicing certificate, and admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia. You must also be an Australian Citizen and be willing to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

A merit pool may be established to fill future vacancies, and the department offers flexible work opportunities. Your application must not contain classified or sensitive information and should include a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge, and experience align with the role.