Principal Legal Officer

NSW Department of Education; Parramatta; On-site; AUD 171,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid work

35-hour week

Generous leave entitlements

Career progression

Job summary

NSW Department of Education seeks a Principal Legal Officer to lead a team delivering high‑quality legal services and policy advice. Based in Parramatta CBD, you will ensure value for money and support directorate objectives while guiding complex matters across diverse programs.

You will provide strategic leadership, supervise staff, and represent the department in litigation and negotiations, drafting advanced legal documents and advising executive management.

Qualifications

• Legal qualifications and a current unrestricted NSW legal practising certificate.
• Experience as a Solicitor/Advocate.
• Knowledge and experience in dealing with commercial and administrative matters including legislative reform.
• Ability to provide quality independent legal advice and manage legal risks.
• Complementary capabilities in statutory interpretation, legal research, legal drafting and advocacy.
• Understanding of and commitment to public education.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in legal advisory, policy development, and litigation management.
• Ensure delivery of high-level legal services to executive management and staff.
• Supervise, mentor and coach staff to support professional development.
• Represent the department in litigation, negotiations and before courts and tribunals.
• Draft and review complex legal documents to support departmental operations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff supervision

Legal advisory

Policy development

Litigation management

Legal drafting

Education

NSW legal practising certificate

Job description

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Employment Fill Type: Permanent (Ongoing)

Location

Parramatta, NSW, AU, 2150

Description

Do you want to lead a team of administrative and commercial law specialists and contribute to the valuable work of the NSW Department of Education?

• An Exciting full time, ongoing leadership role based in Parramatta CBD
• Enjoy a 35-hour working week, flexible hybrid working arrangements and generous leave entitlements to support work-life balance.
• Grow your career with excellent opportunities for career progression and leadership growth.
• Competitive remuneration package of $170,841 - $174,440 plus super and leave loading

About the Department of Education

At the NSW Department of Education , we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

About the role

The Principal Legal Officer leads a team dedicated to delivering high-quality, client-focused legal services that ensure value for money and support the attainment of the directorate’s objectives as well as the goals of the department’s stakeholders and business units.

The role sits in the Early Childhood Outcomes legal team within the Legal Services Directorate and supports the Early Childhood Education and Care policy and reform program by providing expert, practical, and timely advice and drafting support on complex legal and policy matters across diverse areas impacting the delivery of these programs.

About you

You are a passionate lawyer who can:

• Provide strategic leadership in legal advisory, policy development, and litigation management aligned with departmental objectives.
• Ensure the delivery of high-level legal services and advice to executive management and staff, ensuring compliance and quality outcomes.
• Demonstrate experience in staff supervision, mentoring, and coaching to support personal and professional development of staff.
• Represent the department in litigation matters, negotiations; and before courts, tribunals, and committees.
• Demonstrate expertise in drafting and reviewing complex legal documents to support departmental operations and ensure efficient legal service delivery.

For further information please view the role description.

Essential requirements, experience and knowledge

Your professional credentials, experience and expertise must include:

• Legal qualifications and a current unrestricted NSW legal practising certificate.
• Experience as a Solicitor/Advocate.
• Knowledge and experience in dealing with commercial and administrative matters including legislative reform.
• The ability to provide quality independent legal advice and manage legal risks.
• Complementary capabilities in statutory interpretation, legal research, legal drafting and advocacy.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education .
• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Benefits

• The opportunity to make a real difference, doing important work in a varied, rewarding career in which you can make the most of your legal expertise across a variety of disciplines.
• A dynamic workplace in an organisation committed to diversity and inclusion.
• A secured and permanent employment opportunity with a stable employer.
• The ability to contribute to positive social outcomes, supporting diverse communities and making a meaningful impact on education.
• Ability to take on short-term assignments or move across different areas within the department to broaden your skills and experience.
• Opportunities to contribute to shaping new policies and drive innovation in education.

Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.

This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment, you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the website for more information.

Candidates must have Australian work rights (citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens or a valid work visa). Ongoing (permanent) roles are open to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens, while temporary roles welcome applicants with a visa.

Closing date: 05/11/2026 at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries please contact Simone Nokes, Deputy General Counsel at [e-mail] and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Alexis Katombe at [e-mail] .

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage .

A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.