Principal Legal Officer

NSW Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

NSW Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport in Sydney CBD is seeking an expert government lawyer to provide independent, professional legal advice with a specific focus on employment law to support government operations and outcomes.

You will advise on contracts, disputes, investigations, and compliance with legislation, lead stakeholder engagement, draft legal documents, and may appear in courts or tribunals.

Qualifications

• Admitted or qualified for admission as a Solicitor or Barrister in the Supreme Court of NSW.
• Experience in employment or commercial law and policy making is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice and representation with a focus on employment law to support government operations and outcomes.
• Lead engagement with key stakeholders to support optimal service delivery.
• Analyse and interpret legislation; draft advice, court pleadings, statements of facts, and submissions.
• Undertake litigation and brief counsel where appropriate for effective representation.
• Manage engagement with stakeholders as the central point for employment law advice on investigations and litigation, and participate in project teams for legislative projects.
• Contribute to maintenance of registers and precedent systems to ensure data integrity and consistency of legal services.
• Develop and provide training material to educate the business and proactively reduce risk.

Skills

Employment Law

Commercial Law

Policy Development

Education

Admission as Solicitor or Barrister in NSW

Job description

NSW Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport – Sydney CBD NSW

Provide expert, independent, professional legal advice and legal services in all aspects of government law with a specific focus on employment law to support the efficient operation and delivery of business outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice and legal representation across a range of areas with a particular focus on providing practical and solutions-focused advice and legal support which may include advising on contracts of employment, dispute resolution, employee misconduct and performance management, compliance with the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 and Rules, unfair dismissal claims, Work Health and Safety legislation, Discrimination claims and Industrial matters
• Lead engagement with key stakeholders to support optimal service delivery outcomes
• Analyse and interpret legislation, policies and evidence; draft documents including advice, court pleadings, statement of facts, and submissions, briefing notes and correspondence to facilitate appropriate legal outcomes
• Undertake litigation and brief counsel where appropriate to ensure the provision of effective legal representation on behalf of the organization
• Manage engagement with key stakeholders as the central point of contact for employment law advice on the legal aspects of investigations into breaches of legislation and on litigation of matters before the courts or tribunals, and/or participate in project management teams for legislative projects, to provide effective legal guidance
• Contribute to the maintenance and updating of registers and precedent systems to ensure the integrity of data and consistency of legal services
• Develop and provide guidance or training material to the business to educate and build legal awareness among customers and stakeholders and to proactively reduce risk

About you

• Admitted or qualified for admission as a Solicitor or Barrister in the Supreme Court of NSW and hold, or be eligible to hold, a NSW Practicing Certificate
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: Employment Law, Commercial law, Experience in the policy making and legislative process

About us

At the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport we bring vibrancy to NSW by growing our creative industries and workforces, driving strong visitor and night-time economies, ensuring a responsible hospitality sector, and putting arts, culture and sport at the heart of our communities.