Principal Solicitor

Victorian Government; City of Melbourne; Vor Ort; AUD 150.000 - 190.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

State Government of Victoria seeks a Principal Solicitor to join the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s Legal and Legislation Division in an ongoing role. The role delivers high-quality legal advice, litigation support and policy-focused input across commercial, procurement, administrative and governance areas.

The successful candidate will lead in-house litigation, supervise junior lawyers and provide authoritative guidance to senior management, with hybrid work options and

Qualifikationen

• Demonstrated ability to provide authoritative legal advice in core areas: administrative law, regulatory approvals and investigations, statutory interpretation, litigation and dispute resolution.

Aufgaben

• Lead in-house litigation support and supervise junior lawyers.
• Provide clear, timely legal advice to senior management on a range of issues across government context.
• Collaborate with the eight groups plus Solar Victoria and Resources Victoria to support policy initiatives and programs.

Kenntnisse

Litigation leadership

Strategic advisory

Regulatory and investigations

Government procurement

Administrative law understanding

Ausbildung

Australian practising certificate

Jobbeschreibung

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: 2399

An opportunity for an experienced Principal Solicitor to join a forward-thinking State government legal team that supports the diverse work of the Department by being a responsive, strategic advisory service delivering complex, high-value work.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is looking for a Principal Solicitor to join a skilled in-house legal team within the Legal and Legislation Division in an ongoing role.

The Principal Solicitor is a senior member of the legal team and provides leadership in the delivery of high quality, accurate and strategic legal advice and litigation support across a range of diverse core-in house subject areas, including commercial and contract law, government procurement practices, administrative law, regulatory approvals and investigations, corporate governance, contract dispute resolution and litigation, and statutory interpretation.

The position requires an agile professional committed to performing at the highest level with demonstrated initiative, a willingness to take on new challenges, and a proven ability to provide clear, accurate and timely advice, ideally in a government context.

• In this role, you will lead the provision of in house litigation support, supervise the work of more junior lawyers, and provide authoritative advice to senior management and staff on a diverse range of legal, legal policy and legislation-related issues with a focus on leveraging the division’s deep understanding of the department’s legal and legislative frameworks to provide relevant, risk-based and solutions-focused advice and delivery.
• The role is part of a highly skilled legal team, working closely with the department’s eight groups plus Solar Victoria, and Resources Victoria to support the delivery of priority policy initiatives, programs and operations to the Victorian community to optimise success and minimise and mitigate risks for government.
• The role is for an experienced and innovative senior-level lawyer who is looking to join an engaging, dynamic legal practice and to contribute to an inclusive and team-oriented workplace culture that is collaborative, professional and engaged.
• If you want to be a part of a high performing, exciting, interesting and busy legal team, we welcome your application.

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• An Australian lawyer holding or eligible to hold an Australian practising certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria).
• Demonstrated ability to perform unsupervised and deliver and supervise the delivery of – in a timely manner and at a level of excellence including when under time pressure – accurate, concise, clear and authoritative legal advice in the core areas of administrative law (including operation of government and an awareness of Constitutional issues) regulatory approvals and investigations, statutory interpretation, litigation and dispute resolution, and an ability to manage significant and/or high profile litigation. Experience operating at a senior level in two of these areas is mandatory and highly regarded in all.
• Strong experience in either broader general in-house or government legal practice and/or some of the department’s areas of specialisation: environmental law, energy law, First Nations self-determination and related frameworks, agriculture, Crown land use and development, natural resource management and fire and emergency management, commissions and inquiries.

This is an ongoing VPS6 Value Range 1 position. The work location for this position is 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne with hybrid work arrangements available.

Applications close 11.59pm on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.

Other relevant information

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

An inclusive, culturally safe and flexible workplace

DEECA fosters an inclusive workplace culture and is committed to a fair, accessible, and equitable recruitment process.

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We recognise the strengths, knowledge and perspectives First Nations people bring and DEECA is committed to a culturally safe and respectful workplace. If you need support to participate, please contact [e-mail] .

We support flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work, varied hours, part-time work and job sharing. For more information about our recruitment processes, visit applying for a role with us

Applications close Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 11.59pm