Senior Federal Prosecutor (SFP)

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions; Sydney; On-site; AUD 122,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unique and challenging work

Professional development opportunities

Generous leave entitlements

Salary progression

15.4% superannuation

Flexible working arrangements

Wellbeing allowance

EAP counselling

Job summary

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in Sydney is seeking a Senior Federal Prosecutor to lead and support complex criminal litigation outcomes. You will instruct Counsel, represent the Director in court, and drive prosecution outcomes across significant matters in a high profile environment.

This role combines technical legal practice with leadership, strategic advice, and stakeholder engagement, offering opportunities to shape public prosecutions and mentor junior lawyers.

Qualifications

• Seasoned legal professionals with criminal litigation expertise.
• Ability to refine complex evidentiary material into clear strategy.
• Strong communication and people skills to command a courtroom.

Responsibilities

• Instruct Counsel in sentences, trials and appeals, representing the Director in court.
• Make legal decisions and recommendations within tight deadlines.
• Lead significant prosecutions and provide legal advice to Director and partners.
• Apply legislation and policy to frame charges for court proceedings.
• Use cutting edge technology to assess briefs of evidence.
• Develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentor junior legal staff and enhance the CDPP legal capability.

Skills

Legal judgment

Courtroom advocacy

Prosecution leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions – Sydney NSW

9h ago , from Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP)

• $121,755 - $146,580 + $26,832 Prosecutor Allowance plus 15.4% employer super contribution
• Sydney and Melbourne

In addition to the base salary and 15.4% superannuation, the Senior Federal Prosecutor (SFP) position attracts a $26,832 per annum allowance in line with Determination 2026/7 Prosecutor Allowance.

About the role

We are seeking legal professionals with a focused, strategic, and collaborative mindset to lead and support complex, sensitive and at time high profile criminal litigation outcomes.

This is an opportunity to work on significant matters, not seen in any other environment, and develop your legal career in directions that most other government agencies cannot provide.

As a Senior Federal Prosecutor (SFP), you will:

• instruct Counsel in sentences, trials and appeals, also representing the Director in court, forums and conferences;
• use your extensive legal judgment expertise to make legal decisions and recommendations, within tight deadlines;
• lead and support significant prosecutions on behalf of the Director; providing legal advice to the Director and partner agencies to drive prosecution outcomes;
• apply relevant legislation, policy and procedures to frame criminal charges and determine how allegations of criminal wrongdoing are to be alleged before the court;
• use cutting edge technology to assess briefs of evidence;
• actively develop positive, productive and collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders; and
• support the enhancement of the CDPP legal capability, including through the coaching and mentoring of junior legal staff.

• Executive Level 1
• $121,755 - $146,580 + $26,832 Prosecutor Allowance plus 15.4% employer super contribution
• Sydney and Melbourne

In addition to the base salary and 15.4% superannuation, the Senior Federal Prosecutor (SFP) position attracts a $26,832 per annum allowance in line with Determination 2026/7 Prosecutor Allowance.

About the role

We are seeking legal professionals with a focused, strategic, and collaborative mindset to lead and support complex, sensitive and at time high profile criminal litigation outcomes.

This is an opportunity to work on significant matters, not seen in any other environment, and develop your legal career in directions that most other government agencies cannot provide.

As a Senior Federal Prosecutor (SFP), you will:

• instruct Counsel in sentences, trials and appeals, also representing the Director in court, forums and conferences;
• use your extensive legal judgment expertise to make legal decisions and recommendations, within tight deadlines;
• lead and support significant prosecutions on behalf of the Director; providing legal advice to the Director and partner agencies to drive prosecution outcomes;
• apply relevant legislation, policy and procedures to frame criminal charges and determine how allegations of criminal wrongdoing are to be alleged before the court;
• use cutting edge technology to assess briefs of evidence;
• actively develop positive, productive and collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders; and
• support the enhancement of the CDPP legal capability, including through the coaching and mentoring of junior legal staff.

What we are looking for

You are seasoned legal professionals, ideally with criminal litigation expertise, who thrive on complexity and can easily refine complex evidentiary material into clear, actionable strategy. Your communication and people expertise must match your legal technical skills —you will know how to command a courtroom, negotiate effectively with defence counsel, and build trusted relationships with investigative partner agencies.

Beyond your legal expertise, you are a problem solver, natural mentor and enjoy coaching junior lawyers to sharpen their litigation instincts.

You pride yourself on your integrity and identify with and will uphold the values and conduct expected in the Australian Public Services (APS).

We are looking for a lawyer who combines strong technical capability with sound judgement, initiative and a practical understanding of the complex regulated environment in which government legal work is delivered.

Why Join Us

This role offers the opportunity to combine technical legal practice with leadership, strategic advice, stakeholder engagement and meaningful improvements to the way prosecution work is done.

If you are looking for career and employer where your legal acumen directly shapes and supports effective, ethical and high quality criminal prosecutions and is critical to public trust and safety for the Australian community, then this opportunity at the CDPP is your next step.

No matter where you work with us, you’ll have access to:

• unique and challenging work;
• professional development opportunities;
• generous leave entitlements with additional paid time off during the Christmas close-down period;
• clear and transparent salary progression, and scheduled salary increases;
• 15.4% superannuation;
• flexible working arrangements that promote work-life balance;
• a $295 annual wellbeing allowance; and
• free and confidential 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), available for staff and their family members.