Senior Government Lawyer

Australian Department of Education, Employment and Training; Canberra; On-site; AUD 129,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15.4% superannuation

Job summary

Australian Department of Education, Employment and Training in Canberra invites applications for a Senior Government Lawyer (EL1). The role delivers high‑level legal advice, manages complex matters, and mentors junior lawyers while reporting to the Principal Government Lawyer.

You will work autonomously on flagship education policies and participate in cross‑agency forums. An attractive remuneration package applies, commensurate with skills and experience, with emphasis on leadership and legal

Qualifications

• Degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification
• Admission as a legal practitioner in an Australian Court
• Eligibility to hold a restricted Government practising certificate

Responsibilities

• Providing high-quality, complex and sensitive legal advice that is solutions-focused and identifies and differentiates between legal requirements, risks and opportunities.
• Managing complex legal matters with autonomy, reporting to the Principal Government Lawyer and escalating issues as required.
• Building and maintaining trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, representing the department in cross-agency forums.
• Developing and implementing programs, providing complex advice on legislation and reform proposals.
• Applying statutory interpretation and administrative law to support department programs.
• Advising on potential legal claims and disputes, and managing litigation matters, including in-house advocacy.
• Collaborating across the legal practice to support business priorities and client needs.
• Providing leadership and supervision to junior staff and mentoring.

Skills

Legal advice

Complex litigation

Stakeholder management

Mentoring juniors

Education

Law degree

Admission as legal practitioner

Restricted Government practising certificate eligibility

Job description

• $129,477 - $158,609+ 15.4% superannuation

About the Department of Education

We contribute to Australia's economic prosperity and social wellbeing by creating opportunities and driving better outcomes through access to quality education and learning.

The Role

As a Senior Government Lawyer at the Department of Education, you will have the opportunity to work at the centre of some of Australia's most significant education policies, programs and reforms. This is more than a traditional legal role. It is an opportunity to influence the development and delivery of major government policies, navigate novel and complex legal challenges, and help the department achieve its goals in a rapidly changing environment. You will have highly developed legal expertise, strong interpersonal and leadership skills, and a proven ability to manage complex and sensitive matters. You will work with an appropriate degree of autonomy, build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, and play an important role in supporting the development of junior lawyers and the continuous improvement of the legal practice.

The department's legal practice comprises several teams that provide legal services to specific business groups across the department, as well as specialist legal teams that deliver expertise in key legal disciplines. This structure provides lawyers with the opportunity to build strong partnerships with clients, develop a deep understanding of the department's work, and engage in a diverse and intellectually stimulating range of legal matters. Our lawyers regularly collaborate across teams and subject areas, fostering professional growth, knowledge sharing and the delivery of high-quality legal services.

An attractive remuneration package is available, commensurate with the successful candidate's skills and experience, and consistent with departmental policies.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing high-quality, complex and sensitive legal advice that is solutions-focused and identifies and differentiates between legal requirements, risks and opportunities.
• Managing complex legal matters with an appropriate degree of autonomy, while reporting to the Principal Government Lawyer and exercising good judgement in escalating issues or seeking guidance as required.
• Building and maintaining trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, and representing the department effectively in cross-agency and external forums where required.
• Working with clients to develop and implement programs, and providing complex advice on existing legislation, legislative reform proposals and legislative development.
• Applying statutory interpretation and administrative law skills to support the development and administration of the department’s programs.
• Advising on potential legal claims and disputes, and managing litigation matters, including opportunities to undertake in-house advocacy in tribunal proceedings.
• Working collaboratively and flexibly across the legal practice to support business priorities and client needs.
• Providing leadership and supervision to junior staff, including mentoring, capability development and professional support.
• Providing quality assurance and second counselling of legal advice and legal products prepared by other lawyers.

Qualifications and Education

To be eligible for a legal position in our practice, applicants must have:

• A degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification
• Admission as a legal practitioner in an Australian Court
• Eligibility to hold a restricted Government practising certificate

Please refer to the Job Information Pack for more information about the role.

Eligibility

Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

Security Clearance

Our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

Job Information

• Senior Government Lawyer - EL1
• Canberra, ACT
• $129,477 - $158,609+ 15.4% superannuation