Senior Lawyer

Um Holdings; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

CASA is looking for lawyers to join our Legal Services Branch and work on complex and interesting matters that support Australia\'s aviation safety regulator.

Our lawyers work across regulatory, public and corporate law matters, with opportunities to provide advice on aviation legislation, information access and litigation. You’ll collaborate with experienced lawyers and CASA decision-makers to deliver high quality legal outcomes.

Qualifications

• Tertiary law degree and admission as a legal practitioner.
• Experience in aviation law, public law, or information law.
• Experience in litigation or procurement-related commercial law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on complex matters including statutory interpretation.
• Conduct litigation and represent CASA in courts and tribunals.
• Lead teams and manage resources to deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Ensure information access and FOI compliance.
• Collaborate with CASA decision-makers and subject matter experts.

Skills

Legal judgement

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory experience

Education

Tertiary law degree

Job description

CASA is looking for lawyers to join our Legal Services Branch and work on complex and interesting matters that support Australia's aviation safety regulator.

Our lawyers work across a range of regulatory, public and corporate law matters. Depending on your experience and the role, your work may include:

• interpreting and advising on aviation legislation;
• public law and statutory interpretation;
• commercial law, particularly contract advice;
• information law, particularly freedom of information and privacy; or
• conducting litigation and representing CASA in courts, tribunals and other external forums.

Understanding and applying CASA's aviation legislation is an important part of our legal work, but you don't need to be an aviation lawyer to be a strong candidate. We're interested in lawyers who can bring relevant experience from other complex regulatory environments, as well as lawyers with expertise in litigation, public law, commercial law or information law.

You'll work with a high degree of independence and collaborate with experienced lawyers, CASA decision-makers and subject matter experts to solve complex legal problems, manage legal risk and deliver high-quality legal outcomes.

Legal Services comprises separate Advisory and Litigation sections, with both teams working on complex matters that support CASA's regulatory functions. You'll be part of a supportive legal practice with opportunities to broaden your experience, develop your expertise and build your career.

We're looking for lawyers with strong legal judgement, excellent communication skills and the ability to turn complex legal issues into practical solutions. If you enjoy challenging legal work, professional autonomy and the opportunity to contribute to an important regulatory mission, we'd like to hear from you.

This positions key responsibilities include:

• Reporting to, and working closely with Principal Lawyers in the branch and engaging across all business areas in CASA, with a view to ensuring existing and potential legal risks are identified and effectively addressed through advice and conduct of litigation.
• Provide legal advice on complex matters involving statutory interpretation, commercial law, regulatory and corporate legal issues, and information access law
• Conduct litigation in which CASA is a party before Courts and Tribunals
• Manage complex applications for access to documents under the Freedom of Information legislation
• Leading a team or work area with diverse skill sets and tasks, or managing a larger team where skill sets and tasks are related, by providing the team with operational direction including:
• building a positive workplace culture that is safe and healthy, aligned with CASA's Values, is respectful and free from bullying, harassment and discrimination; and is respectful
• developing, coaching and mentoring employees to ensure they maintain a high level of specialist, professional and/or technical expertise, manage performance and undertake conflict resolution
• contributing to and implementing work plans, strategies and priorities to manage resources effectively and ensure high quality outputs aligned to CASA priorities, monitoring workflow and performance
• providing leadership in implementing and promoting a climate of change and continuous improvement.
• Ensuring team compliance with all organisational requirements including information management, performance agreements (PACS), leave management, flexible working arrangements, timesheets and mandatory training completion ensuring organisational efficiency and risk management. Maintain accurate records, monitor adherence to policies and procedures, and escalation non-compliance issues as required.
• Actively contributing to team goals while maintaining compliance with applicable legislative standards and guidance material, CASA's Corporate Plan, policies, practices and standards, and in accordance with CASA's Values, Regulatory Philosophy and assigned delegations.
• Motivating, guiding, and developing self and others; empowering and providing direction to support colleagues. Being aware of others' performance and supporting the achievement of performance goals and work expectations in accordance with CASA practices.
• Providing expert advice on policy, operational processes, complex problem solving, and issues management relevant to internal and external stakeholders.
• Implementing change and managing workplace uncertainty. Providing a significant contribution to innovation and business improvement strategies.
• Maintaining a positive health and safety culture, including psychosocial wellbeing in the workplace and providing input, where appropriate, into decisions that may impact upon personal health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace.
• Demonstrating awareness of the diverse histories, cultures, and experiences of First Nations Peoples and other cultural groups. Communicating with respect and understanding of balancing work, family and community responsibilities.
• Initiating, positively engaging in and responding to change. Supporting others through change.
• Other duties as required.

Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Professional and/or technical expertise with the ability to integrate expertise and professional judgement into complex and sensitive matters.
• A track record of identifying opportunities, building trust and influencing stakeholders, including management, to create positive lasting organisational impact.
• Experience interpreting and adapting policies and procedures, to make recommendations or take informed decisions with limited guidance.
• An ability to build credibility across all levels of the organisation and the ability to drive alignment without formal authority.
• Developed communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to translate complex ideas or issues clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Mandatory Qualifications, licences and experience

• Tertiary qualifications in law and admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or a Supreme Court of a State or Territory.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas of law:
• interpreting and advising about aviation legislation;
• general public law and statutory interpretation advising;
• commercial law, especially in relation to procurement;
• information law, especially compliance with freedom of information and privacy-related obligations; and
• conduct of litigation.

Eligibility Requirements

Employment with CASA is subject to conditions prescribed within the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) and the CASA Enterprise Agreement. The following eligibility requirements apply to this position:

• At a minimum, prospective CASA employees must undergo pre-employment screening and must be willing to provide the required information to successfully undergo a police record check.
• The position’s occupant must be an Australian citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain the level of security clearance as required.

For further information, please contact: David Thomas | [phone]*** | ************@casa.gov.au

Affirmative Measures

This vacancy is being advertised concurrently under a general and an affirmative measure recruitment process.

Affirmative measures is only available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait people or people living with a disability, evidence will be requested if your application progresses under an affirmative measures process.

About us

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) primary function is to conduct the safety regulation of civil air operations in Australia, Australian civil airspace and the operation civil air operations in Australia, Australian civil airspace and the operation of Australian aircraft overseas.

CASA is committed to having a flexible and inclusive workplace and recognises and values the diversity of the wider Australian community.

We encourage and welcome applications from people with Disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and mature age people.

Culture and benefits

We value our people. CASA values social and cultural diversity and is committed to a safe workplace. We are committed to the attraction, recruitment and retention of Indigenous Australians and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

CASA is committed to attaining and retaining the highest quality of skilled professionals and providing a desirable work environment in which they can maximise their talent and potential. We provide rewarding careers, promote work-life balance and support professional and personal development.

Closing Date for Applications: 11:59pm, AEDT Sunday 1 November 2026