Senior Lawyer

City of Gold Coast; Gold Coast City; Hybrid; AUD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day fortnight

Flexible work arrangements

Personal and professional development

Access to fitness facilities

Free counselling sessions

Free nutritionist and financial advice

Job summary

The City of Gold Coast is seeking a Senior Lawyer to provide strategic legal services across various operational matters affecting the Council, focusing on planning and environmental legislation.

You'll work autonomously under the direction of the Manager Legal Services, advising stakeholders including the Mayor and Councilors, while managing files and drafting vital legal documents. The position offers flexibility and various employee benefits.

Qualifications

• Experienced legal professional with strong technical expertise and sound judgement.
• Ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience managing competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on local government matters, focusing on relevant acts.
• Manage a large range of files, including Planning and Environment Court appeals.
• Draft legal documents and prepare infrastructure agreements.
• Coordinate briefs with junior lawyers and paralegals.
• Manage engagement of external panel firms as required.

Skills

Legal advice

Stakeholder engagement

File management

Drafting legal documents

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor Degree in Law

Registration Queensland Law Society

Job description

Potential opportunity to negotiate salary based on skills and experience

About the Branch

The General Counsel Branch sits within the Strategy, People and Performance Department. The Branch comprises 11 lawyers working across three streams including Planning and Environment, Compliance and Regulatory Services (Stream A); Corporate, Commercial, Property and Workplace Health & Safety (Stream B) and Employment (Stream C)) overseen by the General Counsel. The Branch is supported by a Paralegal, Branch Administrator and Business Administration Officers.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Lawyer responsible for providing strategic and professional legal services to Council across a diverse range of operational matters affecting local government, with a particular focus on planning and environment, compliance and regulatory services.

You will work under broad direction from the Manager Legal Services with significant autonomy and will provide legal advice to a range of internal stakeholders (including Mayor, Councillors, CEO, Managers and City Officers) on all issues that may arise while Council is carrying out its responsibilities and powers as a local government.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on a range of matters affecting local government, with a key focus on Local Government Act 2009 (Qld), Planning Act 2016 (Qld), Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld), Building Act 1975 (Qld), Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 (Qld), Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) and Justices Act 1886 (Qld).
• Manage a large range of files, including planning and infrastructure advisory, Planning and Environment Court appeals, development and regulatory compliance (including Magistrates Court prosecutions) and general local government advisory.
• Draft legal documents and prepare infrastructure agreements.
• Coordinate the preparation and collation of briefs with the assistance of junior lawyers and paralegal.
• Manage the engagement and instruction of external panel firms as required.

Please refer to the attached position brief for further information.

About You

You are an experienced legal professional with strong technical expertise, sound judgement and the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels. You thrive in a dynamic environment, can confidently manage competing priorities, and provide pragmatic legal solutions that support organisational outcomes.

You will have:

• Bachelor Degree in Law
• Registration Queensland Law Society

Be part of shaping the Gold Coast’s future

The Gold Coast is inspired by lifestyle and driven by opportunity. We are the second largest Council in Australia.

We care about being the most flexible government organisation in Australia. We have a range of benefits to help you create the right balance:

• 9-day fortnight
• Flexible work arrangements to suit your lifestyle, including hybrid/work from home options, flexible working hours and locations
• Personal and professional development courses
• Access to 350+ fitness facilities through Fitness Passport
• 4 free confidential counselling sessions a year for you or an immediate family member
• 1 free nutritionist and financial advice session per year

We pride ourselves on our shared mission of being a high-performing, customer-focused organisation which delivers value-for-money services to the community.

Closing Date

Sunday 25 October 2026 @11:59 pm AEST

Our selection process may include a one-way video interview via Criteria, a face-to-face or virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, reference checks via Xref and additional checks including police checks, employment history checks, qualification checks, pre-employment medical reviews and drug and alcohol testing.

We’re committed to creating a diverse workplace and inclusive culture. We take pride in people who align with our high-performance principles. We believe that the diverse makeup of our workforce reflects the community we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities, and encourage candidates to discuss any support or adjustments they may need throughout the recruitment process.