Senior Lawyer, Legal Services

National Indigenous Australians Agency; Canberra; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

National Indigenous Australians Agency is seeking an EL1 Senior Lawyer to lead legal advisory work under the General Counsel and Principal Lawyers. The role covers drafting, strategic advice and shaping legislation, policies and programs to advance the NIAA’s objectives.

You will provide guidance on grants, procurement, property, corporate law, FOI, privacy, finance and employment matters, and support dispute resolution and litigation. Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement are essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication, collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven ability to build strong professional relationships and consult effectively.
• Strong legal, technical, analytical and research skills.
• Consistent ability to provide accurate, clear and solution-focused legal advice.
• Proven ability to promote effective legal practice, manage projects and maintain professional standards.
• Proven responsiveness and adaptability, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Sound independent judgement while working under general direction.
• Consistent ability to provide leadership, supervision and development for less experienced staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead work including legal advice, drafting and strategic support for legislation, policies and programs.
• Advise on grant and procurement contracts, property and other commercial law matters.
• Handle freedom of information, privacy, finance law, employment law and other corporate law matters.
• Support Commonwealth dispute resolution and litigation.

Skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Stakeholder engagement

Legal research

Analytical thinking

Legal advice

Project management

Leadership

Education

Legal Practising Certificate (Australia)

Job description

This is an important time to be working at the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and contributing to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are heard, recognised and empowered.

The Legal Services Branch provides the full suite of inhouse government legal services to the NIAA. Our services include provision of legal advice on a range of corporate law, commercial law and public law matters, development of legislation, management of Commonwealth dispute resolution and litigation and procurement of specialist external legal advice when necessary.

Working under the direction of the NIAA General Counsel and Principal Lawyers, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading work including legal advice, drafting and other strategic support associated with:

• the design, development and implementation of effective legislation, policies and programs in support of the NIAA's objectives
• grant and procurement contracts, property and other commercial law matters
• freedom information, privacy, finance law, employment law and other corporate law matters
• Commonwealth dispute resolution and litigation.

Our Ideal Candidate:

As an EL1 Senior Lawyer, at the time of application, you must be able to demonstrate:

• commitment to the NIAA vision of ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are heard, recognised and empowered
• excellent communication, collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills
• proven ability to build strong professional relationships and consult effectively
• strong legal, technical, analytical and research skills
• consistent ability to provide accurate, clear and solution-focused legal advice
• consistent ability to promote effective legal practice, manage projects and maintain professional standards
• proven responsiveness and adaptability, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• sound independent judgement while working under general direction
• consistent ability to provide leadership, supervision and development for less experienced staff.

Qualifications:

Legal qualifications, admission to practice and eligibility to hold a government restricted Australian legal practising certificate.

A minimum of 3 to 5 years of post-admission experience is strongly preferred.