Senior Legal Officer

Lawyers Weekly; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawyers Weekly, in Melbourne, seeks a Senior Legal Officer to provide high‑quality legal services in an in‑house environment. You will mentor and supervise legal officers, research and analyze legal issues, and advise internal clients including regulatory scientists and policy staff.

You will work with the Principal Legal Officer to deliver initiatives in a collaborative, inclusive setting, handling sensitive matters and leading a small legal team toward efficient service delivery.

Qualifications

• Must hold a degree in law and be eligible to hold an ACT or VIC legal practising certificate.
• Minimum 3 to 6 years of post-admission experience in legal practice.
• Experience mentoring and supervising lawyers preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality legal services in an in-house environment.
• Conduct legal research, analysis and problem solving to support internal clients.
• Mentor and supervise legal officers and work with the Principal Legal Officer to deliver initiatives.
• Contribute to safeguarding and growing sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry for Australians.

Skills

Legal analysis

Legal advisory

Communication

Leadership

Mentoring

Education

Law degree

Job description

This is where you play an important role.

Senior Legal Officers provide high quality legal services in an in-house environment, including legal research, analysis and problem solving. Our highly engaged internal clients are comprised of regulatory scientists and administrative, policy and compliance officers who are passionate about safeguarding and growing sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry for Australians. As a Senior Legal Officer, you will be responsible, with your Principal Legal Officer, for motivating, mentoring and supervising legal officers in your team to deliver on initiatives and goals whilst maintaining an inclusive, responsive and effective environment.

Please note that this recruitment process will initially be used to fill one ongoing vacancy and that the role may be able to be performed from either of the locations listed above. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the division where the duties are of a similar nature, noting that some vacancies are only available in Canberra.

Who we are looking for

• The ability to identify key legal issues and give accurate, practical legal advice clearly, concisely and in a way that meets client needs.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to foster and build effective relationships as an in-house adviser in a collaborative environment.
• The capacity to deal appropriately with sensitive matters that may affect the department, the Public Service and/or the broader community.
• The capability to help lead and develop lawyers and to manage legal services efficiently and effectively.
• Significant previous experience of legal practice, with a minimum of 3 to 6 years of relevant postadmission experience.

Mandatory Qualifications

To be eligible for these positions you are required to hold a degree in law and be eligible to hold an ACT or VIC legal practising certificate

• Flexible employment arrangements are available with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.