Special Counsel

Careers at Council; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Wellbeing leave days

Salary sacrificing options

Additional insurance

Job summary

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) invites applications for a part-time Special Counsel to provide high-level governance, compliance and corporate legal advice. Working with the Chief Executive and the Board, you will guide decision-making, oversee statutory obligations and support company secretarial activities across two trustee entities.

This senior role requires autonomy, sound judgement and the ability to influence across the organisation while balancing competing priorities in a two-day-per-week

Qualifications

• Senior legal professional with governance, risk and compliance experience.
• Ability to provide clear and timely advice on complex matters.
• Capable of autonomously managing priorities in a part-time role.
• Experience with corporations law and regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Advise the LGNSW Board, Chief Executive and executives on corporate legal matters.
• Manage outsourced legal advice on corporate and governance issues.
• Support statutory and governance obligations under relevant acts and rules.
• Provide company secretarial support for two trustee entities and ASIC compliance.
• Prepare reports for the LGNSW Board and coordinate governance processes.

Skills

Governance

Compliance

Corporate law

Board advisory

Stakeholder management

Education

Law degree

NSW practising certificate

Job description

• Provide expert governance, compliance and corporate legal advice
• Excellent working conditions and work/life balance

We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Special Counsel to provide high-level corporate legal advice to LGNSW, with a focus on corporate governance, statutory compliance and company secretarial responsibilities. This part‑time (2 day a week) role works closely with the Chief Executive, the LGNSW Board and senior stakeholders, and operates alongside the Corporate Services team, which undertakes the day‑to‑day Board administrative functions.

About LGNSW

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) is a not‑for‑profit organisation and is the peak body for councils and related organisations across NSW. We advocate on behalf of our members and their communities and deliver a broad range of services including training, workplace relations, management services and legal support. When you work at LGNSW, you’re contributing to stronger councils and better outcomes for communities across the state.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Special Counsel will provide expert legal, governance and compliance advice to support LGNSW’s operations, decision‑making and statutory obligations. The role will advise the Board, Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team on corporate legal issues, manage external legal advice where required, and support compliance with relevant legislative and governance requirements.

This is a senior specialist role requiring a high degree of autonomy, expert judgement and influence across the organisation.

The role involves:

• Providing internal legal advice to the LGNSW Board, Chief Executive and senior stakeholders on corporate legal, governance and compliance matters.
• Managing outsourced legal advice on corporate, governance and other significant legal matters as required.
• Supporting LGNSW’s statutory and governance obligations, including under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Cth), the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) and LGNSW’s Rules.
• Providing company secretarial support for two trustee companies (the partners in the Local Government Procurement Partnership) and ensuring ASIC compliance requirements are met.
• Managing matters relating to Vision Super, StateCover and Local Government Procurement, including preparing reports and recommendations for the LGNSW Board.
• Coordinating recruitment processes for LGNSW‑nominated director representatives on relevant Boards, with administrative support as required.
• Reviewing contracts, agreements and legal documents to protect LGNSW’s interests and manage legal risk.
• Supporting Board compliance obligations, including disclosures of interests, preparation and delivery of Board induction materials. and managing delivery of mandatory training for Board members under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act.
• Liaising with external agencies and maintaining effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

What we offer

LGNSW offers professional development opportunities, a positive and supportive work culture, and the opportunity to contribute to local government and the communities that local government represents.

We offer:

• Competitive remuneration package commensurate with the seniority and part‑time nature of the role.
• A hybrid way of working - Enabling employees to blend their work between the office and home.
• Wellbeing leave days - Supporting our employees to live happier, healthier and well‑balanced lives.
• Salary‑sacrificing options - Enabling our employees to reduce their taxable income.
• Additional insurance - Offering eligible employees additional insurance coverage, including Death, Total and Permanent Disability and Income Protection Insurance.

About you

You will be a senior legal professional with strong governance, risk, compliance and corporate legal experience. You will bring sound judgement, discretion and decisiveness, with the ability to provide clear, practical and timely advice on complex matters. You are confident working autonomously, managing competing priorities within a part‑time role, and building trusted relationships with the Board, executives, senior leaders, external advisers and key stakeholders.

• Law degree or equivalent tertiary legal qualifications.
• Hold, or have the ability to hold, an unrestricted New South Wales Law Society practising certificate.
• Proven ability to express views constructively and diplomatically, consider others’ perspectives, and apply negotiation and persuasion skills to manage stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the capacity to deal with complex issues requiring a high level of discretion, judgement and decisiveness.
• Proven ability to provide effective, sensible and sound legal advice to senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to critically analyse issues and develop and implement effective strategies and solutions that support LGNSW’s goals and values.
• Deep understanding and significant experience in governance, risk and compliance principles, practices, legislation and regulation, supported by highly developed interpersonal skills and a strong customer service focus.
• Demonstrated experience in, or understanding of, corporations law, partnership structures and the provisions of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Cth) and Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) that relate to registered organisations.

For further information, please contact Vanessa Smith (Manager, Corporate Services) on 0417 690 *** or *************@lgnsw.org.au.

Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday, 11 October 2026.

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible workforce that reflects the community and members we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from all people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, marital and family status or disability.