To be a Government Lawyer or Senior Government Lawyer at the Department of Education, you will have strong technical legal abilities, great interpersonal skills and a 'can-do' attitude. We operate flexibly between our teams and team placement for successful candidates will take into account their skills, experience and preferences as well as the department's operational needs.
While we welcome applications from robust candidates with diverse skills and interests, we are particularly looking for lawyers for the following teams:
Commercial Law Team
Our Commercial Law Team, which provides specialist commercial legal services for the department. The work of this team is wide ranging and includes advising on the design and conduct of procurements and grants, media campaigns, contractual rights such as breach and termination processes, other commercial law subject matter such as intellectual property, corporations law, Australian Consumer Law, issues that arise from funded capital works projects, and the drafting of (often bespoke) deeds, contracts, variations and the like.
Advising Teams
Our Advising teams, which advise on our portfolio legislation and work closely with their respective client groups ('Early Childhood'; 'Higher Education, Research and International'; and 'Schools and Youth') in the development, implementation and administration of Government policies and programs.
The key duties of the position include
As a Government Lawyer (APS Level 6), you will:
- Provide high quality, solutions focused legal advice to client areas, that identifies and differentiates between legal requirements and risks, and legal opportunities
- Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Work with clients to develop and implement programs, as well as advise on existing legislation, potential reforms and legislation development
- Apply statutory interpretation and administrative law skills in the development and administration of the department's programs
- Advise on potential legal claims and disputes and manage litigation matters, including opportunities to perform in-house advocacy in tribunal matters
- Work flexibly with other teams in the legal practice
- Support junior lawyers and work collaboratively within a team
As a Senior Government Lawyer (Executive Level 1), you will:
- Provide high quality, complex or sensitive legal advice to clients, that is solutions focused and identifies and differentiates between legal requirements and risks, and legal opportunities
- Work with a significant degree of autonomy to manage complex legal matters, reporting to the Principal Government Lawyer and escalating and seeking guidance on matters as appropriate
- Develop and manage effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders
- Work with clients to develop and implement programs, as well as provide complex advice on existing legislation, potential reforms and legislation development
- Apply statutory interpretation and administrative law skills in the development and administration of the department's programs
- Advise on potential legal claims and disputes and manage litigation matters, including opportunities to perform in-house advocacy in tribunal matters
- Work flexibly with other teams in the legal practice
- Provide leadership and supervise, mentor and manage junior staff, building capability, supporting professional development and ensuring high quality work output