* Do you want to work at an agency where each day reveals new opportunities to work on some of the biggest issues facing consumers and businesses and have opportunities to pursue new and exciting pathways?
* Do you want to work at a place where smart and dedicated people from all walks of life collaborate to work on meaningful matters?
* Do you want to work in a complex and challenging field and contribute specialised legal services to Australia's Energy Regulator as a Principal Lawyer?
Then this is the place for you At the AER, we work to make energy consumers better off, now and in the future. We focus on ensuring a secure, reliable and affordable energy future for Australia as it transitions to net zero emissions. Our high performing culture is built on a foundation of care, support and inclusion. It's why we're driven by connection and collaboration, sharing our skills, knowledge and support with each other freely and frequently. It's why we prioritise the wellbeing of our people and empower them to work autonomously, flexibly and courageously. We believe the best version of you is the one that's true to who you are – and that's the you we want working alongside us.
We value flexibility, this role can be performed at any of the AER offices located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, or Sydney and are available on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis.
Applicants from diverse backgrounds including First Nations peoples, people with disability and those from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
The Legal Branch forms part of the AER's Legal, Corporate and Information Services Division. The Legal branch provides specialised legal services to the AER. The AER is conferred with regulatory functions pursuant to the Competition and Consumer Act, the National Electricity Law and Rules, the National Gas Law and Rules, the National Energy Retail Law and Rules.
With the pending legal separation, we are increasing our corporate and governance legal work, including procurement and freedom of information. On these corporate matters, we work closely with our ACCC colleagues.
There is diverse work in the Legal Branch, ranging from advising on administrative decision-making, compliance and enforcement actions, litigation, and public sector corporate governance. The majority of work involves the provision of general legal services to assist the AER to make lawful and fully informed decisions, to comply with legislative and policy requirements in its regulatory and administrative activities, and to conduct litigation to enforce the energy laws. Some positions will also require knowledge of laws and policies related to the corporate operation of a Commonwealth agency.
The work of the Branch is complex and intellectually engaging. Our purpose is to work collaboratively within the AER and with its stakeholders, and to advise using a partnership approach that focusses on practical, lawful outcomes. We will maintain our independence of advice and ensure that we comply with our ethical and professional obligations as lawyers.
What you will do as the Principal Lawyer
We are looking for Principal Lawyers for roles in regulatory and administrative law (including policy and legislative development), litigation or public sector corporate governance.
Principal Lawyers will perform some or all of the following overall duties:
* As technical experts, provide advice on economic regulation, administrative decision making, and other energy regulatory matters under Australian energy laws, administrative law issues, and statutory interpretation of Australian energy laws and other related laws.
* Provide advice and direction on legal policy and legislation development, including identifying and monitoring opportunities for amendments to Australian energy laws.
* Assist with and provide strategic input into enforcement matters and the conduct of litigation, including managing court and tribunal proceedings involving the AER, and provide assistance to the AER in the performance of its dispute resolution functions in relation to Australian energy laws. This includes managing external legal providers and briefing counsel.
* Negotiate and draft intergovernmental agreements that relate to the conferral of powers and functions on the AER under State energy legislation.
* Provide advice on public sector corporate governance issues that arise under relevant legislation and policies.
As part of these overall duties, the day-to day-duties of Principal Lawyers will involve some or all of the following:
* Assist in providing advice on complex issues relating to the regulatory functions and powers of the AER, including the Competition and Consumer Act (to the extent that it is relevant to the work of the AER), the National Electricity Law and Rules, the National Gas Law and Rules, the National Energy Retail Law and Rules and other relevant legislation
* Assist other lawyers through the conduct of legal and related research into routine and complex matters relevant to the AER responsibilities under Australian energy laws and other relevant legislation.
* Review and provide legal input into AER determinations, publications, and information programs regarding Australian energy laws.
* Working collaboratively with ACCC colleagues, provide advice on issues relating to the public sector corporate governance applicable to the AER (including those arising under the PGPA, FOI, Public Service and Privacy Acts, the Fair Work Act and WHS legislation and the handling of confidential information).
* Coordinate the provision of external legal servics (including in relation to specialist legal advice on matters including, for example, employment law and major procurements), including managing expenditure on those services.
* Develop and maintain professional relationships at all levels within the AER to assist the AER Legal Branch to provide responsive client service.
* Develop and maintain professional relationships with relevant public sector officials in stakeholder agencies (including the AER's portfolio Department and agencies).
* Develop internal resources and provide training to staff within the branch and the broader agency, on relevant areas of the law.
* Supervise, train, or mentor others, including staff who are new to the work of the AER, including developing and providing professional development activities for staff, second counsel and second chair other lawyers including other EL2 Principal Lawyers.
About you
To succeed in this role, you will have:
* Demonstrated experience leading a team or similar role in a fast-paced and complex people-centred organisation.
* Admission as a practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory. You must be eligible to hold (and must maintain) a practising certificate issued in an Australian jurisdiction.
* Extensive experience (generally 7+ years post admission or equivalent) as a lawyer.
* Demonstrated experience working with a high level of independence and autonomy, and under broad supervision when providing legal advice.
* Ability to get across complex legislation quickly; including a willingness to explore, collect and harness new information.
* Ability to act as a technical advisor and working across highly complex and sensitive issues across a broad range of legal activities.
* Proven experience collaborating effectively across teams and with people at different levels, and to distil and communicating legal advice concisely to diverse audiences.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, persuade and negotiate effectively.
* Problem solving ability to exercise significant judgment, assessment and interpretation when addressing complex legal or organisational challenges.
* Demonstrated experience working collaboratively and collegiately across teams and with people at different levels, and to distil and communicate legal advice clearly to a range of audiences.
* Experience in energy law, administrative law and decision making, statutory interpretation, regulatory litigation, and/or public sector corporate governance issues is highly desirable.
To find out more about us and the role, please read the Candidate Kit.
How to apply
You will be asked to respond to the statement of claims of no more than 800 words and submit your resume with key outcomes or what you are most proud of in each role you have held (2 pages maximum).
Salary: $162,619 - $172,365 (plus 15.4% superannuation)
Contact Officer: Geoff Purvis-Smith,
Applications Close: 11:00pm (AEDT) Sunday, 9 November 2025