Senior Lawyer Job Description
The role of the Senior Lawyer is a critical component of the organization's legal framework. This position works closely with the Director of Legal and Integrity to provide timely and strategic legal advice and assistance.
The Senior Lawyer supports the CEO/PR in relation to matters flowing from any legal issues arising in the operations of the CEO/PR's office, including relating to the management of staff.
The Legal Office focuses on Workplace & WHS Law issues, covering employment law, industrial relations, discrimination, work health and safety, complaints handling and investigations, constitutional law issues, litigation management and training.
The key responsibilities and duties include:
* Providing timely and comprehensive advice on issues related to the work of the Courts, including workplace relations matters;
* Providing legal, strategic and management advice to the Executive Management of the Courts;
* Delivering timely expert, authoritative and strategic legal advice and counsel to the Executive Management of the Courts on critical issues that impact the Courts;
* Assisting the CEO/PR and the Deputy Principal Registrar in relation to complaints against Registrars and staff, and the Chief Justice in the handling of judicial complaints;
* Managing the processes for the Court effectively and efficiently complying with statutory and administrative guidelines relating to workplace relations;
* Providing early intervention strategies to the Executive Management of the Courts in potentially complex and litigious matters promoting positive dispute resolution strategies;
* Working with the Federal Court of Australia Agency's People and Culture Section to draw upon the service delivery of that section for human resources functions;
* Pro-actively identifying legal and regulatory issues and developments affecting the Courts in order to develop strategies and solutions.
Key qualifications and experience required for this role include:
* Tertiary qualifications in law and admission as a practitioner of the High Court and/or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia are required;
* 3 years or more of experience as a legal practitioner or in-house counsel, legal officer, or equivalent position within either the private or public sector is required;
* Experience in, and knowledge of, labour law and dealing in workplace relations is highly desirable;
* Experience working in a court administration environment is also desirable, but not essential.