Principal Legal Counsel

Office arrangements will be negotiated with successful candidates.

Merit list/pools and how they will be used Applicants suitable for the role but not offered the position for the current vacancy may be placed in a merit list or pool.
If the applicant agrees, the results may be shared with other Australian Public Service (APS) agencies for filling similar roles.
Applicants may be offered a future role, without the need to reapply.
A merit list or pool may be used for up to 18 months.
This merit list/pool may be used to fill other vacancies anywhere in Australia.

Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR)
Principal Legal Counsel Various locations - ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government's economic agenda.
Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology.
We do this by:
Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions Investing in science and technology Strengthening the resources sector.
If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia's future.

About the team The Department of Industry, Science and Resources is seeking high performing Principal Legal Counsels (EL2) to support our vision to enable a productive economy, enriched by science and technology, for all Australians.
Our key policies and programs include:
Investing in quantum technology to build and operate its world-first utility-scale fault tolerant quantum computer.
Supporting Australia to become a global leader in developing and adopting trusted, secure and responsible Artificial Intelligence.
Delivering a National Robotics Strategy to responsibly develop and adopt robotics and automation across the economy.
Transforming Australia's battery industry through a new Battery Breakthrough Initiative.
Positioning Australia as the world leader in green production of iron, steel, alumina and aluminium.
Supporting innovation and commercialisation through the Future Made in Innovation Fund.
Examination supporting Australia's research and development (R&D) policies.
Leading and coordinating the government's safe and responsible AI agenda.
Supporting Australian critical minerals processing through the new Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive.
We provide a supportive, flexible and inclusive working environment which is fast-paced, intellectually challenging and enjoyable.
The teams in our Legal Practice are collaborative and dynamic and provide opportunities for lawyers and non-lawyers to develop depth and breadth in their skills by working on a range of priority legal and non-legal matters.

What's in it for you?
Principal Legal Counsels in our Legal Practice undertake work with a high level of complexity or sensitivity and operate under broad direction.
They exercise a significant degree of independence and perform an important leadership role.
They provide strategy, support and oversight to ensure the provision of high quality legal advice and a customer service culture, and to grow their team's capabilities.
Principal Legal Counsels also contribute to the strategic planning of practice-wide objectives.

Our ideal candidate To be successful in the Principal Legal Counsel roles, you need to have skills and experience in:
One or more areas of law relevant to in-house government practice.
Providing concise legal advice that provides practical solutions and options and differentiates between legal requirements and legal risk.
Preparing draft written material including advice, reports and briefs.
Conducting research and making decisions based on evidence, good judgement, technical expertise and legal knowledge.
Building and maintaining productive stakeholder relationships using outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
Working collaboratively in a legal team.
Supervising and/or mentoring junior lawyers.
Our department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work.
This reflects the importance we place on our people and on creating a workplace culture where each and every one of us is valued and respected for our contribution.
Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and our workplace in their own way.

The key duties of the position include: Principal Legal Counsels duties include:
Practice leadership Leading, oversighting and managing a section.
Developing a positive Legal Practice and shared sense of purpose in their section through our vision, mission and service offering.
Using strategic collaboration, communication, and interpersonal skills that build relationships based on understanding, respect, and trust.
Identifying and implementing business improvement opportunities and leading on change initiatives and Legal Practice projects.
Helping ensure a joined-up, positive, pragmatic and consultative approach in their section to key issues facing the Legal Practice.
Managing the direct reports in their section including managing their workloads and well-being and assisting them with career planning, business contingency and risk management.
Legal advice and responsibilities Managing a busy, fast-paced section to deliver priority outcomes.
Building and maintaining strong and positive working relationships with legal colleagues, clients and other stakeholders (including external legal providers).
Clearly articulating and reporting on the priorities of their section and ensuring that their work group delivers on what they are responsible for.
Supporting their General Counsel to ensure coverage of their duties, and ensuring they are aware of critical challenges and issues.
Overseeing (in a technical sense) the quality of legal work conducted by their section.
Providing strategic advice, problem solving and issues management for their section's key stakeholders in relation to complex, high risk or potentially controversial matters.
Communicating and making balanced decisions using professional judgement, factoring in risks, and being sensitive to the context.
Undertaking complex analysis and interpretation and applying significant judgement in choosing a course of action to manage highly complex and/or sensitive issues.
Making use of systems, processes and tools to ensure quality and consistency of advice.
Taking responsibility for meeting objectives and leading the work in their section, and managing all but the most complex of legal-risk matters while escalating appropriately and providing support in relation to the handling of escalated legal matters.
Providing reports and briefs on key legal matters, risks and priorities to the General Counsel and broader senior management as required and appropriate.
Minimum Requirements Principal Legal Counsels must hold:
Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory.
A current practising certificate issued by the Law Society of the ACT or in their state or territory of residence (or be eligible to acquire one).
Applicants for a Principal Legal Counsel based in South Australia must hold, or be eligible to hold, an unrestricted practising certificate issued by the Law Society of South Australia.
To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.
Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Notes A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette.
The department does currently offer flexible work opportunities for many roles.
This vacancy is Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth or Hobart based, although flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered.
Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy.
Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job.
For more information visit:
Getting to know the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) The department's Enterprise Agreement and policies provide for a flexible working environment to assist staff balance their work and home life.
Staff and managers work together to balance the operating needs of the department with the needs of the individual.
Options may include full-time/part-time working arrangements, working from home or other arrangements.
Our employees say they recommend our department as a good place to work.
Our workplace is one that encourages and supports all employees to have a sense of belonging and a culture that allows them to bring their authentic selves to work every day.
Our reconciliation vision supports a workforce with opportunities and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The vision allows them to feel empowered and helps to ensure that the department and broader community can benefit from the knowledge and experience of Australia's First Peoples.
We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, nationalities and backgrounds including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, mature age, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people of the LGBTIQA+ community and people with disability.
The department wants to give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their full potential during a recruitment process.
We encourage candidates who require any adjustments or support as part of the recruitment process to reach out and discuss them with the job's contact officer.
Candidates are also welcome to contact our Inclusion team at for a confidential discussion if you identify from any of these diverse backgrounds and would like to discuss how we can support you.

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