Principal Lawyer – Public Law, Disputes & Employment

About the role

The Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business is establishing a new Legal Services team. As a Principal Lawyer you will provide strategic, practical and independent legal advice across public law, disputes, litigation, employment and workplace health and safety matters.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver strategic legal advice on a wide range of public law, dispute, employment and WHS issues.
• Lead significant matters under the supervision of the General Counsel, working closely with external counsel and internal stakeholders.
• Identify and assess risk, developing practical mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with HR, senior leaders and other departments to design fit‑for‑purpose systems and processes.
• Help establish and refine the department’s legal matter management systems.

Required profile

• Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas: public law, disputes and litigation, employment law, workplace health and safety law.
• Excellent written communication with the ability to produce clear, actionable advice.
• Strong project‑management capability, able to lead cross‑functional initiatives.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and a client‑focused mindset.
• Interest or experience in designing new legal systems and processes.

Required skills

• Public law
• Dispute and litigation
• Employment law
• Workplace health and safety law

What we offer

• High level of autonomy and meaningful work impacting over 3,300 employees.
• Balanced work‑life environment within a newly created department.
• Opportunity to shape legal practice in a government setting.