Senior Legal Officer

About the role

The Senior Legal Officer provides independent, high‑level legal advice and consultancy to the Minister, Director‑General and senior departmental officers on a broad range of complex and sensitive matters. This role ensures that legal advice is timely, strategic and aligned with the department’s objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver independent legal advice on employment law, child safety, human rights, historical abuse, litigation, administrative law, contract law, intellectual property, information rights, judicial review, privacy, property law, statutory interpretation and whistle‑blower protection.
• Coordinate, prepare, settle and represent departmental submissions to courts and tribunals, and develop supporting procedures.
• Liaise with Crown Law, other government departments, external agencies and legal representatives to achieve optimal outcomes for the State.
• Research, draft and present complex recommendations, briefing notes, submissions and correspondence on corporate governance and performance improvement.
• Assist the Director in policy development, budget allocation for legal expenses, and monitoring of external specialist legal service providers.
• Monitor emerging legal trends, risks and opportunities and advise senior management accordingly.

Required profile

• Extensive experience providing senior‑level legal advice on complex, sensitive matters.
• Ability to act independently without direction from non‑lawyers on legal opinions.
• Strong understanding of Model Litigant Principles and public‑sector legal frameworks.
• Proven capability to manage legal budgets and external service providers.

Required skills

What we offer

• Opportunity to influence high‑impact legal decisions within a government department.
• Professional development in a diverse range of legal areas.