Job Description
Location
Adelaide SA 5000•Hybrid work
Full job description
Essential Services Commission of South Australia
Job reference: 686925
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Short Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone
Full-time/Part-time, 12-month contract
ASO5/6 - $85,790 - $104,165 plus superannuation
Classification and salary dependant on level of skill and experience.
Do you:
have a legal qualification, at least two years’ post admission experience and want to grow your career in an organisation that values your expertise and invests in your development?
want to utilise your legal expertise to shape sound regulatory policy to benefit South Australian consumers and drive high quality decision making with integrity and accountability?
appreciate flexibility, hybrid working, and the ability to develop your legal career with no billable hours?
If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to join our dynamic team as a Legal Officer to assist the Essential Services Commission’s delivery of efficient and effective economic regulation that supports our South Australian community.
About the role
As our Legal Officer, you will undertake a crucial role in supporting the Commission’s work through the provision of sound legal advice and support. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will work within the Legal and Governance team supporting the Commission’s regulatory and corporate duties.
Your responsibilities will include:
Legal advisory and support: Deliver high-quality legal advice across a broad spectrum of matters relevant to the Commission, including regulatory, employment, and governance issues. This includes interpreting and applying a range of legislative instruments to support decision-making.
Compliance and enforcement: Assist in the conduct of investigations and enforcement actions involving regulated entities, ensuring legal rigour and procedural fairness.
Stakeholder engagement: Communicate clearly and effectively with both internal and external stakeholders. Internally, this includes staff, Executive leadership, and Commissioners; externally, it includes consultants and legal advisors such as the Crown Solicitor’s Office.
Policy and governance: Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of corporate policies and procedures, supporting strong governance and compliance across the organisation.
Freedom of Information (FOI): Manage and respond to FOI applications in accordance with legislative requirements and internal protocols.
About you
To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate:
Relevant skill and experience: You will hold a law degree and a current practising certificate under the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA) (or equivalent), with a minimum of two years’ post-admission experience. Experience as an in-house legal advisor and an understanding of how legal functions integrate with broader organisational operations will set you apart from other candidates.
Expertise in legal analysis: You will have a strong foundation in legal research and policy analysis, with demonstrated experience in administrative law and statutory interpretation.
Exceptional communication skills: You will be a confident and articulate communicator, capable of translating complex legal concepts into clear, accessible advice for diverse audiences—both written and verbal.
Values-driven approach: You will embody the Commission’s core values of accountability, collaboration, agility, respect, and integrity, and apply them consistently in your professional practice.
Adaptability & responsiveness: You will excel in dynamic environments, responding to shifting priorities with composure and precision, while supporting cross-functional teams with sound legal guidance.
Experience working within a regulatory environment is not essential but will be highly regarded.
About the Commission
The Commission is a statutory authority established as an independent economic regulator and advisory body to protect the long-term interests of South Australian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services. We add long-term value to the South Australian community by meeting our objective through independent, ethical and expert regulatory decisions and the provision of robust advice to Government. Our work is anchored in our core values of Accountability, Collaboration, Agility, Respect, and Integrity.
Our role incorporates licensing, consumer protection, service standards, pricing, monitoring, compliance and public reporting in the water, electricity and gas industries, and access regulation of essential ports and rail infrastructure. We also provide advice and conduct Inquiries to inform the South Australian Government on economic and regulatory policy issues and provide advice to local government.
What we can offer
The Commission and the South Australian public sector promote diversity and flexible ways of working, including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
We support our employees to deliver high quality outcomes by genuinely providing a great work culture, fostering employee relations and valuing health and wellbeing. We also offer all staff ongoing professional development and access to generous learning and development provisions. We offer hybrid ways of working for all staff and support flexibility for our people.
We are committed to an inclusive workplace that values diversity and actively promote a culturally safe workplace by developing and implementing inclusion-based action plans, including a Reconciliation Action Plan and Disability Access Inclusion Plan.
In addition, the Commission is proudly White Ribbon Australia accredited and adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards domestic violence and disrespectful behaviours of any kind in the workplace and in the broader community.
Special Conditions for Employment
Employment is dependent upon the provision of a National Police Certificate that the Commission considers satisfactory.
Some out of hours work may be required to meet critical deadlines.
Some intrastate and or interstate travel may be required.
How to apply
In order to be considered for this position, you must provide:
A resume and a cover letter of no more than 500 words outlining how your skills and experience will complement the role and our organisation. Applications without a cover letter or a cover letter of more than two pages and/or 500 words may not be considered.
A completed and signed Pre-Employment Declaration – a copy is located on our website under the Vacancies page.
A combined cover letter, resume and Pre-Employment Declaration into one PDF document (in this order of documents).
For further information about the role, please contact Amelia Greer, People and Culture Officer on 08 8389 8818 or via email to [email protected].
Applications should be addressed to Rachel Wilkinson, Manager, People and Culture via email to [email protected].
We are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process for all applicants. Please contact us at [email protected] if you feel that further guidance or support might assist you with the application process and we will be happy to discuss this further with you.
Applications close at 11.00pm, Sunday, 3 August 2026.
Applications close: 03/08/2026 11:00 PM
Adelaide SA 5000•Hybrid work
Full job description
Essential Services Commission of South Australia
Job reference: 686925
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Short Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone
Full-time/Part-time, 12-month contract
ASO5/6 - $85,790 - $104,165 plus superannuation
Classification and salary dependant on level of skill and experience.
Do you:
have a legal qualification, at least two years’ post admission experience and want to grow your career in an organisation that values your expertise and invests in your development?
want to utilise your legal expertise to shape sound regulatory policy to benefit South Australian consumers and drive high quality decision making with integrity and accountability?
appreciate flexibility, hybrid working, and the ability to develop your legal career with no billable hours?
If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to join our dynamic team as a Legal Officer to assist the Essential Services Commission’s delivery of efficient and effective economic regulation that supports our South Australian community.
About the role
As our Legal Officer, you will undertake a crucial role in supporting the Commission’s work through the provision of sound legal advice and support. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will work within the Legal and Governance team supporting the Commission’s regulatory and corporate duties.
Your responsibilities will include:
Legal advisory and support: Deliver high-quality legal advice across a broad spectrum of matters relevant to the Commission, including regulatory, employment, and governance issues. This includes interpreting and applying a range of legislative instruments to support decision-making.
Compliance and enforcement: Assist in the conduct of investigations and enforcement actions involving regulated entities, ensuring legal rigour and procedural fairness.
Stakeholder engagement: Communicate clearly and effectively with both internal and external stakeholders. Internally, this includes staff, Executive leadership, and Commissioners; externally, it includes consultants and legal advisors such as the Crown Solicitor’s Office.
Policy and governance: Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of corporate policies and procedures, supporting strong governance and compliance across the organisation.
Freedom of Information (FOI): Manage and respond to FOI applications in accordance with legislative requirements and internal protocols.
About you
To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate:
Relevant skill and experience: You will hold a law degree and a current practising certificate under the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA) (or equivalent), with a minimum of two years’ post-admission experience. Experience as an in-house legal advisor and an understanding of how legal functions integrate with broader organisational operations will set you apart from other candidates.
Expertise in legal analysis: You will have a strong foundation in legal research and policy analysis, with demonstrated experience in administrative law and statutory interpretation.
Exceptional communication skills: You will be a confident and articulate communicator, capable of translating complex legal concepts into clear, accessible advice for diverse audiences—both written and verbal.
Values-driven approach: You will embody the Commission’s core values of accountability, collaboration, agility, respect, and integrity, and apply them consistently in your professional practice.
Adaptability & responsiveness: You will excel in dynamic environments, responding to shifting priorities with composure and precision, while supporting cross-functional teams with sound legal guidance.
Experience working within a regulatory environment is not essential but will be highly regarded.
About the Commission
The Commission is a statutory authority established as an independent economic regulator and advisory body to protect the long-term interests of South Australian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services. We add long-term value to the South Australian community by meeting our objective through independent, ethical and expert regulatory decisions and the provision of robust advice to Government. Our work is anchored in our core values of Accountability, Collaboration, Agility, Respect, and Integrity.
Our role incorporates licensing, consumer protection, service standards, pricing, monitoring, compliance and public reporting in the water, electricity and gas industries, and access regulation of essential ports and rail infrastructure. We also provide advice and conduct Inquiries to inform the South Australian Government on economic and regulatory policy issues and provide advice to local government.
What we can offer
The Commission and the South Australian public sector promote diversity and flexible ways of working, including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
We support our employees to deliver high quality outcomes by genuinely providing a great work culture, fostering employee relations and valuing health and wellbeing. We also offer all staff ongoing professional development and access to generous learning and development provisions. We offer hybrid ways of working for all staff and support flexibility for our people.
We are committed to an inclusive workplace that values diversity and actively promote a culturally safe workplace by developing and implementing inclusion-based action plans, including a Reconciliation Action Plan and Disability Access Inclusion Plan.
In addition, the Commission is proudly White Ribbon Australia accredited and adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards domestic violence and disrespectful behaviours of any kind in the workplace and in the broader community.
Special Conditions for Employment
Employment is dependent upon the provision of a National Police Certificate that the Commission considers satisfactory.
Some out of hours work may be required to meet critical deadlines.
Some intrastate and or interstate travel may be required.
How to apply
In order to be considered for this position, you must provide:
A resume and a cover letter of no more than 500 words outlining how your skills and experience will complement the role and our organisation. Applications without a cover letter or a cover letter of more than two pages and/or 500 words may not be considered.
A completed and signed Pre-Employment Declaration – a copy is located on our website under the Vacancies page.
A combined cover letter, resume and Pre-Employment Declaration into one PDF document (in this order of documents).
For further information about the role, please contact Amelia Greer, People and Culture Officer on 08 8389 8818 or via email to [email protected].
Applications should be addressed to Rachel Wilkinson, Manager, People and Culture via email to [email protected].
We are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process for all applicants. Please contact us at [email protected] if you feel that further guidance or support might assist you with the application process and we will be happy to discuss this further with you.
Applications close at 11.00pm, Sunday, 3 August 2026.
Applications close: 03/08/2026 11:00 PM
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The LEGAL OFFICER position is now open for candidates interested in the Legal Jobs sector. This role in Adelaide offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Legal Jobs is a plus.
