Senior Legal Officer (EL 1) - $120,290 - $147,317 per annum plus superannuation
Legal Division
Canberra, ACT
Who we are
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s legal work is unique. You will have the opportunity to provide legal advice and services while working closely with policymakers and operational staff on matters that directly affect all Australians across areas as diverse as biosecurity, agricultural production, trade, food, wine, fisheries and forestry. A job with Legal Division is a chance to meaningfully apply your legal skills to practical outcomes in an environment focused on your learning and development as a lawyer.

We have ongoing and non-ongoing opportunities for Senior Legal Officers. If you enjoy an energetic, purposeful and collaborative legal environment, then this is the role for you. As a Senior Legal Officer, you will provide high quality legal services in an in-house environment, including legal research, analysis and problem solving. Our highly engaged internal clients are comprised of regulatory scientists and administrative, policy and compliance officers who are passionate about safeguarding and growing sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry for Australians. You will also be responsible, with your Principal Legal Officer, for motivating, mentoring and, supervising legal officers in your team to deliver on initiatives and goals whilst maintaining an inclusive, responsive and effective environment.

The Legal Division works together to support and develop lawyers to meet their career aspirations. You will be working with committed, engaged colleagues in a supportive and flexible environment, and will progress interesting and meaningful work that is unique to the department and the Commonwealth.

The Job
The Legal Division’s large and diverse practice means that lawyers will be able to gain experience in their specific interests across a wide range of areas of law, including:
Advice on regulatory systems and ongoing operations to assist staff on the front lines with Australia’s quarantine, trade, food safety and exports across diverse supply chains, at airports and in the community.
Practical legal advice to assist investigation and enforcement of biosecurity and export laws to ensure Australia’s trade and health are safeguarded, including by civil penalty litigation.
Directly developing and progressing legislation, working closely with policymakers to put effective laws in place.
Manage the department’s litigation caseload and dispute resolution, including working with external law firms and counsel to provide strategic advice, to support the department’s policy and operational activities.
Employment law advice, including on investigations, work health and safety and external review proceedings.
Advice about the department’s extensive range of commercial matters, including advising on procurements and grants, ICT contracting, the Commonwealth resource management framework, intellectual property and property matters.
Manage the department’s legal issues arising from data management and information collection and management, including privacy advice and freedom of information requests.

Please note that the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.

What are we looking for
knowledge and experience
The successful applicants will ideally have a minimum of between 3 to 6 years of relevant post admission experience and experience in one or more of the legal areas listed above.

Mandatory qualifications
To be eligible for these positions you are required to hold a degree in law and be eligible to hold an ACT legal practicing certificate.