Senior Legal Officer

Generalists – In House
All Canberra ACT
January 5, 2024
Full Time
Application deadline closed.

Job Description

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 work closely with policymakers on matters that directly affect all Australians across areas as diverse as trade, biosecurity, science, food, wine and the environment.

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. 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:

  • advising on regulatory systems and ongoing operations, assisting 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 investigation and enforcement of biosecurity and export laws to ensure Australia’s trade and health are safeguarded, including civil penalty litigation
  • directly developing and progressing legislation, working closely with policymakers to put effective laws in place
  • running litigation on behalf of the department to support its policy and operational activities
  • employment law, including working on enterprise bargaining for a large Commonwealth agency and on individual investigations
  • helping the department with its extensive range of commercial matters, from contracts to work on scientific developments and managing intellectual property to grants management for agricultural development across the country
  • managing the department’s legal issues arising from data management and information collection and management, including privacy advice and freedom of information requests.
  • 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 be exposed to interesting and meaningful work that is unique to the department and the Commonwealth.

The Job

We have ongoing and non-ongoing opportunities across the practice 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.

Please note this selection process will be used to fill multiple ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of 18 months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the division, where the duties are of a similar nature, in Canberra.

Knowledge and experience

Ideally you will 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.

Eligibility and other requirements

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 practising certificate.

Flexible employment arrangements are available with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.