Chief Counsel and Senior Executive Lawyer
Job Description
Job Description
The Commercial practice in the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) is looking to fill our Chief Counsel role as well as growing our practice with other senior level commercial lawyers. This is a unique opportunity for well-credentialed senior Commercial lawyers to perform leading roles working with a highly skilled team on commercial matters of national importance.
About us
AGS is the Australian Government’s central legal practice and part of the Attorney-General’s Department. AGS helps Commonwealth clients to manage legal issues, navigate new challenges and find solutions which deliver the best outcomes for Australia. We are a self-funded legal practice and compete for our work.
AGS is unique. AGS is dedicated to the national interest and is a trusted advisor to Government.
AGS is innovative. Drawing on an exceptional depth of experience and expertise, we assist the Australian Government in the development and implementation of solutions to legal issues that have national importance.
AGS is diverse. With offices in every capital city and a team of 650 staff, including 370 lawyers, we work in more than 40 different areas of law related to government.
About the roles
The Chief Counsel is an SES Band 2 Senior Executive Lawyer role (Senior Partner equivalent) and is a leading practitioner and recognised expert in commercial law in areas relevant to the Commonwealth. This is a role which is a senior source of authoritative strategic advice on commercial matters of high importance, sensitivity and complexity for the Commonwealth. The Chief Counsel is a professional leader and role model in AGS and has national practice group responsibility for legal expertise. This includes developing capability through effective supervision and training, building client relationships and improving service delivery.
The role of Chief Counsel operates at a strategic level and with a significant level of professional independence. It works as an integral part of the senior leadership of the Commercial practice comprising the National Leader, National Manager and Team Leaders.
In addition to the Chief Counsel role, we are looking to fill a number of Senior Executive Lawyer (SEL) Band 1 roles. We are looking for experienced commercial, project and corporate lawyers who have expertise in any of the following areas:
- procurement and probity
- ICT, IP and National Security
- property and construction
- investment and governance.
Our commercial lawyers work with Commonwealth agencies across all areas of commercial practice. We are the lead legal adviser on many of the Australian Government’s largest projects and commercial transactions.
This is a unique opportunity for highly capable and experienced commercial lawyers wanting to build the next phase of their legal career in the Commonwealth context. AGS’s Commercial practice has 60 lawyers around Australia. Our employment offering is distinct from private law firm roles, corporate in-house roles and other government legal roles. It offers a unique hybrid culture of market leading legal expertise, dedicated client service, affinity with our clients, involvement in matters of national significance and the opportunity for public service, as well as a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion.
The practice will use this recruitment process to create an order of merit for all roles to fill similar vacancies that may become available in the next 18 months.
For further information about the requirements of the roles, please refer to the role descriptions available on our recruitment portal.
About you
Individuals wishing to be considered for these opportunities will need to possess the following skills and attributes:
for the Chief Counsel role:
- Senior partner level
- High professional standing and significant ability to provide intellectual leadership and senior stakeholder engagement
- Substantial legal experience across a broad range of Commercial legal matters and a deep understanding of the Commonwealth legal environment
- for the SEL roles:
- senior lawyers with 10 + years’ PAE
- Significant expertise in one or more relevant Commercial practice areas and familiarity with a government legal environment
- strong leadership, managerial, legal and analytical skills
- demonstrated ability to lead and build on the success of AGS’ commercial practice and to develop and maintain strong client relationships
- excellent professional judgement and interpersonal skills
Candidates need to be on the Register of Practitioners of the High Court of Australia or the roll of barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory.
You will work with a community of professionals dedicated to the national interest. You will work collaboratively in an inclusive environment where everyone’s contribution is valued, and success is rewarded. We offer our lawyers commercially competitive remuneration packages, including 15.4% superannuation.
To apply
To apply you must be an Australian Citizen and be willing to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Negative Vetting 2 level or higher. To apply, please submit a 1 – 2-page cover letter with your CV to [email protected] Applications close on 25 September 2022.
Further enquiries
Further information can be obtained by contacting Steven Scarlis on 0411 170 708.
