Government Laywer

Banking and Finance Law
Canberra, ACT
May 21, 2025
Full Time
Application deadline closed.

Job Description

We are seeking a Government Lawyer to provide advice on a range of legal matters to support Safe Work Australia (the Agency) to deliver its statutory functions and to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and Australian Government policies.

As part of a dynamic and high-profile team you will be responsible for providing in-house legal services and corporate support to the Agency. The role will enable you to work closely with policy and corporate teams across the Agency.

The positions are located within the Legal Section and the role will provide you with the opportunity to:

  • undertake legal research
  • provide strategic, high quality and timely legal advice across a range of practice areas, including corporate and governance matters
  • contribute to the Agency’s legislative development projects, including instructing drafters from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee and liaising with relevant stakeholders
  • provide legal assistance to the Agency to help achieve its policy goals, including advising on proposed amendments to the model WHS laws, associated guidance materials, the model WHS laws and workers’ compensation legislation.
  • second counsel the work of more junior lawyers in the team
    review policies and procedures to ensure legal accuracy and compliance
  • monitor case law for any developments that may be relevant to the operation of the model WHS laws or to the Agency’s operations more generally
  • monitor legislation and policy developments to identify and keep up to date on public sector governance issues
  • prepare briefing material for the Executive and other stakeholders on legal developments affecting the Agency, including options for implementation.

The Legal Section is part of the Legal and Framework Policy Branch. The Section’s key responsibilities include:

  • advising on the model WHS laws
  • advising on matters relating to workers’ compensation
  • assisting policy teams to consider legal aspects of their policy work
  • amending the model WHS laws, and
  • advising on commercial and corporate matters, including privacy, employment law, copyright, intellectual property and freedom of information.

Education and Experience

  • Essential: A degree in laws from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification, which is appropriate to the duties of the position; and
  • Essential: Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory.
  • Desirable: 1-3 years Post Admission Experience (PAE), or other relevant legal experience (eg legal and legislative policy experience).

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