Gaz - Slo - National - Security, Disputes &

**Contact**: Sarah Marshall Phone : 02 5127 8695

**Period of Vacancy**: Ongoing

**Number of Vacancies**: Several

**Who can apply**:
Please note this opportunity is available to current Australian Public Service employees and all eligible members of the community.

**About the Department of Home Affairs**:
**Be part of something bigger**: contribute to building a secure Australia that is prosperous, open and united.

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The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for centrally coordinated strategy and policy leadership in relation to domestic national security arrangements, law enforcement, emergency management, counter-terrorism, social cohesion, the protection of our sovereignty, the integrity of our border and the resilience of our national infrastructure.

The Australian Border Force, an operationally independent body within the Department of Home Affairs, is Australia's frontline border law enforcement agency and Australia's customs service. The Australian Border Force's mission is to protect Australia's border and facilitate the legitimate movement of people and goods across it.

Overview of the Home Affairs Legal Group

Legal Group is one of the largest in-house public service legal practices in the Commonwealth. It is responsible for delivering high quality in-house legal services to the Department of Home Affairs (including the Australian Border Force), and providing strategic legal advice and support to its Executive and Ministers.

Legal Group actively manages legal risk for a variety of public sector issues. The work of Legal Group is fast-paced and dynamic, and covers a range of areas including national security law, aviation and maritime security, commercial law, employment law, migration and citizenship law, litigation, customs law, refugee and international law and legislative drafting.

The Department manages the largest litigation caseload in the Commonwealth, and its matters are at the cutting edge of administrative and public law. Legal Group also manages a large and dynamic legislative reform agenda and has its own in-house legal training program which supports staff to develop and expand their knowledge and skills.

Legal Group has around 250 staff and six different branches, giving Senior Legal Officers the opportunity to develop and broaden their legal skills. Additionally, Senior Legal Officers are supported to build their skills through offering various opportunities including acting opportunities, on-the-job training, access to regular in-house legal seminars and sponsored workshops and courses. Legal Group also has flexible employment options supporting a work life balance, including offering flexible working hours and working from home options.

Overview of the Section

Civil Litigation and Compensation Section (the Section), in the Security, Disputes and Operations Law Branch, manages all civil litigation claims relevant to the Department of Home Affairs and ABF. This includes litigation and other matters relating to personal injury, unlawful detention, privacy, misfeasance in public office and defamation. The Section also manage all coronial inquests and investigations in which the Department is an interested party.

The work of the Section is fast-paced and diverse, and will expose Senior Legal Officers to the full operation of the Department.

Senior Legal Officers in the Section are experienced, qualified and professional. They manage a complex, high profile and high volume caseload, and provide guidance and assistance to legal officers in managing their cases. The work is often intensive and varied, and the team works within short timeframes on a daily basis. Senior Legal Officers in the Section have a good level of strategic awareness and are able to identify and address legal and strategic issues that not only impact on the Section’s litigation, but on the broader Legal Group and Department.

Senior Legal Officers have a considerable degree of autonomy in managing their caseloads, and often brief senior colleagues, the Executive and Ministers in preparation for attendance at various meetings and hearings, including Senate Estimates.

**Senior Legal officers will also**:
Liaise with, and actively develop and maintain working relationships across the Legal Group, the wider Department and with external stakeholders

Represent the Department's interests and positions during liaison and negotiation with external stakeholders

Maintain detailed knowledge of specific legislation, case law, directions, instruments, principles and issues of relevance to the Department

Supervise, mentor and support more junior lawyers, paralegals and clerks

Create complete and accurate records in accordance with the Department’s Record Keeping Policy

Provide and manage the provision of all legal services in accordance