Legal Officer

Legal Officer (APS3 - APS6) - $71,444 - $103,145 per annum plus superannuation
- Legal Division
- Canberra, ACT
- _Meaningful legal work in the public interest that affects every Australian, both at home and abroad._
- _Interesting and engaging matters, with an opportunity to work with policymakers and operational staff from start to finish._
- _A supportive environment, where you can develop the skills and career that you want._

**Affirmative measure - First Nations** - The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the '_Racial Discrimination Act 1975_'. This vacancy is only available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

**Who we are**

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.

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 Jobs**
We have various ongoing and non-ongoing opportunities for Legal Officers. You will report to a Senior Legal Officer. You will need to prepare written advice and provide support to operational officers, including on complex matters, so your ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing is essential. You should be able to be flexible in how you deliver advice and engage with clients. You are in a position of trust within the department and will work under guidance from your supervisor and manager to achieve your objectives.

We are committed to developing and building quality lawyers with recognised and respected experience and qualifications.

**Please note** that this recruitment process will be used to fill several ongoing and non-ongoing positions across the legal branches. The merit pool may also be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the Division where the duties are of a similar nature.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
Applicants will ideally have at least 1 to 3 years of relevant post-admission experience. While this is desirable, if you have not had this level of experience but believe you would be competitive, we invite you to apply.

**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.