Legal Officer

About the role

Primary purpose of the role

The Legal Officer will assist the General Counsel with a broad range of contractual, legal research and drafting assignments for the AM,
as well as providing advice on legal and strategic issues affecting the AM’s operations and programs. The role will also assist with major
RFP and Procurement processes, will be experienced in commercial law, document preparation, and conducting legal research, and advising on
the same, and will as part of the role gain an excellent understanding of legal issues in museum administration, including procurement,
copyright, governance, contracts, exhibitions and insurance issues.

Key accountabilities
- Work closely with the General Counsel in preparing AM contracts, conducting legal research, attending client meetings and advising on other AM matters as required
- Assist with AM procurement including the legal and contracting aspects of procurements for goods and services, government panel arrangements, advice of RFTs and tender responses, straightforward negotiations with suppliers
- Assist on general commercial matters including review of research funding agreements, image rights and other IP llicensing templates
- Undertake research projects and prepare written material and reports including briefing notes, discussion papers, minutes, correspondence, and documentation to assist the General Counsel.
- Assist in the provision of information on legal practice and procedure to ensure the Museum operates according to legal requirements.
- Maintain relationships with stakeholders including representatives of government agencies, statutory offices, oversight bodies and other relevant groups in person and by preparing correspondence and other documentation.
- Contribute to legal specific inquiry by responding to enquiries, disseminating information and ensuring relevant legal documentation is up to date.
- Contribute to the improvement of processes and actively engage with colleagues and the General Counsel to implement such improvements.

Key challenges
- Managing competing priorities and providing consistently high levels of support, given heavy workloads, short deadlines, and the need to maintain confidentiality and act with discretion.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the Museum’s structure, function and objectives as well as a range of administrative systems, policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines and legislative requirements.
- Managing relationships and collaborating with colleagues to meet the needs of the Museum.

Key relationships

Who

Why

Internal

General Counsel
- Receive direction and guidance
- Participate in discussions and decisions; escalate issues and propose solutions; receive guidance and provide regular updates on key projects, issues and priorities.

AM Staff
- Provide legislative and advisory services and develop ongoing relationships
- Manage the flow of information, seek clarification and provide advice and responses.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships and open channels of communication.

External

Stakeholders
- Liaise with a wide range of stakeholders including statutory bodies such as ICAC and the Ombudsman and external legal providers including barristers and the NSW Crown Solicitor.
- Provide sound and reliable advice; manage expectations, resolve and provide solutions to issues; negotiate outcomes and timeframes

Role dimensions

Decision making

This role has autonomy and makes decisions that are under their direct control. It refers to a Manager decisions that require significant change to program outcomes or timeframes or are likely to escalate or require submission to a higher level of management. This role is fully accountable for the delivery of work assignments on time and to expectations in terms of quality, deliverables and outcomes.

Reporting line

The role reports directly to the General Counsel.

Direct reports

Nil

Budget/Expenditure

Essential requirements

Legal qualification, with at least 2 years PAE

Knowledge and Experience
- Commercial legal experience.
- Experience with government procurement processes (desirable)
- Interpersonal and communication skills to interact with people in a variety of positions and effectively communicate complex information and provide accurate advice to people from various backgrounds, including staff and external parties.
- Skills and experience in contracting, conducting legal research and analysis, providing interpretation and advice.
- Demonstrated experience writing a variety of documents to a high standard including reports, briefing documents, and correspondence.

Capabilities for the role

The NSW public sector capability framework describes the capabilities (knowledge, skills and abilities) needed to perform a role. There are four main groups of capabilities: personal attributes, relationships, results and business enablers, with a fifth people management group of capabilities for roles with managerial responsibi