Le2 Legal Officer

**Department for Education**

**Job reference**: 500346

**Location**: 5000 - ADELAIDE

**Job status**: Long Term Contract

**Eligibility**: Open to Everyone

**Why work with us**

We’re building a public education system which is genuinely recognised as world-class - where every preschool and school is great and where there is growth for every child and student.

We are one team, state-wide. Everyone in public education works together, united behind our vision because what we're doing today will improve the futures of children in South Australia.

We’re making a difference so South Australia thrives.

**About this role**

The Legal Officer reports to the Assistant Director, Legal Services and is ultimately accountable to the Director, Legal Services. The Legal Officer is responsible for providing assistance and support in the efficient and effective delivery of services to the Department for Education (DE) and in the provision of high quality and responsive strategic and legal policy advice to relevant officers across the department.

The Legal Officer will be responsible for contributing to the day to day delivery of effective and efficient legal services across the DE, the delivery of appropriate governance and associated advisory services in the DE and maintaining efficient work practices within the Legal Services Directorate.

**What you will do** **(key outcomes)**
- Provide written and verbal advice, assistance and guidance to departmental staff, including schools on legal, policy, legislative and associated matters.
- Identify, research, develop and evaluate policies, procedures and processes to ensure departmental compliance.
- Prepare correspondence of a high standard including ministerial briefings and referrals to the Crown Solicitor's Office.
- Assist the Director, Legal Services and Assistant Director to identify unresolved and emerging legal issues to which the Chief Executive and Minister will need to respond and formulate recommendations to assist in their management/resolution.
- Liaise with the Minister's Office to ensure that the Minister is advised of sensitive issues as they arise and assist in the preparation of briefings to the Chief Executive, Minister and other relevant staff.
- Assist in the provision of timely information to the Assistant Director and Director, Legal Services and Senior Executives relating to legal issues and trends and recommend courses of action.
- Ensure the confidential and secure records management of original legal documents.
- Contribute to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment by taking personal accountability by identifying and reporting incidents, hazards and injuries in accordance with DE policy and procedure and cooperate and comply with reasonable instructions of DE line management and WHS Officers.

**Selection Criteria**:

- Proven analytical and research skills, including the ability to identify and analyse legal and policy issues in detail, formulate practical solutions and make appropriate recommendations.
- Demonstrated highly developed organisational skills and the ability to plan and coordinate workloads to produce work of a high standard in an environment where priorities are constantly changing and may be competing.
- Proven excellent written and verbal communication skills (including attention to detail, accuracy and quality) and ability to successfully negotiate using conflict resolution skills when representing the position of the department.
- Demonstrated experience providing legal advice working under pressure and working to tight deadlines while displaying sound judgement and reliability.
- Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to promoting and creating a safe and inclusive work environment; and the legislative requirements of Equal Opportunity and Work Health and Safety legislation.

**Essential Criteria**
- A degree in law. Admitted as a Practitioner of the Supreme Court of South Australia (or be eligible for admission).

**Desirable Criteria**
- At least 2 years post admission experience
- Broad knowledge and understanding of Department for Education operations, policies, functions and activities.

**Application Instructions**:
Applicants are required to submit a CV, the Application Cover Sheet, Employment Declaration and a written statement of no more than 1500 words addressing the selection criteria in the attached document.

Please note to be employed by the department, applicants must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical exemption endorsed by a duly qualified medical practitioner. Unvaccinated people must comply with conditions for unvaccinated people as outlined in the Department’s website. Proof of vaccination status must be provided for sighting on request.

The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry. The incumbent will be requ