Senior Lawyer

• Positions available in the Monetary Claims practice area
• Senior Lawyers (Executive Level 1 and Executive Level 2) - Ongoing (permanent) and non-ongoing roles
• Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney

Multiple opportunities exist for dispute resolution senior lawyers to join our Civil Claims and Entitlements teams in the Monetary Claims practice area.

About us

Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) is the Australian Government's central legal practice and part of the Attorney-General's Department. AGS helps Commonwealth clients to manage legal issues, navigate new challenges and find solutions which deliver the best outcomes for Australia. We are a self-funded legal practice and compete for our work.

AGS is unique. AGS is dedicated to the national interest and is a trusted advisor to Government.

AGS is innovative. Drawing on an exceptional depth of experience and expertise, we assist the Australian Government in the development and implementation of solutions to legal issues that have national importance.

AGS is diverse. With offices in every capital city and a team of 800 staff, including 576 lawyers, we work in more than 40 different areas of law related to government.

About the roles

The AGS Dispute Resolution practice (DR) is Australia's pre-eminent public law litigation practice. It has unrivalled experience and specialist expertise in providing dispute related legal advice and representation in every jurisdiction in Australia, across a diverse range of legal matters for Commonwealth agencies, including a very significant practice representing the Commonwealth's regulatory enforcement agencies, administrative law, tax litigation, employment law, torts law and information access law. AGS acts for the Commonwealth in the full range of disputes to which it is a party or in which it has an interest (including access to sensitive information) and advises on investigations including for law enforcement and national security agencies. DR also represents the Commonwealth before inquests, inquiries and royal commissions, and as the solicitor assisting royal commissions. In addition, DR has a specialist in-house counsel practice, led by Tim Begbie KC.

Roles are available in the DR Monetary Claims practice area:

• Civil Claims: working on a broad range of commercial and civil disputes in state and Federal courts, including class actions, tort claims, commercial litigation, native title claims, and a range of other disputes, as well as work for royal commissions and inquiries.
• Entitlements: advising and representing the Commonwealth in courts and tribunals in disputes that involve an entitlement under Commonwealth legislation.

In these roles you will:

Entitlements

• represent and/or advise the Commonwealth in a range of litigation including entitlements law disputes
• provide advice including in sensitive and complex matters relating to entitlements under Commonwealth legislation, particularly Commonwealth workers' compensation and/or veterans' entitlements
• manage, assist and potentially appear in litigation before courts and tribunals, including the Administrative Review Tribunal
• supervise and mentor junior lawyers
• provide a high standard of client service and maintain strong client relationships
• undertake advocacy work and appear in various court jurisdictions.

Civil Claims

• work on significant and complex tort-related, commercial or native title claims in Federal and State jurisdictions
• analyse documents and undertake discovery related work
• advise on complex questions of liability, quantum, legal risk and litigation management
• brief counsel, instruct experts and engage with witnesses to prepare claims for alternative dispute resolution and/or trial
• supervise and mentor junior lawyers
• provide a high standard of client service and maintain strong client relationships.

You will also:

• work closely with other AGS lawyers located across Australia
• have the opportunity to support community interests through pro bono work. For more information about our pro bono work, refer to our website
• undertake work in other areas of law relevant to the work of AGS Dispute Resolution.

For further information about the requirements of the roles, please refer to the role descriptions available below.

About you

The successful candidates will ideally have:

• generally, at least 5 years' (EL1) or 7 years' (EL2) post-admission experience in the relevant field
• a strong understanding of relevant law in the area and the ability to clearly articulate technical arguments and draft advisory opinions
• experience in managing commonwealth litigation matters or other large-scale commercial/tort claims
• the ability to work under pressure, excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to persuade, think creatively and deliver innovative client focused legal solutions
• demonstrated capacity to meet personal net production and revenue targets.

You will work with a community of professionals dedicated to the national interest. You will work collaboratively in an inclusive environment where everyone's contribution is valued, and success is rewarded. We offer our lawyers commercially competitive remuneration packages, including 15.4% superannuation.

With open door access to some of Australia's most respected lawyers, we are a developer of talent and critical thinking and you will partner with our clients to deliver creative solutions to current and emerging legal issues of national importance.

AGS is a supportive organisation which embraces diversity. We understand that work is only part of your life and while our work can be demanding at times, we also provide access to a range of flexible working options, generous leave entitlements and wellbeing benefits to support your needs throughout your career.

To apply

To apply you must be an Australian Citizen and be willing to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the appropriate level.

To apply, please click the 'Begin' button. Applications close at 5:00pm (AEDT) on Thursday, 6 November

Further enquiries

Further information can be obtained by contacting Jill Mackay, Human Resources Business Partner on

Role Description - Senior Lawyer (EL1) Opens in new window