Principal Legal Adviser

• Ongoing opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team
• An exciting role working in a team which advises on a variety of legal matters across the justice system
• VPS Grade 6: $138,631 - $185,518 plus superannuation

About Us

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is responsible for providing in-house legal services across the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) and to the Attorney-General, as First Law Officer, and other DJCS portfolio Ministers. OGC supports a variety of policy and frontline service delivery functions for clients including Corrections Victoria, Youth Justice, Aboriginal Justice, Emergency Management, and Gaming and Liquor.

OGC brings together lawyers from varied career paths doing interesting and impactful work. This fosters a unique environment to learn and grow.

The Public Law and Litigation team within OGC leads the delivery of legal services on constitutional, administrative and public law issues, and litigation faced by DJCS and Ministers, including managing the conduct and coordination of high-profile disputes and inquiries on behalf of the State.

About the Role

Some of your duties will include:

• Supporting the establishment and operations of Tobacco Licencing Victoria (TLV), a business unit within DJCS established to issue licences for tobacco businesses, and oversee industry compliance and enforcement to harden the operating environment for the illicit supply of tobacco in Victoria and to help combat serious organised crime.
• Providing solutions based legal and policy advice, both written and oral, on issues relevant to government, ministers, and the department, both individually and as part of a team of solicitors.
• Independently managing multiple complex and sensitive matters (both litigation and advisory) for various clients.
• Undertaking legal research and analysis on complex legal matters with outstanding statutory interpretation skills.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About You

We are looking for an experienced lawyer who can manage supervise others and deliver sophisticated, authoritative, concise, and solutions-focused advice on constitutional, administrative and public law issues.

As an ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Technical legal skills with the ability to analyse complex legal issues, interpret legislation and develop accurate legal solutions with minimal supervision.
• Experience providing legal advice at a senior level in relation to administrative, public, and human rights law matters.
• Experience in, or knowledge of, Victorian Government and Cabinet processes.
• Admitted, or eligible to be admitted, to practice as a legal practitioner in Victoria.

How to Apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.