Senior Government Lawyer

Reporting to the Principal Government Lawyer we are seeking a high performing Senior Government Lawyer with commercial law experience to join our specialist commercial law practice within the Commercial and Information Law Branch.

You will be part of an experienced and well-established practice that is recognised across the department for delivering high quality, practical and solution-focused legal advice. With three dedicated commercial law teams, the Branch provides legal support across the full spectrum of the department's commercial activities, ensuring the work is both diverse and interesting.

The duties and responsibilities for this role include providing a broad range of commercial legal services to the department as set out under the heading ‘the Role’ and demonstrating capabilities listed under the heading ‘Capabilities’ below. 

As a Senior Government Lawyer, you will provide high quality, strategic legal advice and services across a diverse range of commercial law matters, including:

• Advising on the design and delivery of procurement and grants activities;
• Drafting and negotiating complex contracts, deeds, variations, novations and other legal instruments to support government programs and policy outcomes;
• Advising on contractual rights and obligations, including dispute resolution, breach management, recovery of funds, termination rights and intellectual property matters;
• Providing advice on Commonwealth legislative and policy frameworks relevant to government commercial activities, including the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles, and associated procurement policies;
• Advising on corporate governance and risk management issues;
• Advising on ICT procurements, projects and contractual arrangements; and
• Advising on commercial property and other commercial law matters affecting departmental operations.

The duties and responsibilities for this role will also include complying with obligations in Commonwealth legislation and policies where relevant, for example the Public Service Act 1999 and the Legal Services Directions 2025.

Please note, under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency delegate has agreed, in writing.

This is a designated security assessed position. The successful candidate will have the ability to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

This selection process may be used to establish a merit pool. The pool might be accessed to fill ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies for similar roles in the Department over the next 18 months.

Qualifications and Education

• A degree in laws from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification, which is appropriate to the duties of the position; and
• Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory with ideally at least 4 years post admission experience.