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Special Counsel


Native Title & Resources; Native Title Resources & Dispute Resolution Branch; Crown Law; Brisbane City

  • Advisory focus; complex, project and policy-level work without a litigation-heavy load
  • For the lawyer who wants depth of practice in native title, cultural heritage and resources law
  • Resources, property, planning, environment or land tenure backgrounds considered

Job details

Position status Permanent
Position type Flexible-full-time,Full-time
Occupational group Justice & Legal
Classification SO
Workplace Location Brisbane Inner City,Brisbane - North,Brisbane - South,Brisbane - East,Brisbane - West,North West Qld,Cairns region,Flexible,Logan - Beaudesert,Toowoomba region,Wide Bay,Darling Downs - Maranoa,Moreton Bay - North,Moreton Bay - South,Far North Qld,Townsville region,Mackay region,Rockhampton region,Gold Coast,Sunshine Coast,Ipswich region,Central West Qld,South West Qld,Other - Outside Qld
Job ad reference QLD/693432/26
Closing date 15-Jul-2026
Job duration
Contact person Rochelle Pownall
Contact details Phone: 3031 5733
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SO Special Counsel I Native Title Law

Your experience in native title, cultural heritage, or resources is solid. But complex, project and policy-level advisory work can be hard to find in private practice. Crown Law's Native Title Advisory and Agreements team is where that work lives. 

Your New Workplace 

Crown Law is the in-house law firm for the Queensland Government dedicated to supporting the State in achieving its priorities and meeting its legal obligations. At Crown Law, you will be part of a talented and purpose-driven team, working on some of the most novel and complex matters in the public sector that help shape the future of Queensland. With opportunities for meaningful work, mentorship and long-term development, it's a unique and rewarding place to grow. 

Your New Team 

The advisory team needs an experienced Special Counsel to carry its more complex matters and provide oversight to the lawyers around them. There is an established team, clear reporting lines, and a well-developed body of work. The person appointed will step into something with genuine substance from day one. 

Your New Role

This role is advisory at its core. You will guide Queensland Government agencies through the native title implications of public infrastructure delivery, resources projects, and land dealings, working across the Native Title Act, the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, and the broader suite of resources and energy legislation. In practice that means drafting and negotiating indigenous land use agreements, native title compensation agreements, and cultural heritage agreements, as well as working through complex questions that cut across legislative frameworks. You will also oversee the work of the lawyers around you, so the quality of your judgment carries through the team's output, not just your own. 

Culture & Benefits

Reflecting the rich diversity of Queensland, Crown Law brings together people from all backgrounds, with a strong focus on inclusion, collaboration and professional growth. It offers impactful legal work within a supportive culture, along with flexible working options, lower billable hour requirements than private practice, and a balanced approach that actively protects wellbeing. A full list of benefits, including generous leave entitlements, health and wellbeing programs and salary packaging options, is available in the candidate application pack. 

Your Skills Profile 

We are seeking a senior practitioner who brings:

  • Eligibility to practise as a legal practitioner in Australia 
  • 10+ years post-admission experience in native title, cultural heritage or resources law 
  • Or strong advisory background in property, planning, environment or land tenure 
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and practical advice on complex legal issues.
  • Experience mentoring, supervising and developing junior lawyers. 
  • Strong judgement, analytical ability and a collaborative approach to solving sensitive issues. 
  • Motivation to contribute to matters of fundamental importance to the State of Queensland and to shape the next generation of native title law specialists. 
  • Approaches work with care, professional integrity and attention to detail 
  • Comfortable operating within a structured government environment 

Contact Alex or Jennifer on 07 3210 0992 | Reference: 1454730 | www.alexcorreaexecutive.com.au

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Job Ad Reference: QLD/693432/26

Closing Date: Wednesday, 15th July 2026

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.

Documents

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Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0)
Last updated
2 May 2023

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