Your role within Legal Services will support the department by providing independent legal advice and documentation related to the construction, commercial and public administration activities of the department and overseeing the development of legislation.
The unit also manages public administration matters affecting the department, including right to information, privacy, human rights and judicial review matters.
The work you will do helps someone every day, and that means the world to us.

As Principal Legal Officer, you will be responsible for assisting with the protection of the legal interests of the Department of Housing and Public Works.

Job details

What you will be doing:
• Providing and ensuring the provision of superior level strategic, independent and professional legal advice and documentation to all levels of the department on employment law, commercial law and/or administrative law matters, with a focus on employment law matters, often of a complex and sensitive nature. 
• Providing superior level independent advice regarding dispute resolution and the management of litigation matters relating to employment law, on behalf of the department and the State.
• Maintaining a superior level of knowledge of contemporary issues impacting on employment, commercial and administrative law matters and their relationship with relevant government objectives, policies and initiatives.
• Liaising and negotiating with relevant internal and external stakeholders on legal matters affecting the operations of the department, including when dealing with conflicting views and priorities. 
• The role may involve, from time to time, advising on the development of legislation, review of discussion papers and policy papers, working as part of a broader team on projects, and guiding the department about the implications of certain policy positions. 
• Informally guiding and assisting with the development of more junior lawyers and working collaboratively with administrative support staff.
• Other duties as directed.

The skills you will need include being able to: 
• Demonstrate accountability for the execution and quality of results through professionalism, persistence and transparency.
• Maintain a high standard of practice through governance and risk management. 
• Make considered, ethical and courageous decisions based on insight into the broader context.
• Build and sustain relationships to enable the collaborative delivery of customer focused outcomes.
• Foster an inclusive workplace where health, safety and wellbeing is promoted and prioritised.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in contemporary employment, commercial and/or administrative law, with a focus on employment law, with demonstrated high level ability to consider the ramifications of a wide range of issues, anticipate priorities and break through problems. A strong background in government legal practice, or advising government agencies, will be viewed favourably.
• Superior communication and relationship management skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into succinct, practical options and advice.
• Be agile and resilient in a complex and changing environment.

Mandatory Requirement 
• Been admitted or be eligible for immediate admission as a legal practitioner by the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

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

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• applicant-guide (Word, 1.00MB)
  
  
  644169 25 Role Description (PDF, 342KB)