Department of Health is excited to welcome applications for a Principal Lawyer to join our Legal Branch! The Legal Branch forms part of the Corporate Services Division within Queensland Health (the Department). The Department’s Legal Branch is responsible for providing legal services to the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, the office of the Director-General and Deputy Directors-General and other Departmental offices and business units.

Job details

Key responsibilities:

As a Principal Lawyer, you will manage allocated legal requests collaboratively with clients and collegiately with other lawyers (including briefing of external lawyers), within client agreed time frames, independently or under the supervision of a Senior Principal Lawyer. You will communicate clearly and succinctly with a diverse client group, ensuring legal accuracy and a practical, customer‑focused approach and will effectively prioritise your workload to meet agreed timeframes and respond to urgent legal tasks as needed. The position also contributes to thought leadership and training across the Legal Branch, Hospital and Health Services, and broader client groups by sharing expertise and providing updates on legal developments.

Other role requirements include:

• Participate in, and maintain a proactive approach to, self-development, including:

▪ achievement of CPD points (including the minimum required for maintaining a practising certificate with the Queensland Law Society); and
▪ Queensland Health's performance management and development framework and any feedback processes.

• Develop and maintain positive relationships, build appropriate networks and supervise and mentor other members of Legal Branch including paralegals and junior lawyers.

Role fit:

We are looking for the best suited applicant for the role, and we will assess your eligibility and ability to undertake the essential requirements for the role, specified below. We will also consider your potential to make contributions to the Department more broadly, and how your appointment would support our workplace culture, commitment to customer service and respect, and our equity, diversity and inclusion objectives.

Mandatory requirements for the role include:

• A Bachelor of Laws degree and admission, or eligibility for immediate admission, as a barrister, solicitor or legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
• Minimum 5 years post admission experience, preferably in the practice area highlighted in the Schedule (please see attached role description), noting successful applicants will be required to assist the workload of other streams from time to time.

Why work for us:

• Competitive salaries
• Flexible work arrangements
• 36.25 hour full-time work week
• Leave loading
• Employee wellbeing programs

Ready to apply?

For further information on how to apply please review the attached Role Description.

Applications will remain current for a period of up to 12 months and may be considered for other vacancies which may include an alternative employment basis such as temporary, full time or part time. 

Further information

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

Documents

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

• CSD681877 RD (PDF)
  
  DoH Applicant Pack (PDF)