• Provide in-house legal services to the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
• Fixed term (2 years) opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team.
• STS Grade 7: $182,813 - $248,629 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety's Integrity Regulation and Legal Services group is seeking a Special Counsel to perform a critical role within Office of the General Counsel.

About the Business Unit

Integrity, Regulation and Legal Services (IRLS) supports the Attorney-General, DJCS ministers and the department by providing legal, policy, integrity and assurance expertise. IRLS works collaboratively with justice system entities to ensure our work is strategic, relevant, and people-centred.

The Special Counsel role sits within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). OGC is responsible for providing in-house legal services across the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) and supports the Attorney-General as First Law Officer, and each of DJCS' ministerial portfolios.

About the Role

The Special Counsel is a critical role within OGC's Commercial & Regulatory team. The team provides legal support to DJCS' operations, programs and enabling functions, including a wide range of investigations, disputes and litigation. Its work spans procurement, infrastructure, IT, construction, employment and OHS matters, integrity body investigations, inquiries, and FOI litigation and privacy matters.

The Special Counsel will advise on complex legal issues arising in the context of major infrastructure projects. Expertise in construction matters - whether in providing front-end transactions advice or back-end advice on disputes - will be highly desirable.  

Some of your duties will include:

• Lead on the provision and coordination of specialist legal advice on complex matters and issues, both independently and through leadership of other OGC lawyers.
• Independently manage multiple complex and sensitive commercial matters.
• Undertake sophisticated legal research and analysis on complex legal matters with outstanding drafting skills.

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

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Technical legal skills - The ability to analyse complex legal issues, interpret commercial and construction contracts and legislation and develop accurate legal solutions with minimal supervision; The ability to quickly identify key issues and applicable legal principles, assess risk, use professional judgment and skills to weigh options and recommend appropriate action. The ability to confidently and autonomously lead matters
• Commercial experience - Experience providing legal advice at a senior level in relation to commercial and construction transactions, projects and disputes.

Qualifications

• Admission to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria is required.
• Current practising certificate, or eligibility to hold a full practising certificate, issued under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria) is required.

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 national police checks and misconduct screening.

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.

FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:

• For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.
• For all VPS employees, due to the new Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) policy, please apply through the JSE to be eligible to be considered for this position in the first round.

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.