[Hiring] Senior Legal Counsel @Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

Role Description

This role sits within the Legal and Integrity team of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (FCFCOA).

The Legal and Integrity team sits at the heart of the FCFCOA’s governance and administration, providing trusted legal, governance and strategic advice to the Chief Justice, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar (CEO/PR), Deputy Principal Registrar and Executive Management.

The Opportunity:

• This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced lawyer to inform strategic decision-making and contribute to the governance, integrity and workplace management of one of Australia's largest and most complex federal courts.
• As the Senior Legal Counsel, you will work closely with the Executive Director, Legal and Integrity to provide strategic legal advice and leadership across various legal matters.
• You will advise on complex, sensitive and high-risk issues that have significant operational, reputational and organisational implications.
• The role requires sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to deliver practical legal solutions in a dynamic and high-profile environment.
• In addition to managing complex legal matters, the role provides senior legal expertise across workplace, integrity and governance matters.
• This is a unique opportunity to undertake challenging and meaningful work at the intersection of law, governance, public administration, organisational leadership and integrity.

Working closely with the Executive Director, Legal and Integrity, you will:

• Provide authoritative, practical and strategic legal advice to the Chief Justice, CEO/PR, Deputy Principal Registrar and Executive Management.
• Advise on complex workplace relations, employment law, industrial relations, WHS, integrity and public sector legal matters.
• Identify emerging legal and operational risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies.
• Support senior decision-makers on governance, integrity, administrative law and organisational risk matters.
• Prepare high-quality legal advice, executive briefs, reports and correspondence.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Law and admission as a practitioner of the High Court of Australia and/or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory.
• A minimum of 6 years' post-admission experience as a legal practitioner, in-house counsel or equivalent legal role.
• Demonstrated experience providing legal advice on workplace relations, employment law, industrial relations, work health and safety, investigations, integrity and/or governance matters.
• Experience advising public sector agencies, courts, tribunals or government entities is highly desirable.
• Experience working in a court administration environment is desirable but not essential.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to provide authoritative, strategic and practical legal advice on complex, sensitive and high-risk matters.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including the capacity to supervise and train lawyers in the preparation of legal advice, training and conducting litigation.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an environment requiring utmost tact and discretion.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with judges and staff of the Courts and external legal practitioners.
• Demonstrated organisational skills, including the ability to critically evaluate large volumes of information, manage competing priorities effectively, and exercise sound judgment in decision-making in a high-pressured environment.
• Highly developed interpersonal, liaison, and negotiation skills, including the ability to build and maintain positive professional relationships with key stakeholders.
• Broad understanding of federal civil jurisdictions and relevant legislation or the capacity to acquire that understanding.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, assess and manage legal and organisational risk, and develop practical mitigation strategies.
• A demonstrated understanding and commitment to the application of the Australian Public Service (APS) Values, to abide by the APS Code of Conduct and the ability to comply with workplace diversity and WHS principles.

Benefits

• Confidential enquiries will be welcomed by Siobhan Flores-Walsh, Director Legal and Integrity, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
• Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999.
• Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship.
• Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment.
• Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recruitment – Candidates may use AI tools to assist with their participation in this recruitment process unless otherwise advised.
• Diversity and Inclusion – The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce.