Step into a dynamic, delivery-focused environment where your expertise and leadership will support the successful design and implementation by the Department of a variety of policies and projects across Victoria.

• Join a positive, supportive workplace culture in a highly skilled legal project team environment
• Combine your administrative law, commercial law, legislative reform and litigation skills and experience, with the challenge of supporting good government operations and decision-making.
• Location: 2 Lonsdale St, Melbourne/Hybrid

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Principal Solicitor to join a multidisciplinary legal and legislation project team tasked with delivering the forestry regulatory reform program and related future forest management and forestry industry transition workstreams.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is looking for a Principal Solicitor to join a skilled in-house multidisciplinary legal and legislation project team, within the Legal and Legislation Division in 2-year fixed term role.

The Principal Solicitor is a senior member of the Forestry Legal Project team in the Forestry and Compliance Branch and provides leadership in the delivery of high quality, accurate and strategic advice on legal and legislation-related issues with a core focus on administrative law and statutory interpretation, commercial and contracts law, dispute resolution and litigation and Freedom of Information (FOI), Privacy and Parliamentary Orders for Documents.

The Principal Solicitor is required to have experience at a senior level in at least two of the core areas, ideally in a government context and must hold or be eligible to hold an Australian practising certificate.

About the role:

In this role, you will lead projects, self-manage and supervise the work of junior lawyers as required, participate in multi-disciplinary project teams and

provide authoritative advice to senior management and staff on a diverse range of legal and legislation-related issues with a focus on leveraging the division's deep understanding of the department's legal and legislative frameworks to provide relevant, risk-based and solutions-focused advice.

The role is part of a highly skilled legal team, working closely with the department's business areas and key stakeholders to support the delivery of priority policy initiatives, programs and operations for the Victorian community to optimise success and minimise and mitigate risks for government.

About you:

The role is for an experienced lawyer who is looking to join an engaging, dynamic multidisciplinary legal and legislation practice and to contribute to an inclusive and team-oriented workplace culture that is collaborative, professional and engaged.

If you want to be a part of a high performing, exciting, interesting and busy legal and legislation project team, we welcome your application.

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• An Australian lawyer within the meaning of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria), holding or eligible to hold an Australian practising certificate.
• Demonstrated ability as a senior legal practitioner providing authoritative advice in the core areas of administrative law and statutory interpretation, commercial and contracts law, dispute resolution and litigation – the required experience at a senior level is mandatory in two of these areas and highly regarded in all three.
• Extensive specialist knowledge and experience in the interpretation and application of FOI and Privacy legislation and administration including decision making and evaluation of other legislation and case law.
• Extensive experience in dealing with detailed and confidential material and preparation of detailed briefings, correspondence and reports.
• Strong experience in either broader general in-house or government legal practice will be highly regarded.

This is a fixed term position available for a period of 24 months. The work location for this position is 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne with hybrid work arrangements available.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

For further information please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close at midnight on Sunday, 12 January 2025.

Other relevant information:

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 and Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check. 

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. 

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave.