APS 6 and EL 1 Lawyers | $840 to $1190 daily rate including super (depending on skills and experience) | Initial 6 month contract with the possibility of an additional 6 months | Canberra – Geelong – Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane – Adelaide – Perth locations considered

The Roles

Our client is seeking multiple APS 6 and EL 1 Lawyers for an initial period of 6 months to be seconded to a federal government agency.

These positions will fall within the agency’s Information Law & Privacy team.

The APS 6 level position is a team membership position that may be required to perform work that involves team leadership around mentoring and the team requiring the setting of priorities and managing workflows of a team.

The EL 1 level position is responsible for actively managing key internal and external stakeholder relationships and may be required to represent and negotiate on behalf of the Agency.

The Responsibilities

The responsibilities for the role will include:

• providing information and privacy legal advice to the executive and business areas;
• managing and processing subpoenas and requests for information;
• undertaking research and providing sound advice and guidance on privacy implications for new technologies and the development of Information Sharing Protocols;
• providing strategic direction to business areas to develop policies around information sharing and data in accordance with legislation and guidance material;
• preparing, undertaking initial research and/or contributing to Cabinet submissions, briefing material for Ministers, board papers, media releases, reports to Parliamentary committees, and correspondence;
• for the EL 1 managing a team of paralegals and junior legal officers who process requests for information and privacy related matters; and
• developing tools and processes to manage and efficiently process information related requests.

The Requirements

Previous experience in a privacy or information area in a federal government department would be highly regarded. Strong communication and IT Systems skills are essential.

Legal qualifications and a current practicing certificate is essential.

This is a security assessed position. Applicants must be an Australian citizen, with the successful candidate having the ability to obtain a Baseline Australian Government security clearance and be willing to undergo additional employment suitability checks.

APS 4 Lawyers | up to $540 daily rate including super (depending on skills and experience) | Initial 6 month contract with the possibility of an additional 6 months | Canberra – Geelong – Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane – Adelaide – Perth locations considered

The Role

Our client is seeking multiple APS 4 Lawyers for an initial period of 6 months to be seconded to a federal government agency.

These positions will require the successful candidates to provide operational and administrative support that is informed and directed by sound knowledge and may undertake some research and analysis activities within the agency’s Information Law & Privacy team.

The Responsibilities

The responsibilities for the role will include:

• assisting with and providing excellent legal services to the Agency;
• establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with clients and other stakeholders including courts and tribunals and people with disability and their representatives;
• managing priorities and available resources to deliver results on time and within budget;
• preparing and undertaking initial research and drafting advice on low risk matters to contribute to a range of material including media releases and intranet/website content;
• supporting and contributing to business improvement activities, including the development of systems, processes and practical tools; and
• undertaking research and analysis on legal precedents to support the team and project work.

The Requirements

Previous experience in a privacy or information area in a federal government department would be highly regarded. Strong communication and IT Systems skills are essential.

Commercial Lawyer – $840 to $1190 daily rate inc super – 3 month contract, commencing ASAP – Canberra or Melbourne Location

The Role

Our client, is seeking an experienced Commercial Lawyer to work on a Commonwealth Agency’s procurement processes. The Commercial Lawyer will engage with the project team to identify, anticipate and respond to needs and expectations to assist with a broad range of Practice Areas including contracts law (including grants and funding agreements), procurement and governance.

The Responsibilities

The key responsibilities will include:
• advising the agency’s business areas on legal arrangements for establishing and running major projects;
• reviewing and providing legal advice on procurement arrangements including requests for quote, tender processes, formal negotiations, contractual arrangements and legal risk analysis;
• providing general contractual legal services including drafting and advising on contracts for the agency’s commercial arrangements such as leases, service provider agreements, copyright agreements and non-disclosure agreements;
• general review and advice for document production work including reviewing and responding to subpoenas and assisting the agency’s freedom of information client areas with legal advice work; and
• providing general public and administrative law advice to the agency’s business areas.

The Requirements

Experience working as a Commercial Lawyer and experience in major procurement projects in a federal government setting would be highly regarded.
Legal qualifications and a current practicing certificate is essential.

Senior Lawyer and Lawyer – Information and Data Sharing | $840 to $1190 daily rate inc super | 6 months | Canberra

The Role

Our clients are seeking and experienced Senior Lawyer and Lawyer candidates to work in a busy Information law team that provides advice on privacy, protected information and data sharing and management within a high profile Commonwealth department.

The Responsibilities

The position requires the successful candidate to have experience in the following areas:
• data sharing and management;
• advising on confidentiality provisions in statutes;
• privacy law;
• administrative law;
• statutory interpretation; and
• drafting data sharing agreements between Commonwealth entities and third parties.

The Requirements

The successful candidate must have outstanding stakeholder engagement skills with a demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team environment, with a focus on quality service delivery to internal clients across a range of matters. Candidates will need to be familiar with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles, and be experienced and comfortable with conducting reviews of projects involving personal information.

A current practicing certificate and a baseline security clearance are essential.

Legal Practice Manager – 3 months – possible extension – Canberra Location – Baseline Clearance – $540 to $840 daily rate inc super

The Role

Our client, a high profile federal government department, is seeking an experienced Legal Practice Manager to provide a high degree of administrative support to enable the Agency’s Legal Group’s function of delivering quality, timely legal advice to the Agency’s Executive and business areas.

The Responsibilities

The position will require the successful candidate to set up the processes and procedures which would allow effective administrative support for the Group.
The successful candidate will be required to:

• undertake budget management activities (monitoring and reporting on resources and expenditure);
• manage procurement and contracts processing;
• coordinate internal and external reporting on behalf of the group;
• manage Group resources, including coordinating updates to templates, internet and intranet content, and managing the legal group files and database;
• assist with recruitment, staff movements and other human resources management activities;
• coordinate Group activities, such as in-house and external continuing professional development and training;
• manage stakeholder relationships with a diverse network of internal and external stakeholders;
• identify, implement and promote improved work practices for the group; and
• undertake any other administrative and operational tasks as required by the Agency.

The Requirements

Familiarity with the Commonwealth’s resource management framework and demonstrated experience managing procurement as well as experience in an administrative support role in a legal practice and or formal legal qualifications would be highly regarded.

A current Baseline security clearance is essential.

Commercial Adviser – $900 to $1079 daily rate inc super – NV1 Clearance essential – 12 month contract, commencing ASAP – Canberra Location

The Role

Our client, is seeking an experienced commercial adviser to develop and lead the commercial strategy for a Commonwealth Department’s high-profile project.  The commercial adviser will engage with the project team to identify, anticipate and respond to needs and expectations to achieve capability development, acquisition and sustainment outcomes. The commercial adviser will be accountable under broad direction to perform and achieve complex to very complex contract management work within an integrated workplace. 

The Duties

The key responsibilities will include:

• the provision of procurement planning, tendering and contract management activities, ensuring compliance with legislation, procurement policies, processes and procedures;
• managing allocated resources, setting work area priorities, managing workflows, developing strategies and evaluating business outcomes;
• providing advice, direction, and assistance to the integrated project manager to support contract management and commercial strategy outcomes;
• supporting the integrated project manager in all contract negotiations, preparation of Contract Change Proposals, and contract performance/compliance measurement and management;
• engaging and negotiating with clients and stakeholders and responding to issues, taking the initiative to identify alternate action where necessary; and
• building and sustaining relationships with stakeholders including industry representatives.

The Requirements

Experience working on large, high-profile Defence projects would be highly regarded. 

Higher degree qualifications or relevant industry experience of more than 8 years with at least higher education sector accreditation at minimum advanced diploma level are desirable.

A current NV 1 security clearance at a minimum is essential.

EL 1 Legal Practice Manager – Permanent Position – Canberra Location – NV 1 Clearance

The Role

Our client the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), is seeking an experienced Legal Practice Manager at the EL 1 level to join their dynamic and busy team on a permanent basis either via a transfer from another Commonwealth Department or as a new permanent engagement with the Commonwealth.

The Responsibilities

The position will require the successful candidate to work within DFAT’s Legal Division which delivers legal enabling services that advance the department’s operations and strategic objectives. This is an opportunity to engage in complex and sensitive work and actively manage stakeholders relationships at all levels across the department. This is a role that requires sound decision-making and judgement, high levels of strategic thinking and is an opportunity for a high-performing independent thinker to contribute to DFAT’s dynamic legal division.

The successful candidate will be required to:
• problem-solve, undertake analysis and provide timely advice;
• manage the branch’s legal services budget,
• have an eye for detail and an ability to engage accurately on technical matters;
• have highly developed written and verbal communication skills;
• work collaboratively and as an effective member of a team;
• be stakeholder or client-focussed and comfortable operating within a sensitive and complex environment;
• liaise with other agencies and other stakeholders; and
• undertake research on complex subject matter and distil information into clear and concise written products.

The Requirements

The role requires the candidate to have proven experience or ability to drive legislative and policy compliance assurance activities, lead the branch’s external legal reporting obligations, and support the procurement of external legal services.

Legal qualifications, Australian Citizenship and a current practicing certificate are essential.

A current minimum NV1 security clearance would be extremely well regarded as would current or recent experience as a Commonwealth Legal Practice Manager at the EL 1 level.