APS6 Government Lawyer

Location:
Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Employment status:
Non-ongoing, Ongoing
Hours:
Full-time
APS classification:
APS Level 6
Applications close:
AEST

About the role

As an APS6 Government Lawyer at AFSA, you will play a key role in delivering legal services and advice on matters impacting the agency. Operating with a degree of autonomy, your work will be second-counselled by a Senior or Principal Government Lawyer to ensure legal consistency and quality.

You will manage legal cases, contribute to dispute resolution, and provide advice on complex legal issues. This includes interpreting legislation, preparing legal documents, and supporting litigation processes. You may also lead small operational teams and mentor junior staff to build legal capability across the agency.

This role offers the opportunity to work on diverse legal matters in a collaborative and supportive environment, contributing to AFSA's strategic and operational goals.

Key accountabilities

As an APS6 Government Lawyer, acting under the supervision of a Senior Government Lawyer, you will be responsible for:

  • reviewing, preparing, and managing litigation matters and assisting with (or managing) more complex litigation
  • managing Tribunal proceedings with the assistance of a Senior Government Laywer, direct briefing counsel and the opportunity to appear in Tribunal proceedings if appropriate
  • partner and collaborate with business areas within AFSA to foresee legal challenges and take proactive measures to resolve them
  • supporting the General Counsel division with matters relating to the exercise of AFSA and its supported entities functions and powers
  • developing knowledge of legislative, financial, and administrative frameworks, government decision-making processes and agency guidelines and regulations
  • undertaking research and analysis to draft advice to assist decision-making processes within AFSA and its supported entities
  • assisting in the development, review and implementation of policies and work practices compliant with relevant legislation and consistent with best practice
  • assist FOI delegates in processing and managing freedom of information requests
  • assist Senior Government Lawyers and Principal Government Lawyers consider and respond to privacy complaints and breaches of privacy.

Qualifications and experience

Essential

  • Bachelor of law degree or equivalent
  • Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory
  • Holder of (or eligible to hold) a current practicing certificate.

Desirable

  • Ideally more than 2 years' experience in litigation and law practice, preferably in a government environment and with knowledge of, or experience in, regulatory, insolvency and administrative law, including Privacy and Freedom of Information
  • Experience in supporting senior lawyers.

All duties will be performed in accordance with: 

  • the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles 
  • WHS obligations, taking responsibility for own health and safety and that of others 
  • AFSA's risk management framework and relevant legislation, including guiding others to identify and mitigate foreseeable risks. 

Why AFSA?

You will enjoy excellent conditions including: 

  • generous superannuation (15.4%)
  • a modern work environment
  • access to Employee Assistance Provider 

Flexibility to balance work and personal life (including working from home arrangements and flexible start and finish times where applicable).

We are a workplace committed to providing an environment that values diversity and supports staff to reach their full potential. We encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disability. At AFSA we encourage every employee balance their family commitments and personal interests with flexible working options.

Eligibility

Please note that this opportunity is open only to Australian Citizens. The successful applicant must have or be willing to undergo a security clearance to the level of Baseline as a condition of employment. To satisfy character requirements, all AFSA employees must undergo a police records check.

Where a person has received a redundancy benefit from APS agency employment and their corresponding redundancy benefit period has not expired, they may be ineligible for employment. We encourage applications from people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disability.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job.

For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability.

How to apply

Applications close Sunday 26 October 2025 at 11:59 PM AEDT.

To apply for this role, please click the 'Apply' button. You'll be relocated to our application portal, which also provides step-by-step instructions to guide you through the application process.

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