EL1 Senior Government Lawyer

Location:
Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Employment status:
Non-ongoing, Ongoing
Hours:
Full-time
APS classification:
Executive Level 1
Applications close:
AEST

About the position

AFSA Legal is a Division that provides timely, clear, concise, pragmatic and correct legal services to AFSA and its supported entities in the delivery of insolvency registration and trustee services, regulation of the credit industry, use of the personal property securities register and management of AFSA as a government entity. 

As a Senior Government Lawyer, you will work within a small team delivering services in a very complex and intellectually challenging environment to provide specialist legal advice and litigation services.

You will contribute to the legal team and take a high degree of responsibility for team outcomes. You are expected to have a thorough understanding of the relevant legislation and legislative framework that supports the work of AFSA.

You will play a leading role in dispute resolution services including analysis, interpretation and application of legislation, policies, practices, and precedents to resolve complex legal issues, escalating where appropriate

Key accountabilities

You will undertake complex and/or sensitive legal work under broad direction including:

  • Reviewing, preparing, and managing litigation matters and assisting with (or managing) more complex litigation
  • Appearing in Tribunal proceedings and direct briefing counsel
  • Leading and managing legal staff and building team capability through coaching and performance feedback as well as encouraging career development. This includes implementing work plans for the team including delegating tasks and priorities, managing workflow, and allocating resources. Involves the motivation of team members, building cooperation and improving team performance
  • Partner and collaborate with business areas within AFSA to foresee legal challenges and takes proactive measures to resolve them
  • Performing research and analysis to draft advice and/or make decisions that involve complex or escalated issues, longer-term planning, and liaison with other areas of within the agency’
  • Representing AFSA by promoting its interests at community and cross-agency levels;
  • Contributing to the development of team objectives for short term tasks and strategic planning for longer-term initiatives and monitoring changes in the broader work environment that may impact on work objectives;
  • Development, review, and implementation of policies and work practices compliant with relevant legislation and consistent with best practice.

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
  • 3-5 years’ experience in litigation and law practice preferably in a government environment with some experience in administrative law and financial law
  • Experience leading teams and/or supervising and mentoring staff.

Desirable

Regulatory and/or insolvency experience.

Please see the attached position description for more information about the role.

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 (working from home arrangements).

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 peoples from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disability.

How to apply

Applications close Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 11:59 PM AEST.

Applications for this vacancy are submitted online through the AFSA careers portal. Further instructions on how to apply can be found on the advertisement webpage.

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

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