El 1 - Senior Lawyer

• $111,522 - $134,418 per annum, plus 15.4% superannuation (Total Package including super: $128,696 - $155,118 per annum)
• Ongoing, full-time
• Sydney, NSW

This role sits within the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA).

Position Overview

The Senior Lawyer works with and supports the Director of Legal at the FCFCOA (Legal Office). The Legal Office provides timely and strategic legal advice and assistance to the Chief Justice and Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar (CEO/PR) on diverse and complex issues related to the management and operations of the FCFCOA, its officers and staff – the focus is on workplace law issues. 

The CEO/PR is responsible for managing 605 staff in the FCFCOA and therefore the role will support the CEO/PR in relation to matters flowing from any legal issues arising in the operations of the CEO/PR’s office, including relating to the management of staff. The Chief Justice has responsibility for the business and administration of the Courts, assisted by the CEO/PR, and therefore the Legal Office also supports the Chief Justice more broadly in relation to these responsibilities. 

The Legal Office focuses on Workplace Law issues, covering the full spectrum of work including employment law, industrial relations, discrimination, work health and safety – it also includes litigation management, training and investigation work. The Legal Office also works across a broad spectrum of Court specific issues including key advisory services supporting the Chief Justice and the CEO/PR in the exercise of their statutory duties and their day-to-day management of the two Courts, which together comprise 122 judges; hundreds of legal, social science and related support staff; Indigenous Family Liaison Officers, registries, and circuits across 43 locations; and responsibility for around 117,000 filings per year.

The Legal Office provides high level legal, strategic and management advice and support to the Executive Management of the Courts. The role will support the CEO/PR and the Deputy Principal Registrar in relation to the handling of complaints received by the Courts about any Registrars and staff of the FCFCOA. 

Formal Qualifications and Experience

• Tertiary qualifications in law and admission as a practitioner of the High Court and/or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia are required;
• 3  years or more of experience as a legal practitioner or in-house counsel, legal officer, or equivalent position within either the private or public sector is required;
• experience in, and knowledge of, labour law and dealing in workplace relations is highly desirable; and
• experience working in a court administration environment is also desirable, but not essential.

Selection Criteria
The successful applicant will need to have:

1. Demonstrated ability to provide legal advice and strategies to deal with complex and sensitive matters.
2. Demonstrated ability to work in an environment requiring utmost tact and discretion.
3. Well-developed oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with judges and staff of the Courts and external legal practitioners.
4. 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.
5. Well-developed interpersonal, liaison, and negotiation skills, including the ability to build and maintain positive professional relationships with key stakeholders, represent the Courts at a senior level, when interacting with external stakeholders, and the ability to influence behaviour and attitudes at all levels.
6. Broad understanding of Federal civil jurisdictions and relevant legislation or the capacity to acquire that understanding. 
7. 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 the principles of Workplace Diversity and Work Health and Safety.

Recruitment Process
To apply, please complete the application form on the Court’s careers portal. If you have any issues with applying, please email ***********@fedcourt.gov.au.

To be considered you will need to upload a concise expression of interest (2 page maximum) detailing how your experience and skills relate to the position description and selection criteria and attach a current resume.

Enquiries Welcomed
Confidential enquiries will be welcomed by Siobhan Flores-Walsh, Director Legal Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia - call Siobhan on 0437324*** or email her at ***************@fcfcoa.gov.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

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