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Form of work About the role
This role operates within the Legal Policy Unit (LPU), which forms part of the Strategy and Corporate Services division. The LPU undertakes research, provides high quality legal and strategic advice, and governs MCV's position on legal policy matters. Among the LPU's core functions is the provision of legal advice and support to all business units of MCV; supporting judicial officers with legal research; coordination of legal policy responses to government initiatives; overseeing the implementation of new jurisdictions and legislative programs for MCV; and leading and coordinating MCV's legally qualified employees.
The role of Principal Lawyer is to support the Director of Legal Policy in the provision of accurate and timely legal advice across MCV. This will include advice to support legal policy, process and good governance to the CEO, Executives, Heads of the respective Divisions, Supervising Magistrates, Magistrates and the Chambers of the Chief Magistrate. The Principal Lawyer is responsible for developing and maintaining key stakeholder relationships throughout the MCV, other courts, government departments and external agencies. The Principal Lawyer will also be responsible for setting internal governance policies and managing the impact of external factors such as legislative change.
The Principal Lawyer will participate in, or advise, steering committees and other internal groups to identify and respond to legal and policy issues of broad organisational and strategic importance. The role will also have responsibility for identifying legal issues that require escalation and co-ordinating a broad-based policy response.
Key accountabilities include:
* Provide authoritative, high-level advice to senior stakeholders, including the Chief Magistrate, Judicial Heads of Division, CEO and Executive Leadership Group, on complex and varied legal issues with a particular focus on statutory interpretation and public law.
* Manage key stakeholder relationships within the Court, other courts, CSV, government departments and external stakeholders with respect to law reform consultations and policy initiatives.
* Provide high quality team leadership to a medium-sized team of lawyers. This includes staff supervision, professional development and mentoring to share expertise and build internal legal capability.
* Coordinate, develop and deliver strategic, comprehensive legal services to ensure the completion of legal and other corporate projects as required.
* Formulate proposals for the consideration of the executive and the judiciary on a range of sensitive, strategic and complex legal issues to influence and support policy and practice development and law reform.
* Support the development of policy initiatives in the MCV's Specialist Courts and Programs, Criminal and Civil Divisions. This will include legal advice on Family Violence, Koori Justice, FOI, privacy and Charter issues.
* Interpret general policy frameworks to make decisions in the absence of definitive operational policies.
* Contribute advanced expertise and knowledge to strategic planning and decision-making processes.
* Advising upon, negotiating and drafting a broad range of contracts and agreements to support the Court's engagements with government agencies and external providers.
About you
* Tertiary qualification in law and admission to practice with 6 years post-admission experience.
* In house experience in government is highly desirable.
How to apply
Click the ‘Apply Now' button, including the following in your application:
* resume
* a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria
