EL1 Senior Legal Officer
CONTEXT STATEMENT
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) exists to meet the Nation’s commitment to care
for our veteran and defence service community—the men and women who have served
Australia in times of war and conflict as well as peacetime. We do this through programs of
care, compensation, commemoration, income support and Defence support services. Our
aim is to ensure enhanced self-sufficiency, quality of life, financial wellbeing and community
recognition for those we support.
DVA is both a policy and service delivery agency with an annual budget in excess of $12
billion. We have strong relationships with Australian ex-service organisations, the
Department of Defence, the international veteran community and international veterans’
administrations.
DVA’s vision is to be a responsive and flexible organisation, efficiently delivering high
quality, connected services to all generations of veterans and the wider veteran community.
DVA’s cultural vision, underpinned by the APS Values of ICARE, are:
• We know our clients,
• We are future focused,
• We walk the talk,
• We are connected and we work together, and
• We are capable and empowered to deliver
2 | P a g e
EL1 Senior Legal Officer
DUTY STATEMENT
Position Number:
TBD
Job Title:
Senior Legal Officer
APS Level:
EL1
Division:
General Counsel
Branch
Royal Commission Taskforce
Section:
Royal Commission Taskforce - Legal
Location:
Canberra; Melbourne
Immediate Supervisor:
Director/Principal Legal Officer (EL2)
The General Counsel Division is a specialist in-house practice that supports lawful
implementation of the Department’s objectives by advising on the management of legal risk
as well as providing legal advice, litigation and dispute resolution services, legal training and
legislation services.
The Royal Commission Taskforce is a specialist team within the General Counsel Division
that supports the DVA’s engagement with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran
Suicide.
We are looking for candidates with relevant experience, flexible thinking and a consistent
and reliable work ethic, to join the
Royal Commission Taskforce. You need to have strong and efficient administration, liaison and communications skills and
the ability to manage conflicting demands to meet deadlines.
The Royal Commission Taskforce:
• monitors Royal Commission proceedings to anticipate the Department’s
responsibilities for producing information
• Identifies key issues and exposures, and provides advice on mitigation strategies,
Undertaking analysis of key themes and thematic issues emerging from evidence
heard by the Royal Commission
• works closely with all areas of DVA, and assist with document identification
processes, document review and witness evidence in a fast-paced environment
• prepares responses to Notices issued by the Royal Commission
• provides hearing and witness support to senior departmental officers summoned to
appear before the Royal Commission
• works closely with Divisional contacts and the Attorney-General’s Department to
response to requests from the Royal Commission and provide instructions to the
Commonwealth’s legal representative, the Australian Government Solicitor.
3 | P a g e
EL1 Senior Legal Officer
DUTIES
In accordance with the principles of workplace diversity, Work Health and Safety,
participative work practices, APS values and APS Employment Principles:
• Deliver high quality legal services that meet client expectations (including financial),
business and legal risk, compliance requirements and professional standards.
• Develop and maintain client relationships with business areas and promote the Legal
Services and Audit branch as the Department’s trusted advisor.
• Supervise and support other section members including contributing to the setting
of the direction of work priorities and practices and monitoring work flow for legal
support staff as required.
• Further develop professional legal expertise, through participation in development,
training and study opportunities, and meet Continuing Legal Education requirements
and other expectations.
• Have professional responsibilities within a legal team delivering services in a very
complex environment. This includes some professional supervision of lawyers and/or
working with lawyers operating across different areas of law, jurisdictions and as
necessary geographic locations. Have “day-to-day” responsibility for legal matters
with important Government and client implications.
• Successful applicants wil demonstrate sound decision-making and judgment to
produce high-level legal advice across different areas of DVA’s operations, which
may include corporate management or service delivery.
• Drafting high quality documents (including witness statements, briefs, explanatory
statements, agreements and correspondence).
• Manage and develop capabilities of the branch, this includes professional
supervision and mentoring of lawyers and/or working with lawyers operating across
different areas of law, jurisdictions and geographical locations.
• Liaise with managers at all levels at DVA.
• As necessary, represent the Section, Branch, Division or Department at meetings, on
committees or with other agencies.
Senior Lawyers at this level generally operate under broad direction and undertake legal
work with moderate supervision, the extent of which is dependent upon complexity of legal
work and experience.
Successful applicants wil demonstrate sound decision-making and judgement to produce
high-level legal advice across different areas of the department’s operations, which may
include corporate management or service delivery.
Relevant experience working in a Royal Commission, or with large scale document discovery
processes, is considered highly advantageous for roles with the Royal Commission into
Defence and Veteran Suicide Taskforce.
4 | P a g e
EL1 Senior Legal Officer
SELECTION CRITERIA
Your application will be assessed against the relevant APS level within the Integrated
Leadership System (ILS)
To learn more about the ILS click here.
You wil be assessed on your ability to perform the core duties outlined previously, to be
successful you are expected to have:
• Sound decision-making and judgement to produce high-level legal advice across
different areas of the department’s operations, which may include corporate
management or service delivery.
• Demonstrate initiative and have sound verbal and interpersonal communication and
customer service skills, including the ability to provide appropriate advice and high
quality customer service.
• Proactively and effectively manage your own time and a large caseload in the
context of competing priorities.
• Apply accuracy and attention to detail.
STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
Candidates apply by submitting a 1000 word statement of claims, also known as a ‘one page
pitch’.
Candidate’s statement of claims outline their skil s, knowledge and experience and why they
should be considered for the role taking into consideration the duties and selection criteria
(ILS).
Mandatory
• Must have at least a Bachelor of Laws degree (or equivalent) from a recognised
Australian tertiary education provider.
• Admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or the Supreme Court of a State
or Territory of Australia and must possess, or be eligible to obtain, a practising
certificate.
• Relevant post admission experience or equivalent legal experience or knowledge in
areas of relevant and knowledge of the Commonwealth legal environment.
5 | P a g e
