The Role

To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced, motivated, collaborative and high-performing candidate.

An EL1 Senior Legal Officer (SLO) works under broad direction to deliver complex and sensitive legal advice to support projects that have strategic and operational significance in an increasingly complex and changing national security environment.

Reporting to, and supporting, a Deputy General Counsel, you will perform an important leadership role, supervising and mentoring junior lawyers within a dynamic and flexible work environment. You will have experience in one or more of the following subject areas:

• Cyber security, commercial or contract law.
• International, military, operational or national security law.
• Administrative, employment law or dispute resolution.

An EL1 SLO exercises sound decision-making and judgement to provide expert legal advice and requires an extensive understanding of legislative frameworks, government decision making and ASD’s mission and policy requirements.

An EL1 SLO will manage a small number of junior Legal Officers and is accountable for managing resources to achieve team outcomes. You will build team capability through coaching and the provision of honest, constructive feedback.

You will consider and effectively manage competing priorities and will contribute towards ongoing improvement and the professional development of the General Counsel Branch. An EL1 SLO is responsible for actively managing key stakeholder relationships and is required to identify stakeholders’ expectations and concerns to develop and communicate methodologies to achieve outcomes.

Further information can be found at: I’m changing my career | Australian Signals Directorate (asd.gov.au)

About our Team

General Counsel Branch within the Legal, Compliance and Strategy Division is a specialist in-house legal practice that supports ASD’s mission by advising on the management of legal risk. It is a dynamic and collegiate branch with a strong focus on delivering quality, timely legal

advice and developing staff in a positive team environment. We draw on the professional talent and diverse experience of our people to pursue excellence in support of ASD’s mission.

General Counsel Branch has legal officers in locations around Australia and comprises teams advising on a range of legal practice areas including employment law, commercial law, national security and intelligence law, international law, legislation reform and legal policy. Legal Officers at all levels get exposure to a wide variety of interesting and complex legal matters.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are looking for lawyers who are interested in:

• High-profile projects of national importance, advising on intelligence, cyber security and offensive cyber operations.
• Diverse work unique to ASD’s mission. You will consider novel and unique issues as you advise on new capabilities and technologies, developing highly sought after skills and experience.
• Leading and developing a small legal team.
• Learning and development, both formal and on the job.
• Competitive conditions including flexible work arrangements.
• Autonomy and client contact.
• A passionate and friendly workplace.
• A collegiate legal practice that promotes excellence.

ASD is seeking applicants to fill current and anticipated vacancies and to create a merit pool for future vacancies. In line with the Australian Public Service Commissioner’s Direction 2022, upon completion of the recruitment activity, the merit pool will be able available to locations across Australia.

Mandatory Qualifications

An EL1 Senior Legal Officer must:

Hold a relevant degree in law (or equivalent qualification).

Hold a graduate diploma in legal practice (or equivalent).

Be admitted as a lawyer, legal practitioner, barrister, solicitor or barrister and solicitor of the High Court or Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory.

Be eligible to hold and maintain a practicing certificate in the jurisdiction in which you practice.

Have at least 5 years post admission legal experience or have substantial contemporary and relevant knowledge and experience in relevant areas of law, including knowledge of the Commonwealth legal environment (for example, in legal policy).

Have experience in one of the following areas, whether in government or private practice:

• Cyber security, commercial or contract law.
• International, military, operational or national security law.
• Administrative, employment law or dispute resolution.