Jurisdiction: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

Section: National Operations Registry

Classification: Executive Level 1

Job Type: Ongoing/Non-ongoing, Full-time

Location: The preferred location for this role is Sydney, NSW. However, applicants from other locations will be considered and alternative locations may be negotiated subject to operational requirements.

Salary: $120,390 to $145,107 per annum, plus 15.4% superannuation (salary may be negotiated)

Position Overview

The Senior Lawyer works with the Director of Legal and Integrity at the FCFCOA (Legal Office) together with another Senior Lawyer. 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 and WHS issues and complaints/investigations, however, the Legal Office also deals with complex constitutional law issues and a diversity of other issues.

The CEO/PR is responsible for around 680 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 & WHS Law issues, covering the full spectrum of work including employment law, industrial relations, discrimination, work health and safety – however, it also includes complaints handling and investigations, constitutional law issues litigation management and training. 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 126 judges; hundreds of legal, social science and related support staff; Indigenous Family Liaison Officers, registries, and circuits across 43 locations; and responsibility for over 100,000 filings per year across family law, general federal law and migration.

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.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

The key responsibilities and duties of the Senior Lawyer include working with the Director Legal and Integrity to:

• Provide timely and comprehensive advice on issues related to the work of the Courts, including workplace relations matters;
• Provide legal, strategic and management advice to the Executive Management of the Courts;
• Provide high level and practical advice in relation to policies and protocols of the Courts across all areas of responsibility, with a particular focus on workplace health and safety;
• Deliver timely expert, authoritative and strategic legal advice and counsel to the Executive Management of the Courts on critical issues that impact the Courts, providing appropriate legal solutions and strategically astute advice for the achievement of strategic objectives;
• Assist the CEO/PR and the Deputy Principal Registrar in relation to complaints against Registrars and staff, and the Chief Justice in the handling of judicial complaints, including in the handling of sensitive material and information;
• Manage the processes for the Court effectively and efficiently complying with statutory and administrative guidelines relating to workplace relations;
• Provide early intervention strategies to the Executive Management of the Courts in potentially complex and litigious matters promoting positive dispute resolution strategies;
• Work with the Federal Court of Australia Agency’s People and Culture Section to draw upon the service delivery of that section for human resources functions; and
• Pro-actively identifying legal and regulatory issues and developments affecting the Courts in order to develop strategies and solutions.

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 [email protected].

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 and Integrity, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia - call Siobhan on 0437 324 234 or email her at [email protected].

Eligibility

Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following:

1. Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship;
2. Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check, and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment;
3. Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period

Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply, but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired.

Diversity and Inclusion

Federal Court Australia is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from People with Disability. First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Mature age workers, as well as young workers and supporting an inter-generational workforce and supporting gender equity and families.

Federal Court Australia will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the inherent requirements of the role.

RecruitAbility

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

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

Applications close on Wednesday 10 September 2025 at 11.30pm AEST.