Principal Lawyer Advisory, Ongoing opportunity based in Sydney CBD + Hybrid/flexible working options available

Principal Lawyer - Legislation/Regulator Advice teams
Clerk Grade 11/12: $149,739 - $173,174 + Super, commensurate with experience
Ongoing and temporary opportunities, SYDNEY

Exciting opportunities for Principal Lawyers have become available in our legal team within the Department of Customer Service (DCS). In these roles you will be working in an interesting and fast paced regulatory environment with competing priorities.

DCS has available ongoing and temporary Principal Lawyer positions in the Legislation and Advice and Regulator Advisory teams, teams at DCS Legal. The successful candidates will take up roles in Legal teams supporting a wide range of agencies in the Customer Service cluster. The roles involve providing independent, professional and expert legal services to NSW Government regulators such as NSW Fair Trading, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority, the Building Commission NSW and SafeWork NSW. These regulators have an important role in providing public services, ensuring the NSW community is protected in workplaces, in homes and when buying goods and services.

Reporting to one of our Managing Lawyers, you will be responsible for providing legal services on a broad range of challenging matters and projects. With the primary focus on advisory legal work, advising on the exercise of statutory functions and undertaking legislative reform work.

The person in this role will need to:

• Provide accurate, timely and expert advice on critical legal issues across the range of legislation administered by DCS agencies including statutory interpretation, the conduct of legislative projects and administrative law.
• Analyse and interpret legislation; draft documents including advice, submissions, instruments, and other legal documentation, briefing notes and correspondence.
• Work with our internal stakeholders on a range of projects, including the development of legislation, and the protection of privacy and personal information.

To be successful in this role it is essential that you are motivated and an effective communicator with great initiative who can work with diverse clients, other lawyers, plan and prioritise work and manage competing deadlines. The right applicant will use their initiative, adapt to change, be client focused and able to develop innovative solutions.

The Key Requirements for the roles include:

• Admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales with relevant experience and capacity to manage and supervise the work of junior lawyer in a legal team
• Sound knowledge of legislative frameworks, and a strong background in providing advice as to the interpretation and operation of legislation
• Experience in advising and drafting in relation to administrative law, interpretation and operation of legislation, privacy and access to government information and public law
• Excellent stakeholder management, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong analytical ability, lateral thinking and problem-solving skills including an ability to respond creatively and apply legal principles in a practical way.

DCS can offer genuinely flexible working arrangements according to our Flexible Working Policy and Healthy Hybrid Habits. Hybrid work looks different for everyone, and needs to take into consideration the individual, team and organisation, while continuing to deliver for our customers, and should be captured in every Team Agreement

As part of this recruitment, we may form a talent pool for future opportunities at DCS Legal.

What we need from you:

To start your journey towards becoming our Principal Solicitor - Advisory please click on the link below and attach your resume and cover letter.

In your cover letter please share your motivation for applying for this position and your relevant skills.

Salary Grade 11/12, with the base salary for this role starting at 149,739 base plus superannuation

Click Here to access the Role Description. For enquiries relating to recruitment please contact Melody Tse via [email protected].

Visit the Capability Application Tool to prepare for the recruitment process by accessing practice application and interview questions based on the focus capabilities listed in the role description.

Closing Date: 10am Wednesday 17 September

Careers at Department of Customer Service
A career at the Department of Customer Service (DCS) gives you the opportunity to help improve government services and be part of reform that benefits people across NSW. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service, digital transformation, and regulatory reform. Come join us and influence the future of our great state.

Belong in our diverse and inclusive workplace

The strength of our workforce lies in its diversity and embracing difference, while the key to our success is leveraging the contributions of employees with different backgrounds and perspectives.

You can view our full diversity and inclusion statement here.

We want you to bring your best self to this application process. If you have any support or access needs that may require adjustments to allow you to fully participate in this selection process (including an alternate format of the application form) please contact [email protected] or 02 9494 8351.

For more information, please visit

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Information on adjustments available for the recruitment process