About the High Court of Australia

The High Court is the highest court in the Australian judicial system. It was established in 1901 by Section 71 of the Constitution. The functions of the High Court are to interpret and apply the law of Australia; to decide cases of special federal significance including challenges to the constitutional validity of laws and to hear appeals, by special leave, from Federal, State and Territory courts.

The functions of the High Court are supported by employees based in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. These employees are engaged to work for the High Court under Section 26 of the High Court of Australia Act 1979 (Cth). Terms and conditions of employment (other than substantive SES staff) are set out in the High Court of Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027.

Branch Overview

The Registry Branch is comprised of a small team of approximately 15 employees who, with the addition of the Transcript Editors and Court Reporters, play a key role in delivering Registry services to support the performance of the judicial functions of the High Court. The Registry provides the public interface for legal practitioners and litigants without legal representation who wish to commence proceedings in the High Court. It is also an important source of information for the legal profession, the media and for members of the public seeking information about proceedings before the Court and the role and function of the Court. The Registry manages the case-flow of the judicial workload of the Court.

In so doing it performs a wide variety of functions, the primary functions being:

filing and managing proceedings before the Court in accordance with the High Court Rules, Practice Directions and relevant legislation.

developing and maintaining a digital case lodgement system.

arranging and monitoring Court sittings and producing transcript of all hearings.

providing information concerning the status and disposition of matters before the Court.

maintaining the Federal Register of Legal Practitioners.

The Role - Deputy Registrar EL 1

The Deputy Registrar EL1 is a technical legal position, required to undertake a range of duties, primarily in relation to the filing, preparation and progression of cases filed in the Court’s original and appellate jurisdiction. The Deputy Registrar provides information and assistance to legal practitioners and litigants to ensure the material lodged in the Court’s Digital Lodgment System (DLS) meets the requirements of the High Court Rules, Practice Directions and relevant legislation. The Deputy Registrar (EL1) reports to a Deputy Registrar (EL2) and works collaboratively with the other Deputy Registrars to ensure the matters before the Court are processed effectively and in accordance with the applicable legal rules and procedures.

Applicants must be admitted to legal practice in the Supreme Court of a State or Territory (but need not hold a current practicing certificate).

The ideal candidate will also need to be:

people oriented, personable and able to work with a diverse range of people including members of the public, legal practitioners and Justices of the High Court of Australia

able to work as part of the Deputy Registrar team and broader Registry team by being adaptable, supportive and consultative

able to set a high standard while delivering positive outcomes

able to deliver outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Most work of the Registry team requires the ability to work constructively with others, often in challenging circumstances, whilst managing and balancing competing priorities. We have a supportive team culture, and the Deputy Registrar, as a senior role in the Registry, supports the work of others and ensures the Registry team remains a great place for people to work.

The Duties and Responsibilities

Assisting the Senior Registrar and Deputy Registrar (EL2) in the management of cases filed in in the Court’s original and appellate jurisdiction

Advising legal practitioners, litigants and members of the public on matters of the jurisdiction, practice and procedure of the Court

Reviewing the form and content of court material lodged in the DLS, issuing court process, settling orders, preparing matters for consideration by the Court, preparing short particulars of cases and taxing bills of costs in accordance with the High Court Rules 2004

Responding to general queries about High Court practice and procedure

Triaging matters for referral to the Court

Supporting the Justices as required in relation to the consideration and hearing of cases

Answering enquiries by legal practitioners concerning their entitlement to practice in federal courts and supervising the entry of practitioners’ names in the Register of Legal Practitioners

Attending to correspondence and assisting the Senior Registrar and Deputy Registrar EL2 in the preparation of submissions and special projects

Contributing to building strong, respectful and supportive workplace culture

Supporting the Senior Registrar and Deputy Registrar EL2 with team leadership and general staff development.

When needed, mentoring other team members, including assisting with performance plan discussions, performance management and counselling, with the Senior Registrar and Deputy Registrar (EL2) responsible for team management.

Eligibility

To be eligible for employment at the Court, candidates must be Australian citizens.

Candidates offered employment will be required to successfully undergo a police record check. The successful candidate will be required to submit a pre-employment medical declaration. Candidates must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information.

Successful applicants engaged by the Court will be subject to a probation period.

Selection criteria

The selection criteria reflect the knowledge, experience, core skills and personal qualities required for the role. Your written application should specifically address each of the selection criteria below, including examples of your experience and achievements:

experience in the conduct of litigation at the Supreme Court and/or Federal Court level

experience in managing competing priorities to produce quality and timely outcomes in a small team environment

knowledge of the jurisdiction, practice and procedure of the High Court and, in particular, the appellate jurisdiction and procedures

high level written and oral communications skills

computer literacy and experience in the use of electronic case management systems

ability to work collaboratively as part of a small team.

Qualifications and experience

Mandatory:

Admission to practice as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory (a current practicing certificate is not required).

Demonstrated experience working in a Court or Legal environment (or equivalent environment).

Desirable:

Experience supervising and leading small teams.

A legal background in litigation is desirable but not essential.

Experience in court administration is desirable but not essential.

What we need from you

Applications must be addressed to the contact officer, Louise Rafferty and forwarded to the HR Officer by the closing date. Please do not apply through this SEEK portal.

A Vacancy Information Kit for this position is available at Employment opportunities | High Court of Australia: https://www.hcourt.gov.au/about/employment/employment-opportunities

As part of your application, you will need to provide:

an application cover sheet

your current résumé

a maximum 750 words statement of claims against the selection criteria, including relevant examples

the names and contact details of two referees, one of whom should be a current supervisor.

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process or require any reasonable adjustments, please email the HR Officer or telephone (02) 6270 6952.

Applications close Sunday, 16 November 2025, 11:59pm AEDT.

Please note that late applications will not be accepted.