Legal Officer

• Full-time temporary employment opportunity in a vibrant and supportive team until Oct 2025
• Based in Parramatta CBD with flexible work arrangements available
• Remuneration of $117,363 - $137,071 plus super & leave loading

About the Opportunity

For this opportunity we are seeking lawyers who are passionate about public education and committed to delivering the Plan for NSW Public Education. The opportunity will suit generalist lawyers or lawyers that are committed to learning new areas of law as it will involve advising on a diverse range of legal areas, eg. discrimination, duty of care, education, health & safety, child protection law sexual harassment, mental health and wellbeing, family law, and criminal law.    

About the Department of Education 

At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

About the Team

The Commercial and Schools Infrastructure NSW (SINSW) team provides property and construction legal services to assist SINSW to build and maintain our schools, operate OSCH, canteens and uniform shops and share school space with the community during school holidays. This includes drafting and advising on leases and licences, easements and construction contracts.

The team also provides general commercial support and advice to schools and business units on a vast range of commercial matters, including drafting, negotiating and advising on a wide range of contracts, funding arrangements, and assisting with intellectual property and commercial disputes.

About the role

You will report to the Senior Legal Officers (Property). You must have technical knowledge and practical property law experience, such as drafting deeds, licences, contracts of sale, leases, easements, subdivisions, compulsory acquisitions and positive covenants. 

The Legal Officer Grade 3/4 provides high-level legal advice, briefings and correspondence in areas of law relevant to the NSW Department of Education with key accountabilities that include:

• Interpreting, analysing and preparing complex legal documents
• Representing the department before courts and tribunals, and in contract and settlement negotiations
• Providing high-level legal advice and recommendations on the development and implementation of legal standards and practices, strategies, systems, procedures and processes for the practice area
• Supporting the practice area team in delivering legal education and training programs
• Helping to collect and analyse legal data to deliver reports that inform and improve the department’s operations.

For further information please view the role description.

Essential requirements of the role 

• Legal qualifications and a current NSW practising certificate.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.

Key Knowledge and experience 

• Knowledge and experience in the relevant area/s of law impacting on the NSW Department of Education, with the ability to provide targeted and high-quality advice and casework services.
• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

How to apply 

Please attach your resume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you would be a great fit for this role including areas of relevant experience.

Please refer to the Applicant’s Guide to Applying to assist you with your application. If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education, click here for instructions on how to submit your application.

All other applicants please submit your application by clicking ‘Apply Now’.

Closing date:  Wednesday 20th November 2024 at 11:59pm

Contact: For role enquiries please contact Gemma Jackson, Principal Legal Officer, at gemma.jackson2@det.nsw.edu.au  

This is a child-related role. As  a condition of employment, you will be required to provide a Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number and complete a National Criminal Record Check. Visit the website for more information.

Inclusion and Diversity: We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team (dandi@det.nsw.edu.au) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.”

A talent pool will be created through this recruitment process. A talent pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.