Description:
The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) are looking for highly skilled legal professional with a strong background in litigation.
Our Legal Section provides legal advice, legal and litigation support to all areas of our operations. In addition to providing specialist advice on bankruptcy, personal property securities and proceeds of crime legislation, the section advises on administrative law, contracts, and other matters relevant to our corporate governance with a whole of Commonwealth focus and in compliance with the Legal Services Directions 2017 (Cth).
About the role
As a Principal Lawyer you hold a key leadership role within the AFSA Legal Team and the agency.
Reporting to the General Counsel, you will lead a dedicated team of lawyers who provide expert, strategic advice on complex legal matters to AFSA staff and the Executive Team, contributing to the effective operation of AFSA.
You will be required to lead multiple complex litigation and dispute resolution cases, provide legal advice on complex issues across a range of legal areas, undertake research, oversee the preparation of highly complex court documents and correspondence.
The role requires a highly skilled legal professional with a strong background in litigation.
Accountabilities
Under limited direction, you will:
- Deliver high quality, timely and client focused legal services to support the agency’s functions including managing litigation matters and providing specialist advice
- Appearing in Tribunal proceedings and direct briefing counsel
- Leading and managing legal staff and building team capacity through coaching and performance feedback as well as encouraging career development. This includes implementing work plans for the team, managing workflow, planning for future workforce needs, and promoting a diverse, inclusive, and high-performance culture
- Undertake research and analysis, provide options, make recommendations on complex matters, and develop solutions to support decision making and achieve positive client and AFSA outcomes
- Develop and support complex relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Ensuring knowledge of and compliance with legislative, financial, and administrative frameworks, government decision-making processes and agency guidelines and regulations
- Contributing to the development of team objectives for short term tasks and strategic planning for longer-term initiatives and monitoring changes in the broader work environment that may impact on work objectives
- Representing AFSA by promoting its interests at community and cross-agency levels.
While having a significant degree of autonomy, relevant work is second-counselled by the General Counsel.
Qualifications and experience
Essential
- Degree in law from an Australia tertiary institution or comparable qualification
- Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory
- Ideally 7+ years' experience in legal practice preferably in a government environment with significant experience in litigation, administrative law (including privacy), financial/insolvency law and/or regulation
- Demonstrated experience in managing complex legal cases and providing sound legal advice
- Experience in a leadership role with a department or regulatory agency that includes legal practice management and professional supervision.
Desirable
- Regulatory experience
Position Eligibility Requirements:
- Please note that this opportunity is open only to Australian Citizens
- The successful applicant must have or be willing to undergo a security clearance to the level of Baseline as a condition of employment
- To satisfy character requirements all AFSA employees must undergo a police records check.
How to apply
We encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities.
All applications are submitted through the AFSA careers portal.
- Please upload a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) and
- A current resume
Applications for this vacancy close at 11:59PM AEDT , Friday 7 March 2025.
About AFSA
The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) is responsible for supporting a strong credit system for Australia by managing the application of bankruptcy, criminal asset management and personal property securities laws through the delivery of high-quality education, compliance, and enforcement services. We strive to be a visible, modern, and contemporary regulator, taking a holistic approach to regulation to improve access to credit and increase financial stability, and contributing to economic and social outcomes.
Why AFSA?
You will enjoy excellent conditions including:
- generous superannuation (15.4%)
- a modern work environment
- access to Employee Assistance Provider
- flexibility to balance work and personal life (including working from home arrangements and flexible start and finish times where applicable).
We are a workplace committed to providing an environment that values diversity and supports staff to reach their full potential.
At AFSA we encourage every employee balance their family commitments and personal interests with flexible working options.