Principal Government Lawyer, Corporate Law

Job title: Principal Government Lawyer, Corporate Law

Company: Australian Electoral Commission


Job description: The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority established by the Australian Government to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs.The AEC’s values and commitmentsThe AEC values and commitments are an essential component of our operating environment and frame how AEC staff work. The AEC’s focus is on electoral integrity through the values of quality, agility and professionalism.The TeamThe Legal Services Branch is a dynamic team that provides legal, commercial, and regulatory advice and conducts investigations to ensure the integrity of Commonwealth electoral systems and processes. The Branch also has an active role supporting and increasing capabilities across the AEC through training and guidance.The Branch is headed by the Chief Legal Officer, is comprised of roughly 20 lawyers and is divided into three legal teams Corporate Law, Regulatory Law, and Electoral Law. The Branch is based primarily in Canberra and in Brisbane (out-posting for this role will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on skills and experience).The Corporate Law team advises on and manages litigation in the fields of commercial law, employment law and privacy law.The Electoral Law team advises on laws concerning elections and referendums and provides general statutory interpretation and administrative law advice.The Regulatory Law team ensures compliance with offences in electoral legislation, and where necessary seeks enforcement in the courts (civil or criminal). This includes the authorisation requirements, multi voter and non-voter requirements, anti-avoidance compliance and regulatory litigation.The OpportunityThe current vacancy is for a Principal Government Lawyer, Corporate Law in the Legal Services Branch. The AEC is also seeking to establish a talent pool for other potential Principal Government Lawyer positions in the event of vacancies in those positions (such as Principal Government Lawyer, Regulatory Law and Principal Government Lawyer, Electoral Law).Principal Government Lawyers at the AEC lead teams that undertake legal work and provide advice. The Principal Government Lawyers address matters with a high level of complexity or sensitivity and must utilise professional and technical knowledge and exercise significant judgement.Principal Government Lawyers report to the Chief Legal Officer and are members of the Branch leadership team, which means they are involved in leadership and practice management initiatives and decision-making for the Branch.The Principal Government Lawyer, Corporate Law will

• Deliver high quality strategic legal advice to the AEC in relation to:

o commercial law and contract management, particularly in relation to the commercial negotiation AEC’s internal ICT modernisation project, funding and disclosure reform program and a diverse range of procurements to support the staging of elections and referenda and the AEC’s business as usual functions,o employment law matters, including Fair Work Commission and Australian Human Rights Commission complaints, ando privacy matters.

• Mentor junior lawyers to develop legal expertise and capacity within the Legal Services Branch and the AEC.
• Understand the legal, policy and political environment in which Commonwealth officers work and the independent and politically neutral nature of the AEC.
• Communicate and make decisions using professional judgement, factoring in risks and being sensitive to the context.
• Develop and manage key strategic internal and external relationships, this may include promoting, representing and negotiating on behalf of the AEC.
• Contribute to election and referendum preparation and delivery activities in accordance with the election and referendum readiness framework, according to individual accountabilities and responsibilities.
• Perform additional duties or assume responsibility of functions as directed by Management from time to time.
• Manage a high volume of legal requests and matters (e.g. licences of polling venues and leases of Out-Posted Centres), along with the urgency to resolve these matters, which will increase significantly prior to and during electoral and referendum events.
• The Principal Government Lawyer, Corporate Law is responsible for acting as an escalation point in respect to any commercial contractual disputes.

To excel you’ll have:

• Admission as a legal practitioner however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia with at least five or more years post admission work experience providing legal services.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake complex legal analysis and apply significant judgement to provide expert professional advice and outcomes.
• Extensive experience in successfully leading legal teams and delivering results within time restraints while managing competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to think flexibly and assist business areas to pragmatically resolve complex problems.
• Proven ability to communicate with influence, negotiate outcomes and manage stakeholder relationships, including across a geographically dispersed network.
• Demonstrated ability to lead staff while developing capabilities and embedding professionalism.
• Demonstrated personal drive and integrity whilst achieving results within legislative and budget parameters.

Eligibility

• AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
• Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance required for this role.

Expected salary:

Location: Adelaide, SA – Brisbane, QLD

Job date: Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:07:47 GMT

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