APS6 Legal Adviser

at  Comcare

TEAM OVERVIEW

The Legal Advice and Strategy Team provides legal advice to Comcare on the general interpretation and development of all Comcare legislation, including the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act), Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (the SRC Act), the Seacare Act and other public sector related legislation. The team provides legal advice and support on a broad range of matters including governance and corporate operations such as procurement and general commercial law, and governance issues relating to Comcare.
The team also assists Comcare to support the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC), the Seacare Authority and provides legal support for Comcare’s governance and corporate operations more broadly.
The team is currently responsible for Comcare’s SRC Act litigation monitoring and strategy which includes instructing on Federal Court matters, coordinating positions on whether to appeal adverse Court and Tribunal decisions and identifying lessons learned and other opportunities for business improvement. There is a change process underway to implement a new litigation operating model which may impact on the duties of this position.

MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree in law.
• Admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory.
• Current Practising Certificate or ability to obtain one within three months.

Under limited supervision, the Legal Adviser provides client-focused legal advice and support to Comcare staff on legal and policy matters. The Legal Adviser will manage risk effectively and manage their workload in a manner consistent with the APS Values and Code of Conduct, the Legal Services Directions 2017, and internal Comcare procedures.
Experience advising on the design and conduct of procurements, deeds, contracts, variations, property matters and a wide range of other commercial law issues that arise with Commonwealth programs is desirable.
Knowledge of and experience with advising on the application of requirements that are core to the Commonwealth’s commercial operations, for example arising under the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act (2013), Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines and Commonwealth procurement policies, will be well regarded.