Legal Counsel

at  Deakin University

Job no: 567014
Work type: Full-time
Location: Flexible, Geelong - City, Melbourne - Burwood

Categories: Legal Services

• Based at our Geelong, Waterfront Campus or Melbourne Burwood Campus + hybrid work arrangements
• 1 full-time, continuing and 1 full-time, fixed-term role until January 2026
• HEW 9 $132,790 - $140,744 + 17% Superannuation (pro rata, part time)

We are also seeking an experienced commercial legal practitioner with experience across a one or more other key practice areas relevant to the University, such as:

• research tenders, grants, agreements;
• corporate governance, regulation and policy;
• health, biomedical and pharmaceutical law, including clinical trials;
• intellectual property protection and commercialisation;
• academic matters including student placements, student grievances and academic partnerships;
• general commercial law, procurement, IT and leasing/property law;
• administrative law, privacy and data protection;
• dispute resolution and litigation

As members of the University’s Legal Services team, each Legal Counsel will provide legal advice and services to University stakeholders and associated entities on a range of legal matters within their areas of experience and legal practice.
You will have experience and knowledge in relevant areas of legal practice and strong drafting, communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to provide timely, practical solutions to legal problems. You will be able to manage and maintain your own files and conduct legal matters on a largely independent basis subject to broad direction, while work effectively as part of a team.
Within the two positions available, we are seeking an experienced employment lawyer, with strong subject matter knowledge and practice experience across front and back-end workplace relations and industrial relations matters. This may include drafting, reviewing and advising on employment contracts, policies and procedures, advising on Enterprise Agreement and legislative interpretation and statutory compliance issues, providing technical advice on a range of workplace law issues, and conducting or managing employment related disputes, negotiation and litigation. Experience and flexibility to work across other complementary practice areas will also be valuable in this role.

We are also seeking an experienced commercial legal practitioner with experience across a one or more other key practice areas relevant to the University, such as:

• research tenders, grants, agreements;
• corporate governance, regulation and policy;
• health, biomedical and pharmaceutical law, including clinical trials;
• intellectual property protection and commercialisation;
• academic matters including student placements, student grievances and academic partnerships;
• general commercial law, procurement, IT and leasing/property law;
• administrative law, privacy and data protection;
• dispute resolution and litigation.

Particular expertise in research, health law, and academic matters will be highly valued in this role.

Your role as Legal Counsel will include to:

• Interpret and advise on legislation, common law, legislative instruments, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Review, draft and advise on contracts, policies, and other documentation.
• Prepare position papers, reports, briefings, file notes and other documents.
• Conduct legal research and stay up to date on legal issues relevant to the University.
• Advise and represent the University in relation to negotiations, disputes and litigation matters, which may include appearing and/or instructing external lawyers in relevant Courts and Tribunals.