Legal Adviser

As a Legal Advisor in DTF Legal you will, as a generalist lawyer, build on your fundamental legal skills by working across a variety of legal areas, while still having the opportunity to develop a specialisation in one of our key areas of focus. The breadth of work DTF Legal undertakes, with a range of stakeholders, ensures that a career in DTF Legal is interesting, challenging and fulfilling.

About us

The Department of Treasury and Finance provides economic, financial and resource management advice to help the Victorian Government deliver its policies. We strive for excellence in financial and economic management to improve the lives of all Victorians.

Branch

DTF Legal provides internal legal and advisory services to the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, the DTF Secretary and board, and other DTF business units. The team advises on the full spectrum of issues faced by our stakeholders.

About the role

As a Legal Advisor in DTF Legal you will, as a generalist lawyer, build on your fundamental legal skills by working across a variety of legal areas, while still having the opportunity to develop a specialisation in one of our key areas of focus. The breadth of work DTF Legal undertakes, with a range of stakeholders, ensures that a career in DTF Legal is interesting, challenging and fulfilling. Your key accountabilities are

• Working under supervision from a more senior lawyer, you will provide technically sound, solutions-based legal services across the full spectrum of issues faced by the Department and its associated Ministerial portfolios.
• Drafting contracts, legal instruments, correspondence, briefs for Ministers and senior executives, Cabinet submissions and policy proposals, including those for which there is no precedent.
• Contribute to DTF Legal's strategic planning and development.
• Briefing counsel and external legal advisers and monitoring their engagement to ensure that they are providing high quality work within agreed budgets.
• Develop close, effective and open relationships and negotiate effectively with other DTF business units, other departments and agencies.
• Supporting senior lawyers on major policy or legislative projects and commercial transactions.

About you

We are seeking applications from candidates with demonstrable experience in:

• Experience providing technically sound, solution-focused legal advice in one or more of the following areas: public and administrative law (including constitutional law); statutory interpretation; commercial contracting; infrastructure projects; mergers and acquisitions; litigation or employment law.
• Experience supervising junior lawyers and/or administrative support staff conducting legal and practice management tasks.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• A strong commitment to service excellence and assisting clients and stakeholders achieve their organisation's and project's objectives.
• A strong commitment and proven ability to work collaboratively and flexibly as a member of an energetic, high-performing, busy team.
• A proven ability to work in sustained way and deliver results under pressure, where there are competing priorities, incomplete or ambiguous information.
• A proven ability to identify, manage and, where appropriate, escalate legal, policy and commercial risks.
• Outstanding relationship management and negotiation skills.

Experience and qualifications

• You must be admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer and eligible to hold a Victorian practising certificate.

About our culture

We aim to be a model employer providing an inclusive workplace that is understanding and respectful of differences such as gender, identity, race, di