Principal Government Lawyer/Deputy General Counsel

About this role

Services Australia’s (the Agency’s) purpose is to support Australians by efficiently delivering high-quality, accessible services and payments on behalf of government. Our vision is to make government services simple so people can get on with their lives.

The Agency has two Legal Services Divisions – Legal Services Customer and Legal Services Corporate – which operate closely to deliver the Agency’s legal support. We are one of the largest and most diverse in-house legal practices in the Commonwealth, supporting delivery of the Agency’s programs whilst assisting the Agency to understand and manage legal risks.

Our work is varied, complex and exciting. In addition to a broad litigation portfolio (spanning merits review, judicial review, general litigation and enforcement matters), we provide legal support not only for the programs delivered by the Agency (including Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support), but also in relation to the complex and cutting-edge technologies which support the delivery of those programs (including artificial intelligence) and the platforms the Agency supports.

This recruitment is intended to fill vacancies across the Digital Delivery and Privacy Legal, Litigation, and Programs Advisory Legal Branches within the Legal Services Customer Division (the Division).

Digital Delivery & Privacy Legal and Program Advisory Legal

Principal Government Lawyers (PGLs) demonstrate strategic leadership and significant technical expertise in preparing or second counselling legal advice on complex matters, identify whole-of-agency, inter-agency or whole-of-government issues where they arise in the preparation of advice, and exercise judgement in escalating matters to the General Counsel or Chief Counsel. PGLs manage resources in the team including by allocating work, developing staff capability and managing staff performance. PGLs foster a flexible, safe and rewarding workplace environment and work to build a unified, cohesive and well-functioning team.

In addition to the duties of PGLs, Deputy General Counsels (DGCs) are responsible for proactive leadership of practice areas within the branch, supporting the delivery of legal advice on highly complex or sensitive matters, and ensure early and consistent engagement across the business on legal risk and strategy. DGCs understand the needs of the Agency’s Executive and other Agency governance bodies, the needs of business units beyond individual clients, and facilitate engagement with policy agencies and departments relevant to the work of the Agency.

Litigation Branch

PGLs and DGCs in the Litigation Branch provide senior legal leadership in the management of complex litigation across tribunals and courts, including matters arising from Centrelink, Child Support and Health program decisions, as well as broader non-employment, commercial or FOI litigation. The role oversees external merits and judicial review proceedings in the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia and High Court of Australia, ensuring matters are managed with legal rigour, sound judgement and a clear focus on the public interest.

Successful candidates will lead and support teams of lawyers to deliver high-quality solicitor advocacy in the ART, including representation in conferences, interlocutory hearings and substantive hearings. They will ensure advocacy is strategic, well prepared and responsive to the needs of client departments, while maintaining strong professional standards and consistency in decision-making.

The role is responsible for the effective engagement and oversight of external legal service providers in court-based litigation, ensuring matters are appropriately briefed, closely monitored and aligned with Agency priorities, litigation risk settings and whole-of-government expectations. This includes managing debt litigation for Centrelink and Child Support programs, including enforcement action through the courts.

The role also involves managing legally and reputationally significant matters, including class actions and other high-risk proceedings involving the Agency. It requires strong judgement, stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively with external providers, client departments and senior executives to support coordinated, defensible and timely outcomes.

In addition to litigation management, lawyers in the Branch provide strategic legal advice on program decisions and emerging legal issues arising from litigation.

• Provide strategic legal advice to stakeholders, including the Minister and the Agency’s executive, both on matters for legal advice and in the development of legislation, policies, and processes. • Lead and manage staff, develop staff capability through coaching, mentoring and succession planning. • Provide strategic direction in the management of legal matters, including managing resources to support delivery, developing business plans, strategies and priorities. Identify, assess, manage and report on legal risks in the Agency and escalate issues to the executive. • Lead and manage legal matters, including high profile and contentious cases or issues. • Engage, develop and manage key strategic relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. • Drive innovation, champion and lead change, actively contribute to and implement the strategic direction of the Branch, the Division and the Agency. • For Litigation Branch roles - undertake solicitor advocacy in the ART and manage court matters by engaging external legal service providers to act, appear and instruct in judicial review and related proceedings.