EL 1 Senior Legal Officer (Canberra)

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- Location: Canberra, ACT; Sydney, NSW; Brisbane, QLD; Melbourne, VIC; Adelaide, SA; Hobart, TAS; Perth, WA; Darwin, NT

- Salary Range: $131,960 - $144,908 + Attractive Superannuation

- Contact Officer: Melissa Scriva – melissa.scriva@dva.gov.au

The Dispute Resolution Branch within the Legal and Audit Division, is a specialist in-house legal practice that supports lawful implementation of the Department’s objectives by advising on the management of legal risk as well as providing legal advice, litigation, internal reviews and dispute resolution services.

The Branch is comprised of a mix of lawyers and non-lawyers and oversees the delivery of three functions critical to the effective management of legal risk across the Department:

1. Litigation section – works with internal business areas and external legal service providers to effectively manage the conduct of proceedings and resolution of matters in the ART and the Federal Court (the nature of the proceedings can be varied but the majority relate to veterans’ appeals litigation, and at times other matters such as liability matters or debt recovery matters).

2. Discretionary Claims and External Review section – manages claims for Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (CDDA), Act of Grace payments and waiver of debts. The team also has carriage of other matters including investigations undertaken by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the AHRC and Coronial inquiries. The work plays an important role ensuring that the Department is compliant with good administrative practices and a range of legislation.

3. Reviews and Appeals section - undertakes full merit reviews of some compensation and income support decisions determined under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA), and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). It also assists with matters under consideration by the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB), including providing advice and support to the VRB as required and implementing VRB decisions.

The Branch plays an key role in supporting the continuous improvement journey of the Department; it provides reporting and other data to internal stakeholders and critical insights and feedback on policy, procedural, and operational matters which could lead to improved primary decisions and better client outcomes. Opportunities are currently available for suitably qualified and experienced candidates for EL1 roles in the Litigation section.

This is a senior role that fulfils a critical function in the Branch, to handle complex litigation matters. This involves working with internal business areas and external legal service providers to effectively manage the conduct of proceedings and resolution of matters in the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), Federal Court and other miscellaneous litigation matters.

The Senior Legal Officer has carriage of their own files under the guidance and support of their Directors/Principal Legal Officers and Technical Support Officer. The Senior Legal Officer will also be expected to guide and mentor other team members as required to ensure the delivery of high quality and timely resolution outcomes. The Senior Legal Officer is responsible for liaising with other client and policy business areas to progress requests for instructions and ways to resolve litigated matters and complaints; the ability to form and maintain productive working relationships across a range of business areas and with representatives from external legal service providers and review bodies is a key outcome of the role.

This round may be used to fill other potential vacant legal positions across the Legal and Audit Division.

DUTIES

As an EL 1 Senior Legal Officer you will be required to

- Apply a sound understanding of the veterans’ compensation scheme, and the functions of judicial review bodies like the ART and Federal Court to manage litigated matters on appeal from the Department and/or Veterans’ Review Board.

- Foster networks and develop relationships with key business areas across the Department to ensure their collaboration and cooperation with the team’s management of litigated matters.

- Support the Directors/Principal Legal Officers to ensure the team adheres to processes and policies that ensure the quality and timeliness of the team’s work; this includes monitoring the progress of litigated matters and identifying any risks to timeliness and developing strategies to mitigate them.

- You will support the work of the EL2 by providing guidance and mentorship to more junior legal officers; imparting shared learning and feedback consistently to promote high quality outputs across the team.

- You will manage a caseload of the more complex litigated matters. Working at pace you will seek instructions from business areas where necessary and provide instructions to external legal service providers in accordance with the Legal Services Directions 2025.

- You will apply a client-centric and trauma-informed approach.

- As an Executive Level officer, you will have and apply good judgement to problem-solving, and have regard to the interests of your client, the Department and the Minister and promote the role of the Division as DVA’s trusted legal advisor.

- Support the team and the Branch more broadly with responses to Ministerial and executive correspondence and the preparation of submissions to senior executives.

- Maintain professional legal expertise, through participation in development, training and study opportunities, and meet Continuing Legal Education requirements and other expectations.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

- Must have at least a Bachelor of Laws degree (or equivalent) from a recognised Australian tertiary education provider.

- Must be admitted as a legal practitioner of the High Court or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia and must possess, or be eligible to obtain, a restricted government lawyer practising certificate.

ELIGIBILITY

- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).

- Any successful candidate external to DVA offered employment will be required to undergo a pre-engagement screening check, even if they have a security clearance. The screening check is conducted in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework requirements.

- Any successful candidate will also be required to obtain and/or maintain, a baseline Vetting (AGSVA) security clearance as a minimum.

NOTES

This recruitment process is being used to fill ongoing and/or non-ongoing position/s. For more information about the role, please see the .

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.

DVA embraces and fosters a culture that supports diversity, inclusion and respect, where people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We welcome people with diverse skills, experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. We are dedicated and committed to attracting and recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and encourage applications from people with disability, people that identify as LGBTQIA+ and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Take on a rewarding, varied, and broad career with an Australian Public Service Department that can bring balance and flexibility to your working life, while supporting you to stay connected to your community.

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