• Job Description

  Req#: req30180

  Legal Officer I-III – Full-time, Ongoing role Opportunity

  • Exciting opportunity to make a real impact in shaping the future of the Office of the Children’s Guardian.
  • Join a dynamic workplace with a supportive and collaborative team culture, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
  • One full-time, ongoing role opportunity role with hybrid / flexible working arrangements.
  • A supportive and collaborative team culture with learning & development opportunities and various health & wellbeing programs.
  • Legal Officer Grade I-III - $117,363- $125,521 (plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading).

  About the Office of Children’s Guardian

  
  The Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) upholds NSW children and young people’s right to be safe by overseeing, regulating and monitoring organisations and individuals that provide services to children. We are guided by our values of integrity, trust, service, accountability, respect and empathy.
  
  To find out more about the Office of the Children’s Guardian, visit our website.
  
  

  About the role

  The role provides legal advice, guidance, and support to all stakeholders across the agency. This includes in relation to the day-to-day application of governing legislation and requirements from other relevant legislation. It also manages processes, including conducting risk assessments, relevant to appeal proceedings before the NSW Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the NSW Supreme Court. This involves instructing external legal representatives in relation to those matters.

  We are seeking a motivated and resilient employee to perform the following:

  • Provide day-to-day legal advice to officers in relation to the interpretation and application of legislation as may be relevant for undertaking the functions of the Children’s Guardian.
  • Undertake legal review of complex proposals regarding risks to children associated with and the implementation of the functions of the Children’s Guardian and make recommendations based on the evidence using an unbiased approach incorporating principles of procedural fairness and natural justice.
  • Promote education and awareness of legal issues to support the sound and effective function of the Working with Children Check and other functions of the Children’s Guardian.
    

  For further details on the role, please view the Role Description.

  Key knowledge and experience

  • Experience in providing advice on administrative or regulatory decision making is preferred.

  Essential requirements

  • A law degree or equivalent and admitted as a legal practitioner by the Supreme Court of NSW is essential.

  • Employment at the Office of the Children’s Guardian is subject to the satisfactory completion of security and vetting checks.

  • All roles associated with the Office of the Children's Guardian are required to have a current Working With Children Check.

  Our commitment to Diversity

  We welcome and encourage applications from people across our diverse community, especially from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. We believe everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, valued and heard regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability.

  The OCG encourages applications from people with disability and will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace.

  If you require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please contact the OCG People and Culture team on (02) 8219 3661 or

  OCG.HR@ocg.nsw.gov.au and advise of your preferred method of communication.

  How to apply

  When applying you will need to attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) which also addresses the two targeted questions below and an up-to-date resume (maximum 3 pages) in either Word or PDF format.

  We are looking for you to demonstrate your competence in the focus capabilities as outlined in the role description, so please develop your response with this in mind.

  
  Targeted questions

  1. Using an example, describe how you responded to a request for complex legal advice, detailing why it was complex, how you approached it and how it assisted your client.
  2. What in your experience have been the key considerations and challenges when providing legal advice as an inhouse legal officer particularly in a regulatory environment?
     

  Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

  
  We encourage you to please call or email our contact Ms Kira Kless, A/Manager General Counsel on 61 2 6491 6613 or kira.kless@ocg.nsw.gov.au until 22 September 2023, or Ms Allison Waring, Manager, General Counsel on 0403-749-299 or Allison.waring@ocg.nsw.gov.au between 3 October and 6 October 2023, to discuss the role.

  
  Applications closing date: Friday, 6 October 2023 at 10:00 am.

  
  A talent pool may be created through this recruitment process. A talent pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.

• About the company

  Premier of NSW and Member for Willoughby

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