Special Counsel - Legislation and Legal Reform

About this role

The Role The position plays a key role in supporting Defence’s legislation, instruments and legal reform programs and works closely with lawyers across the Branch to coordinate strategic legislative and legal reform activities. Defence’s legislation and legal reform program covers a broad and diverse range of issues, from military justice and national security matters to personnel, housing, governance and regulatory frameworks. The successful candidate will be a flexible and versatile professional who enjoys working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, developing strong relationships, and supporting policy and legal teams to navigate often complex legislative and legal reform processes. Success in this role requires the ability to bring together legal, policy and operational stakeholders to develop practical solutions and deliver high-quality legislative outcomes. The successful candidate may also lead or contribute to complex, strategic or sensitive legislative and legal reform projects as required. Candidates with experience in legislative processes, legal reform and policy development are encouraged to apply. Responsibilities of the role include: • Providing strategic advice on legal reform relevant to Defence, including Defence-administered legislation, legislative instruments, and reforms led by other Commonwealth agencies. • Engaging with Ministers’ offices and building and maintaining productive relationships across Defence, the Australian Public Service and other key stakeholders. • Forecasting, planning and managing the development of a broad range of primary and secondary legislation and other legal reform activities. • Working constructively with Defence policy and legal areas to progress legislative and legal reform proposals, including providing guidance and support through legislative and legal reform processes and assisting in the development of legal policy positions and legislative solutions. • Coordinating and contributing to Defence responses and submissions relating to Commonwealth legal reform processes, including drafting submissions to parliamentary committees and responding to reviews, inquiries and consultations. • Representing Defence in cross-agency forums and working groups. • Leading and coordinating multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders across Defence and government to deliver complex legislative and legal reform projects. This role will include opportunities to work on important and unique legislation projects, including major reforms to the Defence Act 1903 and legislation related to Australia’s AUKUS commitments and associated Defence initiatives. About our Team Defence Legal is a national organisation which provides legal advice and other legal services to Defence. We draw upon the professional talent of our people to pursue excellence in support of Defence operations, command, management and administration. The Directorate of Legislation and Legal Reform is responsible for Defence’s legislation and instrument programs, progressing Defence legislation from inception through to passage in Parliament. This includes providing strategic legal and policy advice on legislative reform, legislative processes and parliamentary requirements. The Directorate of Legislation and Legal Reform also coordinates Defence’s contribution to whole-of-Government legislative reform activities and provides the Legislation Liaison Officer (LLO) function for Defence as part of the Commonwealth LLO network. Our Ideal Candidate To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced, motivated, collaborative and high-performing professional, ideally with prior experience in legislation and/or legal reform processes. Strong policy formulation and policy development experience will also be favourably regarded. Our ideal candidate: • Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and concise advice for senior decision-makers. • Demonstrates strong strategic thinking and sound judgement, and is able to identify practical solutions to complex legal and policy issues. • Is confident operating autonomously while contributing positively to a collaborative and high-performing team environment. • Has experience navigating legislative, regulatory or policy frameworks and contributing to reform initiatives. • Possesses well-developed organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple projects and stakeholders. • Is skilled at building and maintaining productive working relationships with senior stakeholders across government, and working collaboratively to achieve shared outcomes. • Is adaptable and able to work across a broad range of subject matters, quickly developing an understanding of new and emerging issues. • Can effectively bring together legal, policy and operational stakeholders to progress complex projects and deliver high-quality outcomes. • Is able to work under pressure and manage tight timeframes while maintaining a high standard of work.