Legal Consultant (Government Sector)

About the Role

We are seeking experienced government-sector lawyers for flexible and long-term opportunities with our clients. This is an ideal fit for legal professionals with a background in public sector work who are interested in consulting or contract arrangements, or who are considering a move into a consulting role. We are particularly interested in candidates with a mix of commercial, procurement, and litigation experience gained within government or statutory bodies.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide practical, risk-based legal advice across commercial, procurement, and contentious matters within a government context.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including goods, services, consultancy, technology, and infrastructure contracts.
• Support complex procurement projects from planning through to implementation, including tender processes and evaluation frameworks.
• Manage disputes and litigation, including external counsel coordination, strategy, and alternative dispute resolution.
• Prepare legal advice, briefing papers, ministerial responses, and governance documentation for senior stakeholders.
• Advise on public sector governance, accountability frameworks, and compliance requirements.

About You

You bring demonstrated legal experience within a government department, statutory authority, or public sector organisation. You have strong commercial acumen, excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced environment. You are pragmatic, solutions-focused, and committed to high standards of integrity and public service.

Requirements

• Current Australian practising certificate.
• Right to live and work in Australia.
• Experience in government procurement, commercial contracting, and/or government litigation.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of an organisation.

What We Offer

We provide flexible working arrangements and a genuine commitment to work-life balance. Our team offers an authentic partnership approach, supporting your career goals while connecting you to high-quality opportunities. You’ll benefit from the backing of a global legal network, including access to a broad client base and a supportive, inclusive community.

This role is based in Melbourne, Australia.

• Current Australian practising certificate.
• Right to live and work in Australia.
• Demonstrated experience providing legal advice within a government department, statutory authority, or public sector organisation.
• Experience advising on government procurement matters, including procurement strategies, tender processes, evaluation frameworks, and contract management.
• Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including goods, services, consultancy, technology, and infrastructure contracts.
• Experience providing legal support on complex procurement and commercial projects from planning through to implementation.
• Front-end construction and infrastructure experience in a government context.
• Litigation and dispute management experience, including managing external legal providers, litigation strategy, and alternative dispute resolution processes.
• Experience advising on contractual disputes, statutory claims, administrative law matters, and broader government-related litigation issues.
• Ability to provide practical, risk-based legal advice across commercial, procurement, and contentious matters.
• Strong understanding of public sector governance, accountability, compliance, and decision-making frameworks.
• Experience preparing legal advice, briefing papers, ministerial responses, and governance documentation for senior stakeholders.
• Ability to identify and manage legal, regulatory, financial, and reputational risks within a government environment.
• Experience working closely with operational teams, executives, and external stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including engaging with government agencies, regulators, and external advisers.
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior legal team members and contributing to capability development.
• Ability to manage a high volume of competing priorities while delivering timely, commercially focused legal advice.
• Commercial and strategic judgement with the ability to balance legal risk against operational and policy objectives.
• Highly organised with excellent time management and prioritisation skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills for complex legal and stakeholder issues.
• Pragmatic and solutions-focused with a commitment to practical outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear, concise, and influential advice.
• Stakeholder management capabilities to build trusted relationships across all levels.
• Confident operating autonomously while managing multiple matters and competing priorities.
• Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic government environment.
• Professional and politically astute when dealing with sensitive or high-profile matters.
• Collaborative and approachable, supporting colleagues and fostering positive working relationships.
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining awareness of broader strategic objectives.
• Sound decision-making capability with confidence to provide clear recommendations on complex matters.
• Proactive and responsive, taking ownership of issues and driving them to resolution.
• Committed to high standards of integrity, accountability, and public sector service.