Legal Counsel

• Influence Major Property and Infrastructure Projects
• Be at the forefront of legal decision-making, advising senior leaders in a complex and evolving sector.
• Join a high-performing legal team that values collaboration, professional growth, and work-life balance

Are you a legal professional looking for a role where you can provide high-quality legal advice in a diverse and intellectually stimulating setting? Join our Legal and Compliance team and play a key role in advising the University’s executive, academic, and administrative units on a broad range of legal matters.

About the Role

As Legal Counsel, you will work collaboratively with Senior Legal Counsels and the General Counsel to provide pragmatic and commercially sound legal advice that supports the University’s strategic objectives. You will assist in managing legal risk, ensuring compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements, and delivering expert guidance on a broad range of legal matters with a particular focus on construction and infrastructure projects, property matters, and commercial agreements and disputes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing legal advice on complex matters, including risk identification and management.
• Supporting legal compliance by helping the University meet its statutory and regulatory obligations.
• Engaging with stakeholders to keep staff informed on legal obligations and policy implications.
• Drafting and reviewing legal documents, contracts, policies, and procedures.
• Managing high-value projects, including IT, IP, procurement, and construction.
• Supervising and mentoring Practical Legal Training students, as required.

About You

To thrive in this role, you will bring:

• A degree in law and admission as a legal practitioner in Australia.
• Demonstrated experience advising on property matters or construction and infrastructure projects
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret and apply legislation.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• A proactive, collaborative, and solutions-focused approach to legal problem-solving.

This fixed term position is full time until May 2026 at a HEW 9 Higher Education Level located at Callaghan Campus.

About our University

The University of Newcastle stands as a global leader distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Our vision is to be a world-leading University for our regions and creating a better future for our regions and the globe. Underpinned by this vision and our values of excellence, equity, engagement and sustainability, the University of Newcastle’s Looking Ahead Strategic Plan 2020-2025 outlines the University’s commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience and serving our communities. 

For more information click here – Our Uni. 

About the Unit  

The Legal and Compliance team is part of the Resources Division, which provides a range of professional support services to the Academic Senate, the Counsel, the Vice-Chancellor, senior executives and other officers within the Colleges and Divisions. Legal and Compliance provides independent and objective advice, and is committed to a policy of timely, cost-effective and professional services. The main functions consist of: • Legal • Compliance • Complaints • Privacy • Right to Information (GIPA) • Strategic Procurement • Public Interest Disclosures

The Legal team provides advice and assistance on a variety of matters, including: • Negotiating and drafting a broad range of commercial contracts (IT, property and construction, international, intellectual property, research etc.). • Managing disputes on behalf of the University. • Legislation including University statutes and regulations. • Corporate governance issues. • Employment law (discrimination, harassment and other workplace misconduct). • Student misconduct and appeals. • Privacy and access to information. • Subpoena. 

What we offer

In addition to working for a university that is breaking boundaries, discovering new ways of thinking and cementing a place as a global leader, we offer a range of benefits to our employees to ensure you balance your commitments, stay healthy and work effectively. 

These include: 

• The remuneration for this position is pro-rated from $136090 p.a. + superannuation and is commensurate with skills and experience
• Flexible working arrangements (in line with the University’s Flexible Work Policy
• 17% super and salary packaging
• Additional University Holiday days, generous personal leave and parental leave, annual leave loading and additional purchased leave scheme
• Discounts in private health insurance, gym memberships, software, travel and more
• Wellbeing programs

Your next steps 

Please visit here for a guide on how to apply for a role. 

If viewing this on a job board other than the University's please click ‘Apply’ to reach the University's website, where a copy of the Position Description can be accessed. Please download a copy before commencing your application. 

Your application must include:  

• Your resume
• A cover letter which:
• outlines your motivation to apply for this opportunity
• addresses the Essential Criteria listed below demonstrating your qualifications and experience with examples

Postgraduate qualifications in law and extensive relevant experience; or extensive management experience and proven management expertise; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

1. Current NSW practicing certificate (or the ability to obtain one) and at least 3 years of post-qualification experience in property law, ideally with in-house experience.
2. Demonstrated legal drafting skills, with a commitment to the use of 'plain' English, attention to detail and accuracy.
3. Demonstrated ability to interpret, advise upon and resolve complex legal issues. Demonstrated ability to manage a range of competing priorities, apply initiative and offer pragmatic and innovative solutions.
4. Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills including the capacity to build relationships and an inter-disciplinary way of working, and demonstrate clear communication and mutual respect

To ensure that your application receives full consideration, it's important to structure and address the selection criteria outlined in the application process. This helps us better understand your experience and suitability for the role. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to reviewing your application.

Please upload your Cover Letter and response to the requested Criteria as one PDF document.

Your Cover Letter and Response to the Essential Criteria should not exceed 3 pages.

For specific position enquiries, please contact Kate Miller, Senior Legal Counsel on (02) 4921 7728 or via email Kate.Miller@newcastle.edu.au

Having Difficulties? Please reach out to us: employment@newcastle.edu.au

Closing date: Friday 21st March 2025 at 11.59pm AEST

We are excited to be Looking Ahead with you