Legal Officer | Part Time & Full Time | Cairns Based

The Client

Government employer located in Cairns and is Australia's most northernly municipality, representing 15 unique island communities, spread across 42,000km2 of sea, and an international border with Papua New Guinea.

The Opportunity

A great opportunity for an experienced Legal Administrator/Officer whereby you will be responsible for delivering the administration function for specific legal services. These services encompass providing accurate, ethical, strategic, and timely counsel and representation to our client. The ultimate objective is to enable the efficient and compliant delivery of legal administrative services within the organisations jurisdiction

About You

To be considered for this role, you will require the following skills and experience:

• Provide qualified legal advice within the Legal Services department on areas including but not limited to governance, compliance, contracts, and projects, as required.
• Provide qualified legal practice in leading the home-ownership project, including:
  • Assisting in reviewing and advising on the Trustee Policy;
  • Managing each Expression of Interest file for 99-year homeownership leases;
  • Managing the Trustee decision-making process for 99-year homeownership leases;
  • Liaising with applicants, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DSDSATSIP), Department of Resources, Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate (RNTBCs), lenders, homeownership working groups;
  • Presenting home-ownership community information sessions in the Torres Strait Island Regional Council area;
  • Preparing reports and home-ownership proposals for Trustee endorsement, and
  • Coordinating with the Legal Services team and Assets team on the management of the Lease and Licence Database, divestment of Council housing assets and asset reconciliations.
• Effectively monitor and report on statutory developments and law reform proposals pertaining to and measurable against areas and scope of responsibility.
• Develop tailored legal solutions finely balanced between law and traditional lore relevant to the Torres
• Strait region.
• Develop, review, and respond to complex legal documentation pertaining to and measurable against areas and scope of responsibility, including but not limited to: (a) contracts, (b) correspondence, (c) policies and procedures, (d) pleadings, (e) forms, (f) notices and (g) briefs to obtain external specialist legal advice as necessary.
• Represent Council’s interests in consultations, negotiations, mediations and conciliations pertaining to
• and measurable against areas and scope of responsibility.
• Present information seminars to community, internal employees, and present at organisational workshops as required.
• Assist in the management of our client’s complaint process.

Essential:

• Admission as a Solicitor on the Roll of Practitioners of both the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia, or eligibility for immediate admission.
• Demonstrated legal experience of at least two (2) years in the following areas:
  • Land Law, with a specific focus on remote indigenous communities.
  • Property Law, encompassing leasing, licensing, and related matters.
  • Contract Law.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated legal experience in Local Government Law.
• A current (open and unrestricted) Queensland Driver’s Licence.

Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), showcasing a strong grasp of legal principles and practical application.
• Possession, of a currently valid Unrestricted Employee Practicing Certificate issued by the Queensland Law Society or eligibility for immediate issuance.

To Apply

Applications should be forwarded to us by clicking the ‘Apply’ button below. For a confidential discussion you are welcome to call Brendon Dyer on (07) 4034 5000.

To be eligible to apply for this job, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or have an appropriate visa to be able to live and work in Australia.

Additionally, the preferred applicant may be required to apply for a National Police Certificate before appointment.

About Precruitment

With offices in Cairns and Townsville, Precruitment is Regional Queensland’s leading recruitment consultancy, specialising in permanent and temporary roles. With a focus on administration and professional talent, we are selected suppliers to local businesses, Queensland Government, Government Owned Corporations and Local Government. We have a broad client base throughout Regional, North and Western Queensland.

Should the above role not be of interest to you but you would like to be considered for other similar roles, please feel free to call us on (07) 4034 5000 for a confidential conversation about how we can assist you in finding your next career opportunity.

Job Ref#: 4520