Senior Lawyer

Blacktown City is a growing and thriving city, located halfway between Sydney City and the Blue Mountains. With 460,000 residents, we are the largest and most diverse city in NSW, spread across 54 suburbs. Blacktown City is vibrant, dynamic and multicultural, home to a large First Nations community and people from more than 180 different birthplaces and languages.

With $26.43 billion regional economy, Blacktown City is also home to 34,000 businesses. Working at Blacktown City Council provides widespread, exciting professional opportunities. Our Council is leading the transformation of Blacktown City and Western Sydney. We are implementing a vision for a modern city, full of opportunity for our residents and businesses.

Our Council is led by highly skilled and experienced professionals, working with talented and passionate teams across a diverse range of business units. We are delivering high quality, customer-focused services, experiences, and facilities, and leading a program of strategic planning, activity and investment.

Blacktown City Council strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans and people with disabilities.

About the opportunity

This is a permanent, full-time, Senior Lawyer role, positioned for someone who has several years' experience as a Lawyer or Solicitor and is ready for that next step in their career.

While you will be hired for your expertise in particular fields, you will have the opportunity to grow and work across other areas; learn from one of the industry's best legal practitioners, in one of the fastest growing Council's in Australia.

This role will see you directly contributing to positive Legal outcomes, and Blacktown City's transformation journey. You will provide legal advice and advocacy to minimise legal risk to Council, share your expertise and support the team, and work with our external legal partners. 

You will support various Council services, keeping them informed of new or proposed legislation, and represent Council before Courts and Tribunals. 

Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Degree qualification in Law or relevant field
• In depth experience in Law or a relevant field
• Extensive experience in leadership
• Admission to practice as a Solicitor in the State of New South Wales
• Current NSW Practicing Certificate or eligibility for NSW Practicing Certificate
• Extensive experience as an advocate in Court attendance
• Knowledge of appropriate Court protocol and legal proceedings
• Extensive knowledge in the following areas:
  • Environmental Planning and Development Law and/or
  • Property Law and/or
  • Contract Law and/or
  • Environmental Law and/or
  • Local Government Law.

• proven ability to research, assess and interpret information to formulate sound recommendations and provide specialist advice to enable the organisation to achieve quality outcomes 
• Understanding and commitment to ethical practice and acting with probity at all times
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, sound judgement, discretion and confidentiality
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills that build strong, credible relationships and influence persuade or negotiate outcomes that add value to the organisation. 

Desirable: 

• Demonstrated appreciation of the complexity of Local Government, in particular the Local Government Act 1993 and Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979
• Demonstrated ability in supporting compliance and regulatory enforcement
• Availability to work flexible working hours
• Class C Driver's Licence. 

Remuneration and benefits

The salary and conditions of employment are in accordance with Blacktown City Council’s Enterprise Agreement.

• Entry level for this position starts at $2,735.37 per week
• 35-hour working week 
• Car allowance
• Opportunity to participate in Council's flextime arrangement
• Employee benefits such as leave entitlements (where applicable), 12% employer contribution payable to your nominated superannuation fund, Fitness Passport, gym membership discounts, and social clubs.

Our commitment to safety

Blacktown City Council is committed to safety. We have introduced alcohol and other drug testing at the pre-employment phase, and via a series of random and cause testing.

We are a child safe organisation that supports and promotes the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.

Position description 

Click here to view or download the position description.

  Apply now using our fast and easy-to-use online application process:

1. Have your resume and any other relevant documentation ready to attach. 
2. Have a personal email address ready to use and complete your application without 'logging out' of the system.
3. Review the questions and decide on your responses before commencing your application.
   
   Best of luck.

Closing date:           Friday 12 June, 11.59 pm    

Contact officer:       Christine Del Duca on 9839 6000

Internal ref:              BCC1862