Legal Director/Principal lawyer

Lead complex legal matters, influence strategic decisions, and shape outcomes that make a real difference.

We are currently seeking an experienced Legal Director/Principal Lawyer to join our legal services team.

This is an opportunity to lead high-performing legal teams, contribute to nationally significant administrative review work, and support the Tribunal’s delivery of accessible, fair and efficient reviews. This hybrid full-time role is available on an ongoing basis. Non-ongoing working arrangements may also be considered. This role can be located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney.

About the opportunity

Lawyers within Legal Services typically provide legal advice and services within one or more specialist areas (including corporate and regulatory, social security, child support, migration, protection and the national disability insurance scheme) with opportunities to work across multiple specialisations.

About the Tribunal

The Tribunal plays a crucial role in the Australian legal landscape, providing a process for individuals and organisations to seek an independent review of decisions made under a wide range of Commonwealth laws.

We believe in providing our employees with a work environment that is supportive and rewarding. Our culture is one that welcomes all and we embrace flexibility and diversity. We believe our people are our most valuable asset and we work to support the skills, knowledge and capability of our staff.

You can learn more about the Tribunal on our website, About us | Administrative Review Tribunal.

What we offer:

We believe the little extras can make a big difference in supporting your success and some of our great incentives include:

• flexible working options, including remote working to support commitments outside of work
• salary packaging options
• access to holistic health and wellbeing programs including Fitness Passport which provides discounted access to 350+ gyms, free annual influenza vaccinations and free eye tests
• generous leave allowances including Christmas to New Year office closure with no deduction from your leave balance

Read our Enterprise Agreement for more information about our terms and conditions of employment.

Key responsibilities

• Leadership and management: Lead and develop a team of lawyers to provide specialist strategic legal services, consistent with the Tribunal’s statutory objectives. Effectively manage workflow, staffing and performance within the work area, including planning for future workforce needs. Promote a diverse, inclusive and positive high-performance culture with a user-centred focus.
• Service delivery: Coordinate the delivery of a high quality professional legal service, in one or more specialist areas, that supports the Tribunal’s functions. Services include: the provision of legal advice and opinion to members and staff of the Tribunal; the preparation of legal reference materials, decision making aides and instruments; the provision of legal training; coordination of the Tribunal’s regulatory compliance; and management of litigation support services and external legal providers.
• Advice: Provide expert strategic, practical and technically sound legal advice on complex matters relevant to the Tribunal’s functions and operations. Identify and manage legal risk, escalating issues and potential solutions as appropriate.
• Stakeholder management: Initiate, develop and manage strong, productive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders on matters affecting the legal service function.



About you

Working alongside other Legal Directors/Principal Lawyers, you will lead and undertake work in one or more jurisdictional areas.

You will lead a specialist team of lawyers, providing strategic advice on complex matters to Tribunal members, staff and senior leaders, and collaborate to promote best practice, continuous improvement and ensure the Tribunal’s compliance with the Legal Services Directions 2017.

To be successful you will:

• Be able to lead and develop a team of lawyers to provide specialist strategic legal services,
• consistent with the Tribunal’s statutory objectives.
• Have demonstrated conceptual and analytical skills of a high order and a strong ability to interpret and apply relevant legislation and legal principles to complex cases and situations.
• Have highly developed interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to negotiate and communicate with influence.
• Provide expert strategic, practical and technically sound legal advice on complex matters relevant to the Tribunal’s functions and operations, with the ability to identify and manage legal risk, escalating issues and potential solutions as appropriate.
• Have a demonstrated ability to think strategically, exercise judgement and provide sound advice on matters relevant to the role.

• Australian Citizenship
• Australian Federal Police Check
• All employees are required to undertake a Health Assessment

Essential:

• Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory.
• Holder of (or eligible to hold) a current unrestricted practising certificate.

Please contact the Talent team on (02) 9276 5*** or ***********@art.gov.au should you require assistance with accessing our website or with with lodging your application.

NOTE: The Big Red Sky platform will not be available for applications from Friday 14 August 2026 - 9.00 PM (AEST) to Sunday 16 August 2026 - 9.00 AM (AEST).

The use of AI in Recruitment

Please ensure you have read the Australian Public Service Commission Principles for candidates use of AI in recruitment and understand your obligations.

Merit Pool Acknowledgement

A merit pool may be created to fill similar vacancies within the next 18 months. Suitable candidates in this merit pool may be contacted for roles at the Tribunal, or the broader APS.

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

The Administrative Review Tribunal is an Equal Opportunities employer committed to providing an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion for all employees. We encourage and welcome applications from people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, all genders, LGBTQIA+ community and mature age people. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us if invited to interview.

We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to responding to every applicant. 

The ART plays a crucial role in the Australian legal landscape, providing a process for individuals and organisations to seek an independent review of decisions made under a wide range of Commonwealth laws. The ART can take a fresh look at decisions made by Australian Government ministers, departments and agencies – and, in limited circumstances, decisions made by state government and non-government bodies. It also can review decisions made under Norfolk Island laws. The ART comprises members, the independent statutory appointees who hear review applications, and staff, who provide services to support applicants and the review process, as well as the Tribunal’s daily operations. You can learn more about the ART here: https://www.art.gov.au/.