Closing Date: / Midday, Tuesday 22 August 2017
Position Title: / Senior Principal Lawyer
Branch / Division / Government Insurance and Risk (4)
Commercial, Property, Insurance and Risk Branch
Crown Law
Location: / Brisbane CBD
Classification: / SO
Status / Temporary to 29 September 2017 with the possibility of extension
Salary Range (per fortnight): / $4,832.40 - $5,301.60
Contact Name: / Lara Rega, Assistant Crown Solicitor
Telephone: / (07) 323 96109
OUR VISION
Crown Law will be the Queensland Government’s first choice by being the best provider of legal services.
OUR PURPOSE
Crown Law’s purpose is to protect and support Government in the public interest.
OUR CORE VALUES
§ Integrity – Absolute impartiality and honesty.
§ Excellence – Total attention to detail, consistency and client needs.
§ Respect – Treat people as you would want to be treated.
§ Responsibility – Everyone to take responsibility for their own work and do their best
YOUR OPPORTUNITY
To undertake the most complex legal matters handled by Senior Principal Lawyers within the team, in the area of law described in the attached schedule. Act as an expert source of advice and provide guidance and development to lawyers in the team as set out in the attached schedule. As required, support and deputise for the Assistant Crown Solicitor to ensure the delivery of a high standard of client service and other business objectives.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
§ Contribute to and support through participation in Crown Law’s leadership community whole-of-office initiatives, the improvement of systems and work practices with the objective of achieving business objectives.
§ Provide superior, expert and authoritative professional legal advice and representation in relation to the particular specialist field of law of the team to all client areas within the Queensland Government.
§ Actively participate in Crown Law’s business planning process, including providing sponsorship to projects and participation in workgroups are required.
§ Provide leadership and management support to the team leaders in the on-going day to day operations of the team including, recruitment and selection, staff management, budget management and client billing processes and practices
§ Build the business of Crown Law by proactively undertaking reinvestment activities such as undertaking a role as a co-client manager, preparing legal briefings and papers for publishing.
§ Ensure Crown Law’s commitment to a performance culture is maintained by dealing with performance issues in a proactive and timely manner, providing development opportunities to staff within a team, being involved in induction activities, mentoring staff throughout the organisation and ensuring the performance management framework is implemented within the team.
§ Provide a supportive environment where team members strive to achieve best practice, and where information is communicated and shared freely.
§ Ensure that the productivity and revenue targets of the team are met.
§ Act as an expert source of advice to lawyers in the team members on complex and sensitive legal matters.
§ As required, deputise for the Assistant Crown Solicitor during their absence.
§ Assist the Assistant Crown Solicitor in ensuring appropriate allocation of work practices within the team are in place and that the correct level of resources are utilised to meet customer requirements.
§ Assist the Assistant Crown Solicitor in taking unpopular stands if necessary and support and implement the decisions of the Strategic Leadership Team.
§ Participate in and maintain a proactive approach to Self Development, including:
§ Achievement of CPD points; and
§ Participation in feedback processes such as 360◦.
§ Comply at all times with the office standards, including:
§ The client service charter;
§ The requirement to meet set targets for billable hours; and
§ Quality and timeliness measures.
YOUR EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
We are seeking highly motivated, energetic and proactive people to work as part of our dynamic team. Relating back to the Key Responsibilities, you will be assessed on the basis of relevant capability and capacity for the following:
§ Customer Focus: Acts with the expectations of internal and external clients; establishes and maintains effective and responsive client relationships; utilises client feedback for improvements.
§ Motivating Others: Empowers others and creates and supports a positive work environment
§ Functional/Technical Skills: Has the technical knowledge and skills to achieve expectations and requirements;
§ Building Effective Teams: Creates effective teams with strong morale and a feeling of belonging; and allowing staff to be accountable for their work.
§ Integrity and Trust: Is a direct, truthful individual, admits mistakes, maintains confidentiality; possesses the integrity necessary to manage sensitive and complex issues.
MANDATORY
Admission, or eligibility for immediate admission, as a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland, and enrolment or eligibility for enrolment, to practice in the Federal and High Courts of Australia.
It will be a condition of appointment that the successful appointee be admitted as a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland at least on a conditional basis within 3 months of the date of appointment.
YOUR BENEFITS
You will work in a flexible organisation with fantastic employment conditions. We offer challenging and engaging work, career development and competitive remuneration, work-life balance, and a unique and positive working environment.
HOW TO APPLY
We would like you to provide:
§ Your current resume providing information which demonstrates your ability to meet the requirements of the role.
§ Please email
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
§ The incumbent may be required to work across various teams and branches in Crown Law
§ Applications to remain current for 12 months.
§ A criminal history check will be undertaken for this position on any recommended applicant due to the nature of the work involved.
§ Any applicant recommended for appointment who is a current or previous public sector employee is required to disclose previous serious disciplinary action taken against them. If recommended for appointment the Panel Chair will contact the applicant further to discuss this requirement.
§ All newly-appointed public service employees are obliged to provide their chief executive a disclosure of employment as a lobbyist in the previous two years.
§ All newly appointed public service employees who have been employed as a lobbyist in the previous two years are required to provide a disclosure to the Director-General within one month of commencement in accordance with Disclosure of Previous Employment as a Lobbyist Policy.
§ This position may be subject to a three month probationary period.
§ The incumbent may be required to work hours outside the normal hours.
§ Interstate and Intrastate travel may be required.
People from diverse backgrounds including non-English speaking backgrounds, people with
a disability, women, and Indigenous people are encouraged to apply.
These skill descriptions are based on Lominger International’s LEADERSHIP ARCHITECT ® Competency Sort Cards, Copyright © 1992, 1996, 2001-2003 Lominger Limited, Inc., a subsidiary of Korn/Ferry International ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, and are used with the express permission of Lominger International.
Government Insurance and Risk (4) Team, Commercial Property & Insurance Branch
The areas of law handled within the Government Insurance and Risk (4) include:
LITIGATION (90%)
§ Civil proceedings on behalf of the Crown, Crown Corporations and Instrumentalities, including:
§ Matters before all State and Federal Courts and Tribunals;
§ Providing representation at and advice on dispute resolution procedures;
§ Drafting pleadings, affidavits and other court documents; and
§ Appearing as Counsel on interlocutory applications
§ Undertake litigation work in relation to the following areas of law:
§ Personal Injuries Claims
§ Public Liability Claims
§ Transport infrastructure litigation
§ Medical negligence claims
Lawyers should have knowledge of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules, the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002, the Civil Liability Act 2003 and be familiar with the Rules of the Federal and High Courts.
ADVISORY (10%)
§ Quality advice, submissions and correspondence in matters for consideration at Ministerial, Cabinet or inter-governmental levels; and
§ Quality advice in respect to matters arising out of the areas of litigation referred to above, including, but not limited to: liability, evidence, quantum settlement, costs or other aspects of matters arising from the carriage of the action.