Solicitor General Information Kit

Solicitor General Information Kit

INFORMATION KIT

SOLICITOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA

Applications are sought from suitably qualified persons for appointment to the Commonwealth office of Solicitor General of Australia. The office of Solicitor General is established by the Law Officers Act 1964.

The Solicitor-General

The Solicitor General is the second Law Officer of the Commonwealth and principal legal counsel to the Australian Government. In addition to leading the Commonwealth in significant matters before the courts, the Solicitor General provides advice to the Government on questions of law as they arise. The Solicitor-General works with the Attorney General in his capacity as first Law Officer.

The Solicitor-General is assisted by two counsel assisting and also works in close collaboration with senior officers of the Attorney-General's Department, other key departments and agencies and with leading counsel from the private Bar.

The successful applicant will be a senior member of the Bar (either Queen’s Counsel or Senior Counsel) with extensive experience in arguing matters before the High Court of Australia, in particular constitutional and other public law matters. The successful applicant will also be expected to provide high-level legal advice to the Australian Government, in particular on constitutional and other public law matters.

Terms and conditions of appointment

The office of the Solicitor General is a public office in respect of which remuneration and allowances are determined by the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal. Determination 2015/21: Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Full-Time Public Office is the current determination governing the position of Solicitor-General.

The Solicitor-General is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Attorney-General. The appointment is expected to be for a term of five years.

The position is based in Canberra, but does not require full time attendance in Canberra.

Prospective applicants may direct specific inquiries about the position to Mr Iain Anderson in the Attorney General’s Department, on (02) 6141 3175.

Selection criteria

The successful applicant will be a senior member of the Australian Bar (either a Queen’s Counsel or Senior Counsel) who has:

  1. Extensive experience and demonstrated capacity as a legal adviser at the highest levels, especially on constitutional law.
  2. Extensive experience and demonstrated capacity as an advocate in the High Court of Australia and other superior Australian courts.
  3. High level communication skills, especially in preparing written legal advice.
  4. Ability to work within government to provide timely and effective legal services on matters of national importance.
  5. Demonstrated high standard of professional and personal integrity.
  6. High level of judgement.

To be eligible for appointment the Solicitor-General General, applicants must also satisfy the following requirements:

  • be a barrister or solicitor of the High Court of Australia or of the Supreme Court of a State of not less than 5 years standing (as required under the Law Officers Act)
  • receive and maintain a satisfactory security clearance, and
  • be an Australian Citizen, or have permanent residency status pending the granting of Australian citizenship.

Applications

Applications showing full particulars of qualifications, experience and expertise, together with contact details and a completed private interests declaration (see below), must be sent, preferably by email (with no need for separate hard copy submission), to arrive by 5pm AEDT on Friday 11 November 2016.

Email:

Mail:Iain Anderson
Deputy Secretary
Attorney General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600

Candidates should be available for interviews from mid-late November 2016.

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PRIVATE INTERESTS DECLARATION

PROPOSED POSITION & ORGANISATION / Solicitor General of Australia

Please answer the following questions by circling the reply that applies to your personal circumstances. If you answer “yes” to any question, please provide details in an attachment to this form. Please note that answering “yes” to any question does not necessarily preclude you from being appointed. Your response will be treated as confidential and will only be used for purposes connected with this proposed appointment.

1. Do you have any disclosable criminal convictions, i.e. convictions as an adult that form part of your criminal history other than those protected by the Spent Convictions Scheme (see Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914)? / Yes/No
2. Are you, or have you been, the respondent or defendant in any civil or criminal court action (including as a company director or other office holder)? / Yes/No
3. (a) Have you ever been declared bankrupt, entered into a debt agreement under Part IX of the Bankruptcy Act 1996 (the Bankruptcy Act) or entered into a personal insolvency agreement under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act?
(b) If you are in a partnership, have any of your partners ever been declared bankrupt, entered into a debt agreement under Part IX of the Bankruptcy Act or entered into a personal insolvency agreement under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act? / Yes/No
Yes/No or N/A
4. Has any business or commercial enterprise for which you, or if applicable your partner(s), have had responsibility ever gone into receivership or a similar scheme or arrangement? / Yes/No
5. During the last 10 years have you, or if applicable your partner(s), been the subject of a court order in connection with monies owing to another party? / Yes/No
6. Have you ever been summonsed or charged concerning non-payment of tax or outstanding tax debts, investigated for tax evasion or defaults, or negotiated with the Australian Taxation Office over outstanding tax debts? / Yes/No
7. Have you ever been the subject of a complaint to a professional body which has been substantiated, or is currently under investigation? / Yes/No
8. Have you ever been dismissed from employment because of a discipline or misconduct issue? / Yes/No
9. Do you or your immediate family have any financial interest in any company or business, or are you or your immediate family employed or engaged by any company or business, which might have dealings with, or an interest in the decisions of, the office to which you may be appointed? / Yes/No
10. Are you a lobbyist registered on the Australian Government’s Lobbyists Register or the register of a state or territory? / Yes/No
11. Is there any other information which could be relevant to your suitability for the proposed appointment? / Yes/No

ASSURANCE

I advise that to the best of my knowledge my private, business and financial interests, including taxation affairs, would not conflict with my public duties or otherwise cause embarrassment to myself or to the Government during my term of appointment.
I also undertake to advise the responsible minister should a situation arise in the future which might cause a conflict of interest with my responsibilities under this appointment.
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Name Signature Date

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