• Legal Services

• This is a full-time fixed-term position through to January 2026 at HEW 8.

• Transition in-house to collaborate on diverse projects, leveraging your litigation experience while expanding into commercial practice

• Based at our St Lucia campus

About This Opportunity 

As a Legal Counsel (Dispute Resolution), you will provide strategic legal advice on broad range of complex disputes, employment matters and commercial contracts. You will work closely with senior lawyers to manage litigation, provide quality pragmatic advice, and develop effective legal strategies. This diverse role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Legal Advice

• Provide high-quality legal advice to senior leadership on disputes focusing on early resolution and risk mitigation.

• Support a range of sensitive litigation and guide grievance and misconduct processes for staff and students.

• Provide legal advice on employment-related issues, including discrimination, sexual misconduct, bullying, health and safety, employer obligations, and entitlements.

Contracts and Policy Development

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements.

• Advise on new legislative programs and help develop policy frameworks to support UQ’s operations and strategic objectives.

Business Strategy and Collaboration

• Foster strong stakeholder relationships while driving innovation, improving efficiencies, managing risks, and enhancing legal resources for UQ.

About You

Essential

The successful applicant must be admitted as a Solicitor or Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland, with demonstrated relevant expertise and experience (a minimum of 4 years post admission experience is preferred).

• Significant experience in a number of these areas:

  • Commercial litigation and knowledge of court processes

  • Providing strategic advice to resolve commercial and other disputes

  • Both contentious and advisory aspects of employment law

  • Administrative law and decision making

• Demonstrated ability to draft legal documents and deliver high quality, timely legal advice on a wide range of legal issues.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills along with strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.

• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritise work, and meet deadlines.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality legal advice.

Desirable

• Understanding of the legislative framework that applies to UQ or experience in acting for a statutory body or government entity.

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment and may be required to complete background checks including, criminal history and education checks.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.  

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community. 

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as: 

• 17% superannuation contributions, 17.5% annual leave loading.

• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight.

• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family.

• On campus childcare options, Cheap parking (from just $5.75 a day), Salary packaging options.

Want to Apply? 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section  

• Resume 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Leanne at [email protected]. For application queries, please contact [email protected] stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 

Applications close on 24 December 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-45656).

Please note that shortlisting and interviews may be held prior to the date above and UQ reserves the right to close the recruitment process early. You are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible.

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role. 

We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. Reach out to [email protected] for accessibility support or adjustments. 

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.