• Based at our Geelong, Waterfront Campus or Melbourne Burwood Campus + hybrid work arrangements
• 1 full-time, continuing and 1 full-time, fixed-term role until January 2026
• HEW 9 $132,790 - $140,744   + 17% Superannuation (pro rata, part time)

Why work with us?

At Deakin you will have access to benefits such as a variety of leave options including generous parental leave and the ability to purchase additional leave; flexible working arrangements to help manage your work-life balance; ongoing learning and development opportunities to grow your career; an inclusive and supportive culture and environment to work in, both online and on campus.

Who are we?

Deakin is a cutting-edge public university in Victoria, revolutionising education with 61,000 students across seven campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, Deakin University Lancaster University Indonesia (DLI), GIFT City, India and our dynamic online Campus. We’re proud to be a progressive and open-minded university, delivering the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world’s universities.

About the roles:                                                                  

As members of the University’s Legal Services team, each Legal Counsel will provide legal advice and services to University stakeholders and associated entities on a range of legal matters within their areas of experience and legal practice.

You will have experience and knowledge in relevant areas of legal practice and strong drafting, communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to provide timely, practical solutions to legal problems.  You will be able to manage and maintain your own files and conduct legal matters on a largely independent basis subject to broad direction, while work effectively as part of a team.

Within the two positions available, we are seeking an experienced employment lawyer, with strong subject matter knowledge and practice experience across front and back-end workplace relations and industrial relations matters. This may include drafting, reviewing and advising on employment contracts, policies and procedures, advising on Enterprise Agreement and legislative interpretation and statutory compliance issues, providing technical advice on a range of workplace law issues, and conducting or managing employment related disputes, negotiation and litigation. Experience and flexibility to work across other complementary practice areas will also be valuable in this role.

We are also seeking an experienced commercial legal practitioner with experience across a one or more other key practice areas relevant to the University, such as:

• research tenders, grants, agreements;
• corporate governance, regulation and policy;
• health, biomedical and pharmaceutical law, including clinical trials;
• intellectual property protection and commercialisation;
• academic matters including student placements, student grievances and academic partnerships;
• general commercial law, procurement, IT and leasing/property law;
• administrative law, privacy and data protection;
• dispute resolution and litigation.

Particular expertise in research, health law, and academic matters will be highly valued in this role.

Your role as Legal Counsel will include to:

• Interpret and advise on legislation, common law, legislative instruments, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Review, draft and advise on contracts, policies, and other documentation. 
• Prepare position papers, reports, briefings, file notes and other documents.
• Conduct legal research and stay up to date on legal issues relevant to the University. 
• Advise and represent the University in relation to negotiations, disputes and litigation matters, which may include appearing and/or instructing external lawyers in relevant Courts and Tribunals.                 

To be successful, you’ll:

• Have a Bachelor of Laws degree and postgraduate qualifications in law and extensive relevant experience
• Be admitted to practice as an Australian Legal Practitioner within the meaning of the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
• Hold a current Australian Practising Certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
• Demonstrate your experience (including years of Post-Qualified Experience) and knowledge in relevant area(s) of legal practice.
• Demonstrate your ability to provide practical solutions to legal problems on a timely basis.

Industry experience in legal practice in the higher education sector will be highly regarded, but it not essential.

Here's how to apply: 

Please submit your updated resume along with a brief cover letter outlining your relevant skills,  experience, and areas of legal practice/subject matter expertise.

Please advise if you would like to apply for the fixed term or continuing role or if you would like to be considered for both opportunities.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Sonia McCabe, Acting General Counsel at sonia.mccabe@deakin.edu.au 

For a copy of the position description, please see below:

 PD Legal Counsel 567014.pdf

Applications for this position close at 11.55pm on the 18th of February 

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.