Locations: Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane
Employment Type: Full Time
About the opportunity
The role offers exposure to the public sector, including the National Intelligence Community, law enforcement and other regulatory agencies, and central policy departments, as well as the private sector, including large financial institutions and other regulated entities.
AUSTRAC’s in-house Legal team supports the agency in the performance of its regulatory, intelligence and corporate functions and provides advice on a broad range of legal issues, including:
- providing legal advice on enforcement related matters and litigation
- statutory interpretation
- administrative law, and
- privacy, commercial, contract, property and employment law.
The role reports to a Senior Lawyer within the Legal team.
There are 3 distinct streams within the Legal team:
- Intelligence & Corporate
- Guidance & Reform; and
- Regulation, Enforcement & Litigation
The Legal team requires flexibility and fluidity in the way in which legal work is allocated within and across the legal streams.
What are we looking for
While we are looking for these capabilities, we consider transferrable skills and encourage applicants who embody AUSTRAC's culture and values to apply.
- Legal Qualification (Mandatory) - Admission on the role of an Australian State or Territory Supreme Court or the High Court of Australia. Must hold, or be eligible to hold, a practising certificate in the jurisdiction of your residence.
- Legal Experience - A minimum of 2 or more years of post-admission experience (PAE) is required, and demonstrated skills and experience in one or more of the following areas will be highly regarded: statutory interpretation, administrative law, civil penalty or other complex civil litigation, regulatory compliance and enforcement, privacy and information law (including FOI), and contract and procurement.
- Apply Expertise - Consults appropriately and includes others to ensure comprehensive professional input is used and demonstrates a high level of capability in applying technical, professional or specialist skills and knowledge and provides sound advice.
Key Duties
Under broad direction of the supervising Senior Lawyer and the Director Legal (Principal Lawyer), you will occupy an interesting and dynamic role and can expect to perform duties that:
- Support AUSTRAC’s regulatory, intelligence and corporate functions through the provision of legal advice on a broad range of regulatory, administrative law and public sector governance issues, including statutory interpretation, the exercise of regulatory powers and information management.
- Contribute to the development of AML/CTF policy, law reform, and guidance to reporting entities.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of legal training to uplift AUSTRAC staff members’ AML/CTF Act literacy and capability.
- Support AUSTRAC’s privacy and Freedom of Information (FOI) functions when required, including privacy impact assessments and advising on notifiable data breaches.
- Support AUSTRAC’s enforcement function and rules, exemptions and MOU functions by providing additional capacity on an as needs basis.
- Manage partner agency requests for affidavit and witness statements.
- Serve as a Customer Relationship Manager to specified business areas within the agency and ensure delivery of services according to Legal Section’s service level standards and in compliance with Legal Services Directions 2017.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this role you:
- Must be an Australian citizen at the time you apply.
- Will need to undertake AUSTRAC’s pre-engagement checks.
- Will need to obtain and maintain an ongoing Baseline Security Clearance
Affirmative Measures
This vacancy is also being advertised under Affirmative Measures, to apply under Affirmative Measures you must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. For more information, please visit the APSC Guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.
To be eligible to apply under Affirmative Measures provisions:
- Must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and/or identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
- Provide evidence that you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
*Please indicate in your application if you are applying under Affirmative Measures, by ticking the relevant box in the application form.
Why AUSTRAC?
Flexible, hybrid work environment: We are committed to providing flexibility in working arrangements to recognise the importance of balancing work commitments with family, caring and other personal commitments of employees outside of work. AUSTRAC currently operates under a hybrid work arrangement.
Diversity and Inclusion: Our core values of diversity, inclusion, and integrity drive everything we do. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and those of mature age. We recognise that united behaviours and mindsets will support our agency today and guide us into the future.
Employer of Choice: We have a strong reputation as an Employer of Choice, renowned for our exceptional work culture and outstanding employee census results which highlight our dedication to creating a positive and engaging environment.
Closing Date
Applications close at 11:30 pm on 17 August 2025
For enquiries, please contact: Samille Lawrence - L&E_Operations@austrac.gov.au