Legal Counsel

• Legal Services

• This is a full-time, permanent position

• Base salary will be in the range $113,377 - $127,112 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 8)

• Based at our picturesque St Lucia campus

About This Opportunity

Join our team as a Legal Counsel, where you will play a crucial role in providing comprehensive legal advice and guidance on a wide range of activities at UQ, with a particular focus on commercial, contract and student matters. Working under the guidance of the Director and alongside other senior lawyers in Legal Services, you will contribute to managing UQ's interests and be an integral part of our busy, collaborative legal team. As an adaptable professional, you will have the opportunity to engage in various streams of legal work, ranging from complex to less complex tasks.

Reporting to the Director of Legal Services and the General Counsel, you will contribute to UQ's success in a dynamic in-house environment.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Provide quality and timely legal advice to the Vice-Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer, and other senior management and key decision makers across UQ.

• Provide advice on legal issues relating to UQ's commercial activities and contractual arrangements, in particular in respect of student issues.

• Draft, negotiate and advise on commercial agreements and related documents including consultancy agreements, services contracts, procurement documents, student placement agreements, international agreements, project agreements and collaboration agreements.

• Provide legal advice on a wide range of other legal issues affecting UQ, including in respect of statutory interpretation, governance issues, wills and bequests, administrative law issues and the development and implementation of policies.

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:

• Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave

• 17% superannuation contributions

• 17.5% annual leave loading

• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options

• 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

• UQ Study for Staff

• On campus childcare options

• Affordable parking (from just $6.15 a day)

• Salary packaging options

About You

We are seeking an energetic and experienced commercial lawyer who is eager to transition in-house and work collaboratively on diverse and interesting projects. The successful applicant must be admitted as a Solicitor or Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland, with demonstrated expertise and experience (preferably a minimum of 5 years of post-admission experience). Additionally, you will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience in commercial law, including advising on complex commercial projects.

• Demonstrated ability to draft, negotiate and advise on a wide variety of commercial agreements and related documents and effectively handle and resolve complex legal issues.

• Consistently achieve results by maintaining a solution-oriented approach, displaying sound judgment skills and commercial acumen, while effectively facilitating the provision of timely, high-quality legal advice, multitasking across multiple projects, meeting deadlines, responding positively and flexibly to change and uncertainty, and seeking guidance and advice when necessary.

• Possess strong communication skills, both written and oral, along with demonstrated interpersonal and negotiation abilities to effectively interact and collaborate with diverse clients and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain positive relationships with team members, internal clients, and external stakeholders.

• Exhibit a proven capacity to thrive both autonomously and collaboratively within a team setting, delivering timely and high-quality client service, while also displaying the ability to effectively operate under the guidance and supervision of senior lawyers, showcasing adaptability and flexibility to work across diverse practice areas and handle tasks of varying complexity, typical of an in-house legal practice.

• Demonstrated time management, organisational skills, and meticulous attention to detail are essential, as you will prioritise tasks to meet competing deadlines with minimal supervision.

• Understand UQ's objectives and the links between Legal Services, UQ and whole of University agenda.

• Exemplify personal drive, integrity, and resilience, with the ability to consistently provide impartial and forthright advice, remain positive under pressure and maintain momentum despite criticism or setbacks.

Desirable

• Understanding of the legislative framework applicable to UQ or experience working for a University, statutory body or government entity.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia, criminal check, education check. You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Leanne Fox, Director Legal Services, l.fox@uq.edu.au. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

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

• Cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section

• Resume

Other Information

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 talent@uq.edu.au for accessibility support or adjustments.

Applications close Sunday, 30 March 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-48560).

Applications will be reviewed as received. Candidates may be interviewed prior to the job closing date. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. The University of Queensland reserves the right to close this application process early.