These are permanent, full time vacancies, there are 5 positions available for immediate filling.

Parliamentary Counsel’s Office (PCO) is seeking talented senior legislative drafters.

• Are you seeking a role which is intellectually challenging while being part of an organisation that makes a difference?
• Are you a strong builder of relationships with the ability to grow and develop others?
• We are seeking talented technical “people-focused” professionals for these leadership opportunities.

About the roles

The purpose of these roles is to provide comprehensive legislative drafting to government departments and agencies to ensure legislation is prepared to give effect to government policy and priorities. Within this role you will make a real difference to the functioning of good government in the State, and you will be an integral part of the growth and development of those you work with.

Key Responsibilities, Experience and Skills

• Drafts very complex or sensitive legislative instruments with full professional autonomy and provides advice on legal issues that arise in the drafting of legislation.
• Provides on-the-spot drafting services and advice to Ministers and other members of Parliament during the passage of legislation (as required) and reads and settles work of other drafters.
• Mentors, trains, supervises, and reviews the performance of, other drafters and plays a leadership and management role in the office.
• Ability to demonstrate extensive knowledge of legislation and statutory interpretation, machinery of government and the legislative process.
• Ability to demonstrate extensive knowledge of constitutional law and of current drafting theory and practice.

About the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office

PCO has a staff of over 50, consisting of legislative drafters, editors and publications and support staff and IT staff. PCO provides legislative drafting and related services to the State Government, its departments and agencies. PCO also provides legislative drafting services to private Members of Parliament and Parliamentary committees.

PCO publishes the legislation of Western Australia on the Western Australian legislation website (www.legislation.wa.gov.au), which it hosts and maintains.

PCO offers an inclusive and supportive workplace, an attractive remuneration package and flexible working arrangements. Relocation assistance is available for successful applicants.

Suitability Requirements 

Through the recruitment process, we will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate skills, experience and attributes in relation to the following: 

Role specific requirements

• Demonstrated ability to draft very complex or sensitive legislative instruments with full professional autonomy, applying a high level of care and accuracy and conforming to relevant procedures and precedents.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse and interpret legal and policy issues and develop solutions for very complex or sensitive legal problems.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to supervise and manage other drafters, provide structured performance feedback, lead a small team on larger or more complex projects and contribute constructively to management decisions.
• Demonstrated clear written and oral communication skills in relation to very complex or sensitive matters.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively as a senior drafter within a drafting office, managing workload and providing high level drafting services in pressured situations.
• Extensive professional experience as a legal practitioner drafting legislation (including very complex or sensitive legislation) in a legislative drafting office.
• Demonstrated thorough knowledge of legislation and statutory interpretation, the machinery of government and legislative process, constitutional law, and current drafting theory and practice. 

Lead collectively - Seek and build key relationships, work together and focus on the greater good. 

Think through complexity - Think critically, work with ambiguity and uncertainty, assess solutions and impacts, and take calculated risks. 

Dynamically sense the environment - Be in tune with the political, social and environmental trends that impact the work; understand and recognise the needs of others and leverage relationships for desired outcomes.

Deliver on high leverage areas - Identify priorities, pursue objectives with tenacity and be resilient in the face of challenges. 

Build capability - Proactively develop others; share learning to promote efficiency and effectiveness; and champion diversity and inclusion.

Embody the spirit of public service - Display empathy, compassion, humility and integrity, and a genuine passion for the work; demonstrate a responsibility to Western Australians; and work in the interests of the public good. 

Lead adaptively - Continuously seek to understand personal strengths and areas for improvement, be adaptive to change and adjust leadership style in different contexts. 

Eligibility

Essential eligibility requirements:

• A person who is an Australian lawyer who is the holder of, or is eligible to hold, an Australian practising certificate as defined in the Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA); or
• A person who is eligible to be admitted to the legal profession in Western Australia under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Western Australia) Act 2007; or
• A person who —
  • is admitted, or eligible for admission, as a lawyer in any of the following jurisdictions —

(i)         Canada (including a Province or Territory of Canada);

(ii)        Ireland;

(iii)       the United Kingdom (including England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland); and

•  has been employed as a legislative drafter, for a period or periods equivalent to 5 years, in 1 or more government legislative drafting offices in any of those jurisdictions.

Application process

How to apply

Please ensure you review the attached Job Description Forms (JDFs) for further information about the requirements of the positions. This information will assist you with the preparation of your application.

We require you to submit:

1. A detailed resume including the contact details of 2 referees; and
2. A cover letter of no more than 3 pages clearly stating:
   • Which position and classification you wish to apply for. This may be more than one classification. You will be assessed against the relevant Role Specific Criteria; and
   • Why you are interested in joining PCO; and
   • How your skills and experience will make you a good fit to perform the work required in the context of the Role Specific Requirements found in the JDF(s). Please provide examples to support your claims.

All remaining Suitability Requirements will be assessed at a later stage in the process.

Subsequent Vacancies

Applicants found suitable but not recommended for this vacancy, may be considered for subsequent similar vacancies for a period of twelve (12) months, in accordance with section 7d of the Commissioner’s Instructions No.48 – Recruitment, Selection and Appointment to Permanent Vacancies, and section 9d of the Commissioner Instructions 49 - Recruitment, Selection and Appointment to Fixed Term Vacancies. Permanent, fixed term, full time and part time appointments may be offered within the Perth Metropolitan area during this period. 

For further job-related information

If you would like further information regarding the vacancies please contact Andrew Jones, Parliamentary Counsel on (08) 9264 1444 for a confidential discussion.

Equity and Diversity 

The Department of Justice is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and accessible workplace that reflects the community we serve. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants can access support by following this link.  

Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process. For a confidential discussion about support or adjustments, please contact the person listed above or email workforcediversity@justice.wa.gov.au.  

Submitting your application

Applicants are requested to apply online. To submit your application, click the “Apply for Job” button at the bottom of this advertisement.

Please ensure you allow sufficient time to submit your application, as late applications will not be accepted.

If you are having difficulty submitting your online application, please telephone RAMS Helpdesk ramshelpdesk@bigredsky.com on 1300 733 056 for assistance.