Job opportunity

This is a pool recruitment process (Ref 01190). This pool will run for a period of twelve (12) months and may be used to fill ongoing fixed term contracts, secondments, acting/relieving and permanent opportunities (full and part time).

The Legal Services Division is searching for dynamic and experienced lawyers to join our team. The Legal Services Division provides support across the WA Police Force in relation to, and advising on, criminal law, the criminal investigation statutory frameworks, complex regulatory frameworks and general public liability.

The Legal Services Division is spread across three Perth CBD workplaces, and any successful applicant will show an ability to work collaboratively with different operational units within the WA Police Force. The Legal Services Division also has a number of junior solicitors who will rely on this position to guide them in developing their legal, practice management and client engagement skills.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong communication skills with experience in, or aptitude for, engaging with officers at different levels of seniority across the breadth of the WA Police Force to bring clarity to the law within the operational environment.

The ideal candidate will have a solid background in public liability law or criminal law, with expertise in drafting advice, managing litigation or complex prosecutions, and providing strategic advice to clients. In particular, we are seeking lawyers with specialist skills in any of the following areas:

• Public Liability and General Law – applicants should be able to demonstrate their experience advising on matters of public liability, general litigation, managing complex matters of public interest and leading teams of junior lawyers.

• Criminal Law – applicants should be able to demonstrate their experience advising on criminal law, and associated statutory frameworks, including as a specialist advisor or, if relevant, Counsel and leading junior lawyers to develop their skills in this area.

• Complicated Regulatory Frameworks – applicants should be able to demonstrate their knowledge and experience, including as Counsel if relevant, in significant and complicated regulatory frameworks requiring the analysis of complex factual and legal circumstances and leading junior lawyers to develop their skills in this area.

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

ABOUT US 

The WA Police Force has over 10,000 employees located across the largest policing jurisdiction in the world, with 200 police facilities in 15 policing districts across the State. Our priorities are our people, our partnerships and our performance. We are committed to enforcing the law, preventing crime and managing and coordinating emergencies.   

The WA Police Force’s values of Duty, Teamwork, Integrity and Care are an integral part of how we do business. Alignment with our values should be incorporated within your application. Integrity within the WA Police Force means employees are held to a high standard of conduct, both in and outside of work. Further information is available in the Work-Related Requirements component of the position description form. 

Work, Health and Safety is vital to WA Police Force operations. We incorporate safety in every part of our business, and it is an essential part of our decision-making processes. 

The WA Police Force is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages Aboriginal Australians, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women to apply for positions within our agency. The WA Police Force also promotes and supports flexible, family friendly work practices.

We believe all our people are leaders irrespective of their role. We consider this as critical to our success and, to support this, we have adopted Leadership Expectations  which provide a common understanding of the mindsets and expected behaviours required of all our employees and the public sector.  The leadership context for this role is: Multiple Area Leader. 

THE BENEFITS   

• Flexible working arrangements. 
• Professional development opportunities and study leave/assistance. 
• 12% employer contributed superannuation into a fund of your choice.
• Salary packaging options for vehicles and superannuation. 
• 4 weeks of Annual Leave with the option to purchase additional leave each year. 
• 3 Public Service Holidays per year.  
• Access to Long Service Leave every 7 years
• On site gym facilities at Perth Headquarters. 
• Free flu vaccinations annually. 
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program including immediate family members living at home. 
• Access to free WA Police Force Chaplaincy and Psychological services. 
• An active social club that welcomes WA Police Force family members. 

SPECIALIST PRE-REQUISITE

It is a requirement that the position holder is successful in obtaining and maintaining a NEGATIVE VETTING LEVEL 1 security clearance for the duration of their appointment in the position. Only Australian Citizens are eligible to hold and maintain the NEGATIVE VETTING LEVEL 1 security clearance. Any applicants who are currently not an Australian Citizen must be aware that this is an essential requirement to fulfil this position (please refer to the attached position description). Whilst there is nothing to preclude applicants from applying for the position if they have not yet been granted Australian Citizenship, applicants who are successful should be aware that they cannot be appointed unless they are in the process of applying for Australian Citizenship and are eligible to become an Australian Citizen prior to appointment.

HOW TO APPLY 

To demonstrate your suitability for the position, please provide a covering letter of no more than 2 pages which describes how your skills and experience meet all the Work-Related Requirements as stated in the position description together with a comprehensive CV.

Please also include the contact details of two professional referees who we can contact as part of the recruitment process, with a current line manager preferred. 

For applicants deemed suitable, all essential work-related requirements in the position description form will be assessed at some stage during the selection process. 

Candidates must also read the attached contextual information (Supplementary Information – Principal Solicitor) regarding conditions of employment including integrity checking requirements and the WA Police Force Drug and Alcohol policy. 

During the recruitment process we provide reasonable adjustments to allow people with a disability to participate effectively.  If you have any access or communication needs to allow you to better participate in this process, please contact our Police Staff Selection and Deployment Manager Matt Davis on telephone (08) 6229 5723 or via email at matt.davis@police.wa.gov.au  

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION 

Applicants are requested to apply online.  To apply online, you must have a valid email address and be ready to attach your comprehensive electronic resume, integrity check form (if required) and any additional attachments as requested in the “APPLICATION PROCESS” section of the advertisement. Please select the “APPLY FOR JOB” button at the top/bottom of this advertisement.  

Should you encounter any problems lodging your online application please contact Police Staff Selection and Deployment on (08) 6229 5772 during business hours (8am to 4pm, Monday – Friday), prior to the specified closing time. 

EMAILED, LATE OR PRO-FORMA APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED 

Application packages, supplementary work-related requirements/information and the Position Description Form are attached. 

FOR FURTHER SPECIFIC JOB-RELATED INFORMATION 

Please contact Lynsey Warbey on telephone number 0418 948 650.