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General Counsel

This role is now closed.
Please contact luminary@luminarypartners.com.au.

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Lead. Deliver. Impact.

Be part of something bigger at QPS.

Overview

The vision of the Queensland Police Service is to help make Queensland a safe and secure place to live, visit and do business, with a mission to deliver high quality, innovative, progressive and responsive policing services.

QPS Profile

The QPS is responsible for the development of strategies and the delivery of services relating to law enforcement and community policing initiatives across the State of Queensland.

The Service employs more than 19,000 full-time professionals along with casual officer and volunteer groups dedicated to QPS’s mission.

Our key organisational challenges include:

maintaining the safety and security of people in Queensland;
demographic changes, rising demands for service, limited police numbers and higher labour costs;
increase in the environmental and financial cost of natural resources;
alcohol-related antisocial behaviour and violence;
the number of victims of domestic violence;
globalisation, and increased use and accessibility of technology, which are facilitating serious and organised crime;
increase in the use of the Queensland road network, which brings the risk of more road crashes;
the levels of complaints and community confidence in, and perceptions of, police;
continued over-representation of vulnerable persons in the criminal justice system;
an increase in the severity and consequential aspects of natural disasters; and
planned and desirable major projects and known funding constraints.

Our Workplace

The Queensland Police Service is committed to building inclusive cultures that respect and promote human rights, diversity, and inclusion.

We provide equal opportunities for everyone in our organisation, irrespective of gender, culture, generation, sexual orientation, or disability. We promote a respectful workplace culture that is free from all forms of harassment, workplace bullying, discrimination, and violence. We embrace the benefits of supporting and retaining a mobile, flexible, and agile workforce.

QPS Organisation Chart

Be a pivotal part of one of Queensland’s biggest teams - Queensland Police.

Find your change here!

Your Opportunity

The General Counsel is responsible for managing, directing and delivering civil legal services across a range of multidisciplinary areas to ensure the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has a sound integrated legal foundation for all its operations and activities.

About the role

Your opportunity

The General Counsel is required to deliver high level strategic and authoritative legal advice and assistance on matters that are highly complex and sensitive or have high financial, reputational or operational risk. The legal counsel provided by this role to the Commissioner and Executive will support strategic initiatives, policy formulation and decision making relating to the objectives of QPS. The role will also proactively identify legal risk and response strategies including driving legislative and policy initiatives.

The Office of the General Counsel comprises of approximately 30 staff including professional legal officers and staff members.

Your responsibilities

The core capability requirements for this role are:

Lead the management, coordination and communication of consistent, high quality, high impact, independent and authoritative legal services and specialist civil legal advice on all aspects of QPS's internal and external operations, functions and activities including in the areas of statutory inquiries, civil litigation, employment advice and administrative law.
Provide timely, authoritative and strategic specialist legal advice to the Commissioner and the Executive on complex, sensitive and high-risk issues, and on legislative matters that may impact QPS, including making recommendations regarding governance frameworks.
Work collaboratively with legal service providers (including Crown Law) to ensure value for money, quality and timeliness of work produced.
Keep abreast of legal developments and legislative changes and manage complex and sensitive civil litigation on behalf of the QPS.
Provide oversight and lead the provision of legal services across a range of multidisciplinary areas using practices that are aligned to and compliant with relevant legislation, policy, practice, the Code of Conduct and Ethics and whole of government initiatives.
Develop and maintain strong stakeholder relationships to drive and influence legislative initiatives and policy development in response to emerging legal risk, trends and developments.
Drive the strategic management of legal risk and delivery of QPS objectives by proactively identifying and analysing complex trends, problems, exposures, risks and liabilities, and developing and implementing innovative solutions and options that are compliant with legislative and governance requirements using the complete suite of legal, administrative, regulatory and policy tools.
Coordinate the representation of the Service before the Courts, Commissions and other legislative and legal forums.

Mandatory Requirements

You will be admitted, or eligible for admission, as a barrister or solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Leadership Competencies

Your application needs to demonstrate the behaviours of the Leadership stream indicated below.
Be prepared to discuss / reflect on these behaviours in the event you are invited to attend an assessment interview.

Leadership Competencies for QLD

Position Description

To learn of the requirements and attributes of our ideal candidate for this position, we invite you to please download the full position description below.

General Counsel

How to Apply

Requirements

To be considered, please provide the following information in your online application, for the assessment of your suitability:

A short (no more than two pages) statement focusing on how you align with the core accountabilities outlined in the role statement below.
Your current CV highlighting your relevant experience, qualifications, and achievements.

Candidates who represent diverse backgrounds are encouraged to submit an application. If you need assistance with your application please reach out to us.

Download Position Description