Overview
Assistant Parliamentary Counsel, APC 2 Jobs in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia at Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel
Title: Assistant Parliamentary Counsel, APC 2
Company: Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel
Location: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
About the role
Contribute to legislative drafting projects, in part to deliver project outputs but primarily to acquire the skills required to provide independent legislative drafting services and for team leadership.
Position duties
In this role, you will:
(a) Develop legislative problem solving, drafting, interpersonal, supervisory and project leadership skills, and judgment, through on-the-job training and also via participation in formal training (courses, seminars etc).
(b) Assist the Senior Executive Service team leader and, under their general oversight, assume progressively higher levels of independent responsibility for carrying out the following tasks:
- providing legislative drafting services;
- organising planning and logistics of legislative projects;
- maintaining effective working relations with members of the drafting team, instructors, other OPC staff and other relevant parts of the government, parliament and public service.
(c) Carry out or participate in such product development (e.g. plain English) or operations support (e.g. IT development, participation in office committees and reviews, Legislation Process Course presentations) as may be assigned, or such other duties relevant to the service provided by OPC as may be assigned.
Key capabilities
1. Development potential
A combination of learning skills (including willingness to learn), other skills, attributes and knowledge that demonstrates a strong potential to progress to the Assistant Parliamentary Counsel Grade 3 level in a relatively short period of time.
Note: It is expected that people would be ready to progress to the APC 3 level within 2 to 3 years.
2. Analytical skills
Well-developed analytical skills that would enable a person to assist in providing legislative drafting services.
3. Creativity and problem-solving skills
The ability to suggest ideas and approaches to problems by which a drafter is able to assist in the provision of legislative drafting services.
4. Communication skills
(a) Written
- Well developed written communication skills that would enable a person to assist in providing legislative drafting services.
- Attention to detail that includes a sound knowledge of English grammar, usage, spelling and punctuation, and that limits the number of formal errors in documents.
(b) Other Well-developed oral communication skills. A mix of empathy, assertiveness, enthusiasm and interest by which a drafter is able to sustain effective working relations with other people.
5. Judgment
Demonstrated ability to use sound judgment and to employ good technique in deciding or acting.
6. Team and project skills
Good organisational skills and the ability to work to agreed deadlines. A mix of well-directed energy and willingness to work in a participatory role by which a drafter is able to assist the Senior Executive Service (SES) team leader in legislative projects and contribute to team outcomes.
7. Drafting experience and legal knowledge
Either:
- Experience in drafting legislation; or
- Experience providing advice on, instructing on, or working with, Commonwealth or State or Territory legislation, and the development potential to take some responsibility for the drafting of legislative projects.
Good knowledge of constitutional law, or the ability to quickly acquire good knowledge of constitutional law, and other areas of law relevant to the drafting of legislation.
8. Legal qualifications
Either:
- admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory; or
- a degree in laws from an Australian tertiary institution (or a comparable overseas qualification which, in the opinion of First Parliamentary Counsel, is appropriate to the duties of the position).
Note that if you are not admitted, we will require you to become admitted within a reasonable period.
For additional information please see the Position Profile below:
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for the role, you must:
- be an Australian Citizen;
- be able to obtain and maintain an Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) clearance to Baseline status.
- hold a degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution or a recognised overseas qualification. To advance in OPC you must be admitted as a practitioner (however described) of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory.
How to apply
To apply for this position, please visit the careers page of our website (www.opc.gov.au) to submit your application via our e-Recruit system. Please:
- provide a statement of 2 – 3 pages outlining how your skills, knowledge, and experience make you the right person for the role, including details of relevant achievements and examples that demonstrate your suitability;
- provide a current CV detailing recent employment history that is relevant to this position;
- provide the name and contact details of two referees. We may contact your nominated referees, and other people we think are appropriate. Please let us know if you want us to contact you before we contact your nominated referees;
- provide details of your full academic results (tertiary only, for both legal and non-legal studies), including documents evidencing your qualifications (and admission to practice if applicable).
An analysis exercise or other form of testing may be used as part of the candidate assessment process.
The selection committee may contact persons you have named as referees, and other persons whom it thinks are appropriate, to assist it in making a decision, to confirm its impressions of you or to confirm information provided by you.
Contact
To discuss the position in more detail please contact Meredith Leigh on 02 6120 1421 or [email protected]
Closing date
Applications close for this vacancy at 11.55pm on Sunday, 19 July 2026.
