The University of Notre Dame Australia Careers

Description

Legal Counsel
Sydney (Broadway) or Fremantle (WA) Campus
Full-time on-site opportunity, Continuing contract

• Friendly and collaborative environment
• Rewarding opportunity
• $146,765 pa (level 9 - Sydney) + 14.5% superannuation
• $130,627 pa (level 9 - Fremantle) + 14.5% superannuation

About the university

The University of Notre Dame Australia is a private Catholic University with over 1,000 permanent staff providing an exceptional educational experience to over 12,000 students across our Fremantle, Broome, and Sydney campuses, as well as clinical schools in Victoria and New South Wales.

About the team

Our Legal Team plays a pivotal role in supporting the University’s mission by delivering clear, commercially focused legal and regulatory advice. We partner closely with leaders across the institution to enable confident decision-making, ensure legislative compliance, and uphold the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and governance. As trusted advisors, we help safeguard the University’s reputation while enabling innovation and strategic growth.
 
About the role

We are seeking an experienced Legal Counsel who is ready to take the next step in their career - someone who enjoys variety, thrives in a collaborative environment, and is motivated by meaningful, intellectually rewarding work.

In this role, you will provide high-quality, solutions-oriented legal advice across a diverse range of matters including commercial contracting, employment, privacy, governance, and regulatory issues unique to the higher-education sector. No two days are the same.

You will work closely with senior leadership and colleagues across the Legal Team, contributing to both day-to-day matters and strategic institutional projects. This is a hands-on role ideal for a lawyer who wants to deepen their expertise, broaden their portfolio, and make a tangible impact within a purpose-driven organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and review a wide range of legal documents and agreements, seeking specialist guidance for more complex matters.
• Provide timely, high‑quality legal advice across multiple practice areas to support the University’s operational and strategic needs.
• Contribute to effective legal, governance, and risk management services by supporting performance tracking, analytics, reporting, and cost‑containment efforts.
• Monitor legislative changes impacting the University and ensure all advice and documentation are business‑focused, risk‑aware, and compliant.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted‑advisor relationships with stakeholders to promote sound legal, governance, and risk management practices.
• Support the Legal team by helping prioritize workload, delegating tasks when required, and collaborating with colleagues to ensure best‑practice delivery across the University.

Qualifications, skills & experience

• Tertiary qualification in law or a related discipline, supported by at least five years of experience in the workforce or an equivalent combination of significant relevant experience in a similar role and/or qualification in a relevant discipline area.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare and present papers, reports, and proposals for diverse audiences across the University.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to influence, engage, and establish trust with a wide range of internal stakeholders.
• Advanced operational and project management capabilities, including analyzing complex issues, developing practical solutions, and managing multiple concurrent complex projects from initiation to completion.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to strategic development and support organizational planning.
• Effective time‑management skills with proven experience handling multiple detailed matters end‑to‑end, along with a sound understanding of contemporary issues in the higher education sector.

Benefits

• Fast paced environment with opportunity for professional growth
• Generous training and development opportunities
• Friendly and collaborative working environment

How to apply

Please apply online with a resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Applications closing date: 18 February 2026

For further information on how to apply, please visit: How to apply | Notre Dame

Applicants are expected to have current and valid work rights in Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.      

The University of Notre Dame Australia seeks to increase the diversity of our workforce to better meet the different needs of the University and its stakeholders and to improve equal opportunity outcomes for our staff.

Contact us

Please direct your queries regarding this role to Haritha Garlapati, [email protected]

Unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies will not be entertained.