The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is the State's primary environmental regulator. With a vision for New South Wales to have a healthy environment, healthy community and healthy business, the EPA believes healthy ecosystems are the foundation for healthy communities, a healthy economy and for enhancing liveability. The EPA leads in protecting the air, waterways and land to ensure a healthy community for the future; works with communities, government and business to reduce the impact on the environment; and holds people and organisations to account through licensing, monitoring, regulation and enforcement.
About the role and the team
The EPA's Litigation Team is a high performing group of specialist in-house lawyers who prosecute and defend EPA cases in Court and who provide legal advice to the EPA across all areas of its work.
The Team has an ongoing role available at the Senior Legal Officer (Environment Officer Class 9) level. Reporting to a Principal Legal Officer, you will prepare and conduct litigation for the EPA to enforce environmental laws, support the development and administration of environmental legislation and provide legal advice, training and education to EPA staff.
A talent pool from this process may be used to fill additional roles at the same level within the next 18 months.
Key accountabilities
The key accountabilities relevant to the role include but are not limited to:
Prepare and conduct civil cases and criminal prosecutions in the Local Court, Land and Environment Court or other courts or tribunals, to maximise positive outcomes for the EPA and/or the Minister for the Environment, in accordance with professional ethical obligations.
Provide high quality professional research and advice to internal and external stakeholders on environment protection, administrative law, and machinery of government to assist with the effective resolution of legal issues and the development of relevant and contemporary legislation.
Contribute to the development and participate in the delivery of legal education seminars and compliance programs to assist in the achievement of environmental compliance, including through successful civil and criminal law enforcement.
To be successful, you will be a mid level lawyer, with strong litigation experience. In addition, you will ideally have knowledge of the legislation administered by the EPA, legislation relating to criminal and civil enforcement, and knowledge of environmental principles and practices and exposure to the complexity of the environmental debate. You will have strong attention to detail and excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills and experience in the provision of complex legal advice at a senior level. You must be admitted or immediately eligible to hold a practising certificate in NSW.
Essential Requirements:
Admitted or immediately eligible to hold a practising certificate in NSW
To Apply:
Following your application through Seek, you will be directed to complete an online application through the 'I work for NSW' website. Should you not complete this, you cannot be considered for the role. We will send you this link along with other information needed for your application.
This an exclusive and retained assignment with Oceans Group. All third-party and direct applications will be forwarded to us for consideration. No other Agencies please.
Our commitment to diversity and flexibility:
The EPA strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We recognise that we operate in a diverse community and welcome and encourage applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans, refugees and those with disability. We understand that flexibility means different things to different people and are committed to offering flexible work arrangements where and when possible.
