Legal Counsel - In-House - 12-Month Contract
Excellent opportunity for a
Legal Counsel
with
3+ years PQE
to join a purpose-led organisation in
Sydney
on a
12-month parental leave contract
. Working directly with the
General Counsel
, you will run a broad
in-house
commercial and advisory practice, drafting and negotiating contracts and giving practical advice across the business. This is a full-time,
hybrid
role with one day a week in the office, paying
$156,000 to $168,000 including superannuation
.
Summary
Excellent opportunity for a
Legal Counsel
with
3+ years PQE
to join a purpose-led organisation in
Sydney
on a
12-month parental leave contract
. Working directly with the
General Counsel
, you will run a broad
in-house
commercial and advisory practice, drafting and negotiating contracts and giving practical advice across the business. This is a full-time,
hybrid
role with one day a week in the office, paying
$156,000 to $168,000 including superannuation
.
The Company
This well-established,
purpose-led organisation
operates in a
regulated environment
, working closely with government, industry partners and suppliers. Its work delivers clear public benefit, and people join because they want their work to count for something.
The business is small and close-knit, with a supportive, collegiate CEO and a flexible, inclusive culture. It is preparing for a period of
significant growth
, which will bring more suppliers, more contracts and more work with government.
The Role
As
Legal Counsel
, you will work hand in hand with an experienced General Counsel in a small
in-house legal team
. Compliance sits with a separate Audit and Risk function, so this is a purely legal role,



focused on commercial and advisory work, with regular contact with the CEO and Executive Team.
This is a
12-month parental leave contract
, starting in mid-November **** with a handover from the current role holder before her leave begins.
Key responsibilities will include:
Reviewing, drafting and negotiating
commercial contracts
, including supplier, customer, services and consultancy agreements
Giving practical advice on contract interpretation,
regulatory
,
employment
,
privacy
and
intellectual property
matters
Developing and maintaining legal
templates
, policies and internal guidelines
Monitoring legal and regulatory developments and helping the business respond to them
Maintaining legal records and supporting
legal risk reporting
to the General Counsel and Executive Team
Managing low-risk
disputes
and pre-litigation matters with the General Counsel
Delivering
legal training
to staff across the business
Supporting contracts and arrangements with
government
, industry participants and suppliers as the business grows
About You
You are a commercial lawyer who likes being close to the business. You give clear, practical advice to non-lawyers, handle a busy workload well and enjoy being part of a small team. This
Legal Counsel
role would suit someone ready for their first
in-house
move or an in-house lawyer looking for broad,



wide-ranging work.
You will ideally bring:
A law degree (or equivalent) and admission in
NSW
, with a current unrestricted practising certificate
At least
3 years post-admission experience
, with private practice experience preferred
Strong
commercial drafting and negotiation
skills
Broad advisory experience, with
regulatory
or
government contracting
exposure a plus
An organised, accountable approach, following through and managing competing priorities
A collaborative style and an interest in getting to know the business
Confidence working with government and industry stakeholders
On Offer
Salary of
$156,000 to $168,000 including superannuation
Full-time,
12-month fixed-term contract
(parental leave cover) based in
Sydney's Inner West
Hybrid working, with just one day a week in the office
Office a short walk from the train, with parking contributions
Direct reporting line to the
General Counsel
, with regular exposure to the CEO and Executive Team
A handover from mid-November ****
On-site amenities, including gym access, cafes and childcare
Wellbeing initiatives, including access to counselling sessions
Support for professional and personal development
Peer recognition, rewards and discounts, plus regular social events
Why Apply?
A broad commercial and advisory
in-house
role with real variety
To work closely with an experienced, supportive
General Counsel
A purely legal role, without a compliance workload on the sideVisibility with the CEO and Executive Team
To join an organisation heading into a period of growth
Purpose-led work and flexibility that respects life outside work

📌 Legal Counsel - In-House - 12-Month Contract (New South Wales)
🏢 Dovetail Legal Solutions
📍 New South Wales