The National EPA is Australia’s national environmental regulator. We deliver transparent, timely, and evidence-based environmental regulation. The agency was established on 1 July 2026, bringing together regulatory functions of Australia’s national environmental laws into one independent agency. The Corporate Division provides the foundational services, advice and assurance that enable the National EPA to operate effectively and achieve its objectives. Its responsibilities include finance, legal, people and culture, communications, governance, risk and compliance, procurement, property and business support. Through strategic advice, operational support and effective corporate oversight, the division helps ensure that the agency is accountable, sustainable and equipped to meet the needs of its people, stakeholders and the Australian community

The Legal Branch is led by the General Counsel and is comprised of both lawyers and non-lawyers. Together we are responsible for legal services required by the National EPA. We partner with the business areas of the agency to identify and manage legal risk across the agency and facilitate excellent legal outcomes for our clients. As a member of the Legal Branch, you will be involved in interesting and important work which may span workplace protection and regulation. The Legal Branch operates in a fast paced, exciting environment. We focus on ensuring our staff are supported and developed so that they are in the best position to take on and enjoy the challenges of the work. We provide competitive conditions and remuneration and provide opportunities for lawyers and non-lawyers to either specialise or diversify their skills, while learning from and being supported by highly skilled senior staff. Work across the Legal Branch includes:

• Advising on commercial matters including procurements, privacy and information law, and delegations.

• Advising on a broad range of issues including statutory interpretation and administrative law, regulatory actions and investigations.

• Managing the agency’s litigation across a broad range of matters including merits review, judicial review, regulatory enforcement, commercial disputes in a range of Courts and Tribunals.

• Developing legal risk and mitigation strategies, particularly in areas of novel or complex work

• Developing legal guidance resources and policies and delivering training to the agency

• Coordinating freedom of information requests and providing privacy and secrecy advice

• Providing administrative and financial support services to the Legal Branch.

As a Senior Legal Officer, you will provide high-quality legal services in an in-house environment, including legal research, analysis and problem-solving advice.



These positions support the leadership of the Branch and you will assist with driving the vision and direction as set out by the Principal Legal Officer and the Senior Executive. You will be responsible for motivating, mentoring and, supervising Legal Officers in your team to deliver on initiatives and goals whilst striving to create an inclusive, responsive and effective environment. If you enjoy a challenge and want to work in a team in a fast-paced and exciting legal environment, then this is the role for you. A merit pool will be established for future opportunities. Our current priority needs are in the Environment Advising team. However, we anticipate opportunities arising across our teams.

The Corporate Advising team provides legal advice and services in relation to:

• Hazardous Waste

• Recycling and Waste Reduction

• Ozone

• Product Emissions Standards

• Commercial matters

• Discretionary claims

• Privacy and information law

• Integrity (NACC, Ombudsman)

• Corporate advising

• Freedom of Information requests Dispute Resolution

The Dispute Resolution team is responsible for managing litigation proceedings and processes relating to

• Judicial review proceedings and civil penalty proceedings

• Advising on the Agency’s compliance and enforcement functions and powers, warrants, infringement notices, civil penalties and criminal matters

• Managing the Agency's response to summonses, subpoenas and notices

• Providing witness support.

The Environment Advising team provides statutory interpretation, administrative law and other legal advice in relation to:

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), including

- Assessments and approvals under Part 7-9 of the EPBC Act
- Strategic assessments under Part 10 of the EPBC Act
- Bilateral agreements o Wildlife Trade
- Reforms under the Environment Protection Reform Act 2025

• Setting Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981

For more information about us please visit our website.

The key duties of the position include:

Senior Legal Officers play an important role in the Legal Branch.

In this role you will:

• Use your technical legal expertise to provide clear, concise, and practical legal advice that meets the needs of the client





• Work on complex and sensitive matters with a significant degree of autonomy

• Work in a team within the Branch which specialises in a particular area of law, or which services a particular area of the agency

• Ensure knowledge of and compliance with legislative, financial and administrative frameworks, government decision-making processes and agency guidelines and regulations

• Work with client areas to understand their business and be their main point of contact for their legal needs

• Settle routine and moderately complex work prepared by other lawyers

• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers where appropriate

• Help identify where external advice is required and prepare documentation seeking quotes and engaging external legal providers

• Assist the Principal Legal Officer with management of the team by making suggestions, contributing to team discussions, and identifying areas for innovation

• Contribute to the positive culture in the Legal Branch

Mandatory qualifications

Bachelor of Laws and admission to practice in Australia

Eligibility

Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the National Environmental Protection Agency you must be an Australian citizen.

Security Clearance - this position requires a Baseline Vetting security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Mandatory qualifications – your suitability for employment will be dependent on you holding relevant mandatory qualifications.

Pre-employment checks - your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period.

Notes

For detailed information about the job-specific capabilities for this role, please view the Job Description which can be downloaded from the relevant job posting on our website - the Apply Now link will take you there.

Getting to know the National Environmental Protection Agency

We are Australia’s national environmental regulator and were established on 1 July 2026. The National EPA brings together regulatory functions of Australia’s national environmental laws into one independent agency. This includes the assessment and approvals functions of the updated Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). We deliver transparent, timely, and evidence-based environmental regulation. We are a non-corporate Commonwealth entity lead by a Chief Executive Officer and part of the environment portfolio of the Australian Government.

📌 Senior Legal Officer (Perth)
🏢 National Environmental Protection Agency
📍 Perth