Reach Legal Consultant | Government Sector Lawyers | Melbourne

Job Title Reach Legal Consultant | Government Sector Lawyers | Melbourne Location Melbourne Description

Government Lawyers

At Reach we have seen consistent demand from Ashurst Perkins Coie clients seeking lawyers with experience working within the state government sector in Melbourne. If you are a government lawyer with any of the following skills and are either a seasoned consultant/contract lawyer or a lawyer looking to move into a consulting role, get in touch with our Talent Solutions Advisor, Adam Saunders, to find out more.

Sought after Experience & Expertise:

• Demonstrated experience providing legal advice within a government department, statutory authority or public sector organisation
• Experience advising on government procurement matters, including procurement strategies, tender processes, evaluation frameworks and contract management
• Proven ability to draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including goods, services, consultancy, technology and infrastructure contracts
• Experience providing legal support on complex procurement and commercial projects from planning through to implementation
• Front end construction and infrastructure experience, in a government context
• Litigation and dispute management experience, including managing external legal providers, litigation strategy and alternative dispute resolution processes
• Experience advising on contractual disputes, statutory claims, administrative law matters and broader government-related litigation issues
• Ability to provide practical, risk-based legal advice across a diverse range of commercial, procurement and contentious matters
• Strong understanding of public sector governance, accountability, compliance and decision-making frameworks
• Experience preparing legal advice, briefing papers, ministerial responses and governance documentation for senior stakeholders
• Ability to identify and manage legal, regulatory, financial and reputational risks within a government environment
• Experience working closely with operational teams, executives and external stakeholders to support strategic and business objectives
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage effectively with government agencies, regulators, external advisers and service providers
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior legal team members and contributing to capability development
• Ability to manage a high volume of competing priorities while delivering timely and commercially focused legal support
• Legal research, drafting and analytical skills across procurement, property, litigation and general commercial law matters

Attributes:

• Commercial and strategic judgement with the ability to balance legal risk against operational and policy objectives
• Highly organised with excellent time management and prioritisation skills
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex legal and stakeholder issues
• Pragmatic and solutions-focused with a commitment to delivering practical outcomes
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear, concise and influential advice
• Stakeholder management capabilities with the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of an organisation
• Confident operating autonomously while managing multiple matters and competing priorities
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to perform effectively in a dynamic government environment
• Professional and politically astute when dealing with sensitive or high-profile matters
• Collaborative and approachable, with a commitment to supporting colleagues and fostering positive working relationships
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining awareness of broader strategic and organisational objectives
• Sound decision-making capability with the confidence to provide clear recommendations on complex matters
• Proactive and responsive, taking ownership of issues and driving them through to resolution
• Committed to high standards of integrity, accountability and public sector service
• Able to quickly establish credibility and become a trusted adviser to internal clients and stakeholders

Requirements:

• Current Australian practising certificate
• Right to live and work in Australia

About Reach

Reach is the flexible legal resourcing platform of Ashurst Perkins Coie, a global law firm with more than 3,500 legal professionals across 52 offices. Sitting within Advance, the firm's NewLaw division, we place lawyers and professionals where they're needed most — whether our clients need to meet a surge in demand, cover leave, bridge a recruitment gap, or bring in specialist expertise.

Why join Reach?

Reach gives you the flexibility to build a career that fits your life — not the other way around. We work with talented consultants across a broad range of specialties, matching the right people with the right opportunities.

Here's what you can expect as a Reach consultant:

• Flexibility and choice — control over how, when, and where you work, on terms that suit your life.
• A genuine partnership — a dedicated Reach team who will get to know you and actively champion your career goals.
• The backing of a global firm — the resources, reputation, and culture of Ashurst Perkins Coie, including access to clients doing market-leading work and a refreshingly open and inclusive community.

Interested?

Ready to find out more? Apply now or get in touch with Adam Saunders, our Talent Solutions Advisor, at adam.saunders@ashurstperkins.com — we'd love to hear from you.

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