- Canberra, Melbourne
- Applications close 13 August
- The salary range for this role is $126,391 - $151,472
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:
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Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
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Investing in science and technology
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Strengthening the resources sector.
The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.
If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.
Please see the APSC’s APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.
About the Anti-Dumping Commission
We are Australia’s international trade remedies authority – the Anti-Dumping Commission. The commission is responsible for undertaking investigations into allegations of unfair practices in international trade and administering Australia’s anti-dumping system. These investigations seek to deliver a level playing field for Australian manufacturers.
The commission is a connected team of professionals with skills and experience spanning investigations, economics, accounting, law, corporate support, market intelligence, stakeholder engagement and data analysis. Collaboration is integral to our work - we work as one, utilising the diverse skills and experience of our staff to achieve best regulatory practice.
Our culture and people are fundamental to what we do. We are an inclusive employer committed to building a diverse, equitable, and vibrant workforce. We offer a range of flexible working arrangements to provide a supportive environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally. Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and our workplace in their own way.
About the Legal team
The Legal Branch, led by the Executive Director, Legal (EDL), is a high performing inhouse legal team with expertise in statutory interpretation, administrative and trade remedies law. The team works collaboratively across all levels – we prioritise risk mitigation, delivery of accurate and considered legal advice, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
In an ever-changing global environment, the Legal Branch is at the forefront of legal developments in international trade and proactively strives to identify innovative solutions to new challenges.
Senior Legal Counsels work independently under limited direction/supervision from the EDL and Principal Legal Counsels. At its core, your role will be the provision of high quality legal advice to the Commissioner of the Anti-Dumping Commission, the senior executive and commission staff on complex matters related to trade remedies law and investigative practice. Your practice will include preparing legal advice on novel or complex questions of statutory interpretation and administrative law, reviewing commission reports, managing the commission’s merits and judicial review matters, contributing to case management meetings and Commissioner briefings, training and mentoring junior staff and initiating and developing policy and practice initiatives. You will be a trusted advisor to your stakeholders, including the executive leadership team.
The commission has a collaborative investigations model where Senior Legal Counsels work as part of commission-wide teams undertaking trade remedies (anti-dumping and subsidies) investigations. You will provide advice throughout the lifespan of an investigation including any subsequent merits and judicial review processes. You will advise the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners on legal risks and take an active role in ensuring that decisions are legally defensible.
As part of a best-practice regulator, you will be informed by developments in foreign jurisdictions and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Drawing on novel issues arising from investigations and other international developments, you will take the initiative to identify practice-related improvements to enhance the commission’s outcomes in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Hear from Hugo, one of our Senior Legal Counsel about the opportunity:
"In my time at the commission, I’ve worked on almost all case types, merits reviews, judicial reviews, and legislative reform processes. The legal counsel role covers almost all aspects of the commission’s functions – on any given day you might be drafting a complex legal advice, attending meetings with a case team on an active case, or briefing the Commissioner on a legal question. The engagement with external stakeholders is also a unique part of working at the commission – one day you could be attending the manufacturing facility of an Australian manufacturer, and another day in a meeting with other international trade remedies authorities. The commission offers a lot of interesting legal work since we operate within a distinct legislative scheme and the international law framework to which that legislative scheme gives effect. As a senior legal counsel in a fairly small legal team, you are afforded a good deal of autonomy and responsibility. The team is also very open to discussion and sharing ideas so we are able to learn from each other in a collaborative and supporting environment."
In order to succeed, you will have:
- A minimum of 2-3 years post-admission experience.
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Demonstrated experience in administrative law and decision making, statutory interpretation, and/or regulatory law.
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Ability to deliver advice that is client-focused, solutions-oriented, and evidence-based. You will identify legal risks and develop legally compliant options for managing those risks consistent with the commission’s strategic objectives.
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Highly developed collaboration and advocacy skills, including the ability to negotiate, liaise and influence colleagues and stakeholders, including those from a non-legal background.
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Well-developed planning and organisational skills.
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High standards of professional and personal integrity.
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Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of, Australia’s anti-dumping legislation (Part XVB of the Customs Act 1901) and Australia’s obligations under the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.
Prior legal advisor or litigation experience in areas such as statutory interpretation, international trade, administrative/public law, or commercial/competition law will be highly regarded.
Our department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work. This reflects the importance we place on our people and on creating a workplace culture where each and every one of us is valued and respected for our contribution. Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and our workplace in their own way.
Senior Legal Counsels:
- Provide specialised, solutions-based legal advice and counsel in relation to the statutory framework and investigation practices. You will advise case, data, policy and quality assurance teams to identify legal risk and help decision-makers evaluate risks.
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Influence decision makers by providing effective and legally sound advice verbally and in writing.
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Draft submissions for merit review proceedings, attend conferences with Anti-Dumping Review Panel (ADRP), and provide strategic and technical support in judicial review matters.
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Provide up to date advice through monitoring developments in the ADRP, the Federal Court of Australia, and the WTO.
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Deliver training to commission staff on legal developments including on related investigatory matters such as confidentiality.
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Instruct external lawyers as required.
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Liaise with the Department’s legal teams on Information and Commercial Law matters.
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Engage with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Border Force on international and domestic obligations relating to the anti-dumping system.
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Identify opportunities for continuous practice, policy and operational improvement, aligned to the commission’s strategic direction.
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Provide input to develop legislation and implement reforms.
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Mentor and supervise more junior lawyers and paralegals.
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Actively contribute to a positive, productive, and collaborative team environment across the commission.
Senior Legal Counsels perform the role and manage their workload in a manner consistent with the APS Values and Code of Conduct and internal Anti-Dumping Commission procedures.
Please refer to the APSC Work level standards: APS Level and Executive Level classifications for general information about the role of an EL1 In the Australian public service.
Tertiary qualifications in the field of law and admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia are required for this role.
To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.
Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
The department does currently offer flexible work opportunities for many roles. This vacancy is based in Melbourne, Victoria (preferred) or Canberra, ACT, although flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.
Interviews - August 2026
Interviews will take place from the week commencing 24 August 2026.
A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette.
Your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your application responses, CV and any other documents. The selection panel may not consider applications containing classified information.
Please provide a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role and why you are the best candidate for the position. Your pitch can contain no more than 750 words and should align to the key duties listed above.
You may use AI tools to support your application. However, all content must be accurate, authentic, and reflect your own capability in line with APS merit principles. For further guidance, please refer to the APSC’s Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment.
Please complete your application online and provide your current CV with your application. (CVs must be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format).
Accessible application documentation is available in other formats on request. Please contact [email protected] or (02) 6276 1235 if you require assistance with your application.
Please refer to our Applying for a position information for additional information on how to apply.
For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact Jeremy Shelley via email on [email protected]
