- Do you want to work at an agency where each day reveals new opportunities to work on some of the biggest issues facing consumers and businesses and have opportunities to pursue new and exciting pathways?
- Do you want to work at a place where smart and dedicated people from all walks of life collaborate to work on meaningful matters?
- Do you want to be part of a team that is the in-house provider of specialist services like legal and economic services across the ACCC.
Then this is the place for you! At the ACCC, we’re proud of the impact we can make together. We understand the responsibilities and challenges that come with a fast moving and ever-changing environment. Our high performing culture is built on a foundation of care, support and inclusion. It’s why we’re driven by connection and collaboration, sharing our skills, knowledge and support with each other freely and frequently. It’s why we prioritise the wellbeing of our people and empower them to work autonomously, flexibly and courageously. At the ACCC, we believe the best version of you is the one that’s true to who you are – and that’s the you we want working alongside us.
We value flexibility, and all roles can be performed from any capital city in a state or territory or Townsville and are available on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis.
Applicants from diverse backgrounds including First Nations peoples, people with disability and those from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
What you will do as the Principal Lawyer
It is an exciting time to join the ACCC’s legal function – with plenty of new and complex legal frameworks to help implement such as the new merger regime and the world-leading scams prevention framework.
There are currently multiple ongoing and non-ongoing positions available in the ACCC’s legal units, although positions at the Principal Lawyer level may only be offered in one or more legal units listed below as operational needs arise:
- Competition and Consumer Law Unit (CCLU) supports the Competition Division; Consumer and Fair Trading Division, and enforcement activities of other divisions such as Consumer Product Safety Division.
- Mergers and Exemptions Law Unit (MELU) supports the Mergers and Exemptions Assessment Division.
- Regulatory Law Unit (RLU) supports the Infrastructure Division; Digital ID Division; Scams Prevention and Digital Markets Division and the Consumer Data Right Division.
- Corporate Law Unit (CLU) supports the Corporate Division; Consumer Product Safety Division (non-enforcement); National Anti-Scams Centre; as well as whole-of-agency corporate governance, integrity, employment, privacy, intellectual property, procurement, and Freedom of Information matters.
- Legal Counsel Unit provides support across Divisions on matters of highest significance.
As the Principal Lawyer, you will:
- Conduct legal and related research into complex matters relevant to ACCC responsibilities under relevant legislation.
- Provide strategic legal advice on the ACCC’s functions and powers under relevant legislation (including the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, the Telecommunications Act 1997, the Digital ID Act 2024, the Water Act 2007).
- Assist with the conduct of investigations, manage Court and Tribunal proceedings involving the ACCC, and provide assistance to the ACCC in the performance of the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement functions.
- Develop and maintain professional relationships at all levels within the ACCC to assist the Legal Group to provide responsive client service.
- Assist the Managing Principal Lawyers and Deputy General Counsel, as required.
About you
In order to succeed in the role, this role in particular requires:
- Admission as a practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory, or the ability to become so admitted before commencing in the role.
- Substantial post-admission legal experience (typically 10 years +) as a legal practitioner in the following areas relevant to the functions of the ACCC, and the role you are applying for:
- CCLU - Competition and consumer law enforcement functions and litigation
- MELU - Merger assessment and exemption administrative decisions, competition law and litigation
- RLU - Administrative decision-making, regulatory, digital, competition, consumer or enforcement matters
- CLU - Corporate law, corporate governance, employment, privacy, intellectual property
- Note: experience of all areas is not required, but candidates must have a willingness to work across a range of matters.
- The ability to work collaboratively and build stakeholder relationships in a complex environment.
- Highly effective and persuasive communication skills, including ability to confidently handle legal questions without notice and deliver complex legal advice clearly to a range of audiences.
- Direct experience providing strategic legal advice to, or at a senior level within, large or complex organisations will be highly regarded.
How to apply
You’ll be asked to upload your resume (maximum 2 pages) and submit a statement of claims that is no more than 500 words.
Salary: Lawyer 2 (EL2) $168,148 - $178,224 (plus 15.4% superannuation)
Contact Officer: Helen Anness, 03 9290 1496
Applications Close: 11:00pm (AEST), Sunday 2 August 2026
