Blacktown City Council

Lawyer

Blacktown City is a growing and thriving city, located halfway between Sydney City and the Blue Mountains. With 435,000 residents, we are the largest and most diverse city in NSW, spread across 54 suburbs. Blacktown City is vibrant, dynamic and multicultural, home to a large First Nations community, and more than 180 different birthplaces and languages.

With $24.8 billion regional economy, Blacktown City is also home to 30,000 businesses. Working at Blacktown City Council provides widespread, exciting professional opportunities. Our Council is leading the transformation of Blacktown City and Western Sydney. We are implementing a vision for a modern city, full of opportunity for our residents and businesses.

Our Council is led by highly skilled and experienced professionals, working with talented and passionate teams across a diverse range of business units. We are delivering high quality, customer-focused services, experiences, and facilities, and leading a program of strategic planning, activity and investment.

Blacktown City Council strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans and people with disabilities.

About the opportunity

Seeking a dynamic legal professional to be a part of the catalytic growth of Blacktown City!

An exciting opportunity exists to join our in-house Corporate Counsel team, work across Council and closely with the Senior Lawyer, Executive Corporate Counsel and our external law partners, as we strive for outcomes that will benefit of our city and community. You will deliver precision at pace, as you work on Land, Planning and Environment, and Compliance matters, with a mix of advice work and court representation for Council. Local Government offers a very broad array of legal matters that you will be exposed to as a key member of this team.

This is a newly created position within the Corporate Counsel structure who are an integral part of the Council organisation, sustaining operations and underpinning the City's transformation. The Corporate Counsel section is known and responsible for delivering high quality, local government specific services and advice, and the service level expectation is high. They work with; all Council staff, Councillors, external solicitors, law enforcement and specialist consultants, developers, Ministers and more, and most importantly; with the residents, investors and business owners across Blacktown City. 

The team is presently undergoing change and expansion, as they shift ways of working. All of this requires the individual in this role to bring their fast intellect, teamwork, energy, emotional intelligence and respect for community.

The type of work and level of daily interaction also requires that the team works predominantly onsite at our offices in the Blacktown CBD, with some work from home also available. You will have the support of a great group of people in your team and across Council, and the guidance of highly experienced senior lawyers. 

The Executive Corporate Counsel is a respected pioneer and leader in the Government sector any keen learner can grow with as you observe and follow direction. During the first six weeks of your onboarding, a project manager and legal team "buddy" will be available to make introductions and help you to ensure a smooth transition. If this resonates with you, please call us for a confidential discussion. 

Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Degree qualification in Law or relevant field
• Admission to practice as a Solicitor in the State of New South Wales
• Current NSW Practicing Certificate or eligibility for NSW Practicing Certificate
• Minimum 1-year post admission experience
• Experience in Court attendance and knowledge of appropriate Court protocol and legal proceedings
• Extensive knowledge in the following areas of law:
  • Contract
  • Property
  • Planning and Environment
  • Local Government.
• Proven ability to assess and interpret information to formulate recommendations and provide specialist advice to enable the organisation to achieve quality outcomes
• Understanding and commitment to ethical practice and acting with probity at all times
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, sound judgement, discretion and confidentiality
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills that build strong, credible relationships and influence persuade or negotiate outcomes that add value to the organisation
• Current class “C” driver’s licence.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated appreciation of the complexity of Local Government, in particular the Local Government Act 1993 and Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979
• Availability to work flexible working hours.

Remuneration and benefits

The salary and conditions of employment are in accordance with Blacktown City Council’s Enterprise Agreement.

• Entry level for this position starts at $2,426.22 per week, plus car allowance of $221.13 per week 
• 35-hour working week
• Opportunity to participate in Council's flextime arrangement
• Employee benefits such as leave entitlements (where applicable), 11.5% employer contribution payable to your nominated superannuation fund, Fitness Passport, gym membership discounts, and social clubs.

Our commitment to safety

Blacktown City Council is committed to safety. We have introduced alcohol and other drug testing at the pre-employment phase, and via a series of random and cause testing.

We are a child safe organisation that supports and promotes the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.

Position description 

Click here to view or download the position description.

  Apply now using our fast and easy-to-use online application process:

1. Have your resume and any other relevant documentation ready to attach. 
2. Have a personal email address ready to use and complete your application without 'logging out' of the system.
3. Review the questions and decide on your responses before commencing your application.

   Best of luck.

Closing date:           Friday 20 June 2025, 11.59 pm    

Contact officer:       Boris Koytz  5300 6000

Internal ref:              BCC2058