Legal Assistants and Senior Legal Assistants

Legal Assistant (APS Level 4) and Senior Legal Assistant (APS Level 5)

Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney

Full-time, ongoing (non-ongoing positions may be offered)

The Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) is seeking expressions of interest from Legal Assistants and Senior Legal Assistants to join our legal support teams. If you are interested in progressing your career in legal administration, please consider the role descriptions available on our recruitment portal and apply.

About us

AGS is the Australian Government’s central legal practice and part of the Attorney-General’s Department. AGS helps Commonwealth clients to manage legal issues, navigate new challenges and find solutions which deliver the best outcomes for Australia. We are a self-funded legal practice and compete for our work.

AGS is unique. AGS is dedicated to the national interest and is a trusted advisor to Government. It is a center of excellence and expertise in areas of law of importance to the Commonwealth and in managing complex, systemic and precedential issues for the Commonwealth.

AGS is innovative. Drawing on an exceptional depth of experience and expertise, we assist the Australian Government in the development and implementation of solutions to legal issues that have national importance.

AGS is diverse. With offices in every capital city and a team of 800 staff, including over 576 lawyers, we work in more than 40 different areas of law related to government.

About the roles

We are seeking candidates who are looking to further develop their careers in legal administration and who demonstrate a strong work ethic, attention to detail and a commitment to providing high quality administrative support to lawyers. Fundamentally, these roles require the ability to work as part of a team and deliver professional administrative services in a fast-paced legal environment.

These roles are offered at the APS4 and APS5 classifications. While both roles perform similar core functions, the APS5 role requires a higher level of autonomy, responsibility for more complex work, and a demonstrated ability to support team capability, mentor staff and contribute to continuous improvement.

As a member of our Legal Support team, you will:

provide high quality legal and administrative support, taking an active role in assisting our lawyers to deliver a high standard of legal services to our clients

maintain legal files and assist with client enquiries

manage lawyers’ diaries and travel

assist with client billing and reporting, ensuring that administrative procedures align with AGS requirements

assist to prepare, and in some cases draft, documents relevant to your role and send these to clients, courts, tribunals or other bodies

have a proven ability to work well in a team.

At the APS5 level, you will also be expected to take on more complex work with greater independence, assist with the coordination of the legal support team, mentor and support junior staff, identify opportunities to improve processes and act as a role model within the team.

Please refer to the role descriptions below for duties and responsibilities of the roles.

To be successful in these roles you will have:

administrative experience relevant to the role, generally 2 or more years for APS Level 4 and 3 or more years for APS Level 5 in a legal or similar professional environment

interest and experience in legal administrative roles, good attention to detail and a professional approach, including the ability to manage multiple tasks with accuracy

a genuine commitment and ability to deliver high quality client service

well-developed written and oral communication skills

good knowledge of common software applications (e.g. Word, Outlook, Adobe), and technical skills in Microsoft Office and PowerPoint; experience in legal practice software systems would be an advantage

a team-oriented mindset with the ability to collaborate effectively and contribute to the success of the team

a genuine interest in developing your administrative skills further, with a focus on learning and improving processes as you grow within the role.

You will work with a community of professionals dedicated to the national interest. You will work collaboratively in an inclusive environment where everyone’s contribution is valued, and success is rewarded. We offer our employees commercially competitive remuneration packages, including 15.4% superannuation.

AGS is a supportive organisation which embraces diversity. We understand that work is only part of your life and, while our work can be demanding at times, we also provide access to a range of flexible working options, generous leave entitlements and wellbeing benefits to support your needs throughout your career.

To apply

To apply you must be an Australian Citizen and be willing to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the appropriate level.

To apply, please click the ‘Begin’ button. Applications close at 5:00pm (AEST) on Sunday, 26 July 2026.

You will need to include your CV and a covering letter (both no more than 2 pages) indicating relevant experience with reference to the required skills and experience for the role.

Further enquiries

Further information can be obtained by contacting Melanie Waddell, National Coordinator Dispute Resolution on 07 3360 5695.

Role Description - Legal Assistant (APS 4) Opens in new window