Deputy Chief Legal Counsel

Deputy Chief Legal Counsel at NZ Ministry of Justice, Wellington City

Te Haeata/The Opportunity We are seeking a Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to lead the Ministry's Legal Advice Team within the Office of Legal Counsel at Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice. Duties and responsibilities include:

• Professional leadership and management of the Legal Advice Team.
• Leading and overseeing trusted legal advice across the Ministry, and to Ministers.
• Maintaining and developing strong legal advice capability within the Ministry.
• Managing relationships with senior managers across the Ministry, identifying and driving team priorities, and ensuring alignment with the broader initiatives and needs of the Ministry.

You will also provide strategic support to the Chief Legal Counsel, including acting up into that role when required. To be successful, you will:

• Show extensive experience of providing specialist legal advice, at senior levels.
• Understand how to lead, guide, and motivate a legal team.
• Appreciate how to lead and advise in a public sector context.
• Display a deep contextual knowledge of the constitutional principles and legal processes that underpin our government and justice system.

At Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to strengthening people's trust in the law of Aotearoa, New Zealand. The Ministry's Legal Advice Team provides a broad range of specialist public law and commercial law advice across all areas of Ministry of Justice operations. We give legal advice about functions, powers, and duties relating to the Ministry's administration of and support for courts and tribunals, as well as other legal services provided by the Ministry. We advise on the Ministry's procurement, contracting, property, ICT, and other commercial activities. We oversee litigation and disputes that involve the Ministry or judicial officers. Our work often touches on constitutional and administrative law, information law, employment law, Crown-Māori legal issues, and civil and criminal procedure. Our team is responsible for advising Ministers on compensation claims for wrongful conviction and imprisonment, extradition requests, and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions. To apply, click the Apply button below to be directed to our Careers Website. You can view a detailed position description here, as well as complete an online application form by attaching your CV and cover letter. Applications close on 23 February 2025; however, we will be reviewing CVs as they come in and inviting successful candidates to interview before the close date. If you have any questions, please contact Graham.Lees@justice.govt.nz . #J-18808-Ljbffr