Principal Legal Officer

Role Overview

The Principal Legal Officer is entrusted with delivering expert legal services and representing the Health Ombudsman in complex litigation matters. This role handles urgent and intricate legal issues, mentors junior legal staff, and supports the Legal Services Division Directors with team management.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert, timely written and verbal legal counsel to the Health Ombudsman and various divisions within the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO), addressing a wide spectrum of complex legal topics including statutory interpretation, confidentiality, human rights, crime and corruption, public interest disclosures, administrative law, evidence law, criminal law, hospital and health law, and contract law.
• Conduct litigation relating to disciplinary proceedings by drafting referrals, evaluating evidence, negotiating with legal counsel for practitioners, and preparing thoroughly for hearings.
• Carry out additional legal actions as directed, encompassing prosecutions on behalf of the Health Ombudsman.
• Oversee court caseloads by ensuring compliance with court orders, timelines, and directions, as well as preparing for and participating in directions hearings.

Additional Information

• Applications remain valid for up to 12 months and candidates may be considered for similar vacancies within this period.
• Appointments require successful completion of criminal history checks under section 52 of the Public Sector Act 2022.
• State employees must disclose any prior serious disciplinary actions following section 71 of the Public Sector Act 2022.
• All staff must declare any actual or perceived conflicts of interest pursuant to sections 89, 182, or 183 of the Public Sector Act 2022.
• Applications should be submitted online using the official application process; documents must be in Microsoft Word or PDF format, not zipped files.

Occupational Group

Justice & Legal