Legal Counsel

• Legal Services Division, based within the Office of the Chief Operating Officer
• Full-time (100%), permanent position in a high performing in-house legal team
• Strong support for your professional development and career growth
• Base salary will be in the range $120,317.28 - $134,892.52 + 17% super (HEW Level 8)
• Based at our vibrant St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

As Legal Counsel, you will be responsible for providing legal advice on a broad range of property and commercial matters including commercial property transactions, strategic projects and commercial contracts. The position also provides legal advice on a wide range of other legal issues affecting UQ.

Working in an in-house environment, this unique career opportunity will allow you to be flexible and available to work across all streams of legal work (depending on client demands, expertise and priorities as directed by the Directors and General Counsel). You will undertake work ranging in complexity and will work with and under the direction of the Directors and other senior lawyers in Legal Services as well as assisting the General Counsel in managing the interests of UQ.

You will join a busy, supportive and collaborative in-house legal team that values professional excellence, sound judgement and frank and fearless advice. Your contribution will help protect UQ’s interests, strengthen decision-making and deliver meaningful outcomes across the University.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Providing high-quality legal advice to senior leaders and key decision-makers across UQ on property, commercial, contractual and other legal matters.
• Drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial agreements and property documents, including sale and purchase contracts, leases, licences, easements, construction and development agreements, tender documents and collaboration agreements.
• Advising on statutory interpretation, governance, administrative law, privacy, confidentiality, financial accountability, policy development and compliance with legal obligations.
• Building trusted stakeholder relationships and contributing to continuous improvement, legal capability, precedent development and the effective management of current and emerging legal risks.

A full position description is available on request by contacting talent@uq.edu.au

About You

• You must be admitted as a Solicitor or Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland and have demonstrated relevant expertise and experience, with a minimum of four years’ post-admission experience preferred.
• You hold, or are eligible to hold upon appointment, a Queensland practising certificate.
• You have extensive experience in property and commercial law, including advising on property transactions, infrastructure or development projects, strategic procurement and complex commercial matters.
• You demonstrate strong legal drafting skills and the ability to analyse and resolve complex issues with sound judgement, commercial acumen and meticulous attention to detail.
• You communicate with influence and possess strong written, interpersonal and negotiation skills, enabling you to work effectively with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders.
• You can manage multiple matters, adjust priorities and deliver accurate, timely advice in a busy environment with changing demands.
• You build productive working relationships and can work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative, inclusive and service-focused legal team.
• You demonstrate integrity, resilience and strategic awareness, with the confidence to provide impartial and forthright advice while recognising when guidance from senior lawyers is required.

An understanding of the legislative framework applying to UQ, or experience acting for a statutory body or government entity, would be advantageous. Experience in information technology law would also be well regarded.

About Legal Services

Led by the General Counsel, UQ Legal Services is responsible for the delivery of legal services to the Vice-Chancellor, executive management, and other key decision makers at UQ to support the achievement of UQ’s strategic objectives while protecting its interests. The General Counsel reports to the Chief Operating Officer and is part of the Chief Operating Officer’s senior management team.

UQ Legal Services has 6 major practice areas comprising: Commercial Advisory and Contracts; Property and Projects; Disputes and Regulatory Law; Workplace Relations; Trusts, Gifts and Work Integrated Learning; and Research and Intellectual Property.

The Legal Services team provides legal advice on a wide range of areas, including:

• commercial and contract law matters;

• property law matters;

• information technology matters;

• dispute resolution and litigation;

• administrative law, including advice to ensure defensible decisions by key decision-makers;

• student disciplinary and appeals matters;

• research misconduct investigations and processes;

• research related contracts and advices;

• governance issues, regulatory issues and statutory interpretation;

• bequests and gifts to UQ;

• intellectual property issues.

You can find more information here about Legal Services at UQ.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, working together to create a better world. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available.

Enjoy up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave, 17% super, 17.5% leave loading, flexible and hybrid working options, health and wellbeing programs, a heavily discounted Study for Staff program, on‑campus childcare, affordable parking, and salary packaging.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Leigh Weyer - l.weyer@uq.edu.au.

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section. Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.

Other Information

Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, professional registration (e.g. QLS + possession of QLD Practising Certificate), criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close 18 October 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-69640). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for the week commencing 26 October 2026.

Acknowledgment of Country:

The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country.

Why Choose UQ?

At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide.

As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million).

Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries.

Career Development and Support:

UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way.

Diverse and Inclusive Community:

UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability.

Join the UQ Community:

Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed. Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work.

For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.