Assistant Parliamentary Counsel

Parliamentary Counsel's Office

Assistant Parliamentary Counsel

Ongoing Legal Officer Grade VI role, Sydney CBD and creation of a talent pool

About the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office (PCO)

The NSW Parliamentary Counsel’s Office (PCO) is a Public Service executive agency related to The Cabinet Office. PCO is responsible for drafting and ensuring open access to NSW legislation, as well as providing authoritative legislative advice and information to government, Parliament and the public.

Our work ensures the laws of NSW are clear, effective and accessible, supporting government, Parliament and the people of New South Wales.

Why work with us?

At PCO, you will join a highly professional, collaborative and purpose‑driven organisation where you can see your work make a real contribution to the integrity, reliability and accessibility of NSW legislation.

We offer:

• Meaningful impact – support the systems that underpin the drafting and publication of NSW laws.
• Development and experience – exposure to complex, high‑priority ICT environments with visibility across the organisation, sector and state.
• Small and supportive culture – as a small executive agency, we value collaboration, integrity and public service excellence.

About the role

The Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (Grade VI) undertakes complex legislative drafting and provides expert advice on legislative proposals within strict parliamentary and government timeframes.

Working with a high degree of independence under the guidance of senior executive drafters, you will contribute to legislative drafting programs by analysing proposals, developing legislative solutions and producing high‑quality Bills and subordinate legislation that are clear, accurate and expressed in plain language.

We are seeking an Assistant Parliamentary Counsel to specifically support our legislative drafting program as part of the Planning Team, a dedicated team that works closely with key planning stakeholders, including the Department of Planning and Environment, to draft, edit and publish environmental planning instruments. As an Assistant Parliamentary Counsel in the Planning Team, you will provide legal advice in relation to the drafting of a range of planning instruments, including Local Environmental Plans, State Environmental Planning Policies, and regulations and orders under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Review the role description here.

If possible, we will also be seeking to create a talent pool for other possible Assistant Parliamentary Counsel roles that may be available. Information on talent pools is available here.

Key responsibilities include:

• Undertaking complex drafting projects, including Bills and more complex subordinate legislation and environmental planning instruments.
• Advising on the legality, feasibility and interpretation of proposed legislation and legislative instruments.
• Conducting detailed legal research and critical analysis to support legislative drafting work.
• Participating in internal quality control processes by reviewing and commenting on draft legislation.
• Supervising and mentoring other drafters, providing guidance, feedback and professional development support.
• Assisting with office‑wide and drafting projects as required.

Key skills and experience:

We are looking for someone who understands the importance of providing public access to legislation and enjoys working with policy teams to draft clear and accessible legislative instruments. Our ideal candidate is keen to work as part of a focused team of drafters and editorial officers where their excellent communication skills and ability to manage competing deadlines will contribute to the Planning Team’s delivery of high-quality planning instruments that achieve required policy outcomes in accordance with stakeholder priorities.    

Essential requirements include:

• Admitted or eligible for admission in Australia as an Australian legal practitioner and holding a practising certificate as a barrister or solicitor.
• A detailed knowledge of NSW law, constitutional law, and parliamentary and legislative processes.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, policy implementation skills, effective writing skills and an eye for detail.
• Extensive experience in the techniques and processes for the drafting of legislation and the translation and application of legislative proposals.

Location & flexibility

This position is primarily based in Sydney CBD, with flexible working arrangements available in accordance with NSW Public Sector guidelines.

How to apply

Please submit:

• A cover letter (up to 2 pages) outlining how your skills and experience align with the role’s key requirements and essential criteria.
• Responses to the 2 below screening questions (up to 2 pages)

1. Describe a drafting project (or similar) for which you have been responsible in the past 12 months, including the challenges it presented and how you dealt with those challenges.
2. Describe a situation in which you found yourself having to deal with competing deadlines or priorities on a legal project, and how you dealt with those challenges.

• Your resume (maximum 5 pages).

Closing date: 13 May 2026

Candidates may request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let us know in your application if you require adjustments or alternative formats to participate or if there is anything we can do to assist, please contact us.

Contact

For more information, please contact Daniel Palmer, Director, Corporate Services and Operations by email at hr.pco@pco.nsw.gov.au. The hiring manager is Russell Schmidt, Deputy Parliamentary Counsel.

Our commitment

PCO acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and recognise the continuing connection of First Nations peoples to Country.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disability, carers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.