Principal Solicitor

**Type**: Fixed TermHours: Full timeLocation: WellingtonBusiness Group: Technology Services and SolutionsBranch: Maori, Strategy and PerformanceSalary: $140,080 - $189,400
Principal solicitor role to work on high-profile legislative projects
Who are we?
Working at the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of New Zealanders.
DIA's Legal Services Team sits in the Te Urungi - Maōri, Strategy and Performance Branch. It is a small branch with a big job - providing direction, oversight and leadership across the department around te Tiriti settlements and relationships with iwi, risk assurance, project governance, legal, communications and strategic planning.
What is the role?
This role is for a Principal Solicitor reporting directly to the Chief Legal Advisor. It is a fixed term role or a secondment opportunity for a period of 18 months.
**In this role you will**:

- Provide a technical leadership and mentoring role in relation to multiple policy and legislative projects of different sizes and complexity; and
- Work with the Manager of the Legal Services Policy and Regulatory team to support advice on legislative design and practice;
- Take the lead in supporting the development and implementation of legislation to achieve the Government's Local Water Done Well policy;
- Build effective and robust professional relationships with clients and external stakeholders;
- Share knowledge and experience with others on the team and clients through mentoring and coaching;
What are we looking for from you?
**We are looking for someone who**:

- has solid legislative development experience and understands the challenge and time pressures that come with these types of projects;
- has experience in advising on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to supporting He Whāinga Amorangi (Crown-Māori capability framework), DIA's Te Aka Taiwhenua Strategy and te reo Māori
- is capable of switching between being a high-level policy thinker and being detail-focused reviewer of legislation;
- is excited about working alongside policy teams helping to design quality legislation and support legislation to progress through Parliament;
- is passionate about mentoring and sharing their knowledge and expertise with others;
- is a qualified barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand;
- has a current practicing certificate or the ability to hold one.

What's in it for you?
**In this role you**:

- can have a flexible working arrangement;
- will enjoy meaningful work with a lot of variety;
- will have a great deal of autonomy while having access to support and development opportunities;
- will work with a tight-knit team of lawyers who are passionate about their work but also like to have a good laugh
- will have opportunities to speak and learn te reo Māori and connect with tuakana Māori in our Te Urungi Branch and through Te Tari Taiwhenua's tangata whenua network

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We recognise a diverse workforce contributes to better business outcomes. We are committed to creating a workplace where all employees have equal access.