Are you ready to take on a pivotal role that shapes the future of regulatory operations in NSW? The Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory position at the Department of Customer Service offers a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic legal team and influence key legislative developments.
Now is the perfect time to step into this high-impact role. With the NSW government focusing on digital transformation and regulatory reform, your expertise will be crucial in driving these initiatives forward.
For more insights, check out the Unofficial Guide to Mastering NSW Government Recruitment and start drafting your application with the free NSW cover-letter template.
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Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory Salary and Overview
| Position Title | Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory |
| Organisation / Entity | Department of Customer Service |
| Location | Sydney Region / Sydney City |
| Work Type | Full-Time |
| Base Pay | AUD $231,159.00 to $255,262.00 per year |
| Closing Date | 18/07/2025 – 10:00 AM |
About the Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory role at Department of Customer Service
The Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory is a senior leadership role within the Department of Customer Service, responsible for providing strategic legal advice to a variety of regulators. This role is pivotal in influencing regulatory operations and legislative development across key agencies such as NSW Fair Trading, the Building Commission NSW, and SafeWork NSW. As the head of the advisory legal team, you will be tasked with delivering expert legal services that align with the agency’s strategic, operational, and legislative priorities.
Your responsibilities will include delivering strategic legal advice on complex legislative, regulatory, and policy matters, leading a high-performing legal team, and overseeing legal input into cabinet submissions and legislative amendments. You will also provide guidance on statutory interpretation, administrative law, and legal frameworks, supporting the development of legislative reform through Parliament. This role requires a senior legal professional with proven experience in leading new functions, inspiring teams, and providing strategic advice on complex legal issues.
Why Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory Is a Great Opportunity
Stepping into the role of Assistant General Counsel, Regulatory Advisory is a unique opportunity for a highly experienced private sector lawyer to transition into a senior leadership position within the NSW Government.
This role offers:
- A highly competitive salary package ranging from $231,159 to $255,262 per year, reflective of the seniority and influence of the position.
- Ongoing employment with strong potential for long-term career growth and progression within the public sector.
- Hybrid working arrangements, combining flexible work options with a central Sydney CBD office location.
- Strategic influence over critical legislative and regulatory reform across NSW, shaping policy and governance outcomes.
- The opportunity to lead and mentor a team of expert legal professionals delivering high-impact regulatory advice.
This is an ideal move for a seasoned legal advisor ready to apply their private sector expertise in a purpose-driven, high-impact government setting.
Application Requirements for Assistant General Counsel with DCS
Application Process
Before you begin your application, make sure you have the following documents ready:
- An up-to-date CV that clearly outlines your relevant skills, experience, and career achievements.
- A cover letter is not mandatory, but highly recommended for a strong application.
Even when not required, a concise and well-targeted cover letter can give you an edge. It’s your chance to frame your experience and highlight how your background aligns with the needs of this senior legal advisory role.
If you choose to include a cover letter, keep it short—one page is ideal. Done well, it’s likely to be read and may make all the difference in positioning you as the ideal candidate.
Check out the tips below for what to focus on, and refer to the example letter provided to guide your own.
What to Include in Your Government Cover Letter
Use your cover letter to provide practical, high-impact examples of how you’ve applied your legal expertise in complex environments—and how that translates to delivering strategic, high-quality advice in a government regulatory context.
To make your application stand out, consider addressing the following areas:
- Leadership experience, especially where you’ve established a new function or successfully led and inspired a high-performing team of legal professionals.
- Deep expertise in statutory interpretation and administrative law, demonstrating your ability to navigate complex legal frameworks.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, particularly in high-pressure or politically sensitive environments.
- Strategic legal advisory capabilities, including examples of advising senior executives or boards on multifaceted legal issues.
- Experience advising regulators is highly regarded—if you’ve supported regulatory functions or worked closely with oversight bodies, be sure to highlight it.
A concise, well-structured cover letter can give important context to your CV and position you as the right fit for this influential role.
Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory Application Checklist
| ✅ | Read the full job ad — open the listing on I Work for NSW |
| ✅ | Draft with the free template — use the NSW Government cover letter template |
| ✅ | Use the STAR method — follow the STAR method guide to structure examples |
| ✅ | Really want this role? — get a $39 Cover Letter Review |
| ✅ | Submit & prep for interview — apply by 18/07/2025 and book an interview prep session |
Candidate Profile — Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory
Lucia is a seasoned legal professional with over 15 years’ experience in administrative law, regulatory compliance, and government advisory. As a Special Counsel at a leading commercial law firm, she has built a strong reputation for advising state and federal agencies on matters involving statutory interpretation, procedural fairness, and regulatory enforcement. Her work has frequently involved drafting and reviewing legislative instruments, preparing advice for government inquiries, and acting in complex judicial review proceedings in the Federal and Supreme Courts.
Lucia has led multi-disciplinary teams on high-profile matters involving public interest and political sensitivity. She has advised regulators such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the NSW Ombudsman, and professional registration boards on the legal implications of policy decisions and regulatory action. With a calm and strategic leadership style, she is often called upon to manage urgent legal matters requiring collaboration across internal and external stakeholders, including Ministers’ offices and departmental legal units.
Now seeking a move into the public sector, Lucia is motivated by the opportunity to contribute more directly to legislative development and regulatory reform in NSW. She is particularly drawn to the Assistant General Counsel, Regulatory Advisory role because of its influence over key agencies such as SafeWork NSW and NSW Fair Trading. With a strong foundation in administrative law, a proven record of high-level legal advisory work, and a passion for serving the public interest, Lucia is ready to bring her private sector experience to a senior leadership role within government.
Example Cover Letter — Assistant General Counsel
Dear Panel Members,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the role of Assistant General Counsel, Regulatory Advisory within the Department of Customer Service. With over 15 years of experience in administrative law, statutory interpretation, and government advisory, I have consistently delivered high-level legal advice on complex matters to regulators, Ministers, and senior executives. I am drawn to this opportunity for its significant role in shaping regulatory outcomes and legislative reform across NSW. I am confident that my leadership capability, deep public law expertise, and stakeholder management skills align closely with the needs of this position.
In my previous role as Special Counsel at Brightmore Legal, I was tasked with establishing a new Public Sector Advisory team in response to a growing portfolio of work with regulatory clients. (Situation) I recruited and onboarded a multidisciplinary team of seven legal professionals with diverse expertise across administrative and commercial law. (Task) To ensure a consistent standard of service delivery, I implemented a knowledge-sharing framework, initiated a regular client roundtable program, and introduced structured mentoring for junior lawyers. I also led the team in advising on a high-stakes project for a national regulator undergoing structural reform. (Action) Within 18 months, our team was recognised as a key player in the government advisory space, with client satisfaction scores improving by 35%, and multiple team members earning internal promotions due to strong performance. (Result) This experience strengthened my belief in cultivating high-performing teams through clarity of purpose, capability-building, and strategic leadership.
Another example that demonstrates my statutory interpretation expertise and stakeholder engagement skills involved advising a state-based health regulator on the legal risks associated with a proposed change to its investigative powers. (Situation) The client sought urgent advice on the legislative boundaries of its jurisdiction and whether the proposed regulatory action was legally sustainable. (Task) I led a small advisory team to undertake a rapid analysis of the governing legislation, relevant precedent, and statutory interpretation principles. I then facilitated a series of stakeholder briefings, including with the regulator’s legal team, policy leads, and representatives from the Minister’s office, ensuring alignment before final advice was delivered. (Action) Our advice not only resolved immediate risk concerns but also prompted a broader legislative review, leading to amendments introduced to Parliament six months later. (Result) This work showcased my ability to provide clear, authoritative advice on complex legal frameworks under pressure and to engage confidently with stakeholders across the policy–legal interface.
This role presents an exciting opportunity to bring my private sector experience into a leadership role that directly influences regulatory practice and legal reform in NSW. I would welcome the chance to contribute my skills and leadership to the Department of Customer Service, supporting agencies such as NSW Fair Trading and SafeWork NSW in advancing their regulatory priorities.
Thank you for considering my application.
Yours sincerely,
Lucia
How to Use the STAR Method in Your Assistant General Counsel Application
When applying for senior government roles like the Assistant General Counsel, Regulatory Advisory, it’s critical that you structure your examples using the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result. This approach helps you present complex work clearly and concisely, showing exactly what you did and what impact it had.
In your written application—especially in your cover letter—you should aim to include at least one or two STAR-based examples that show how your experience aligns with key requirements of the role.
Take the example from Lucia’s cover letter, where she led a newly formed Public Sector Advisory team:
Situation: Tasked with establishing a new team to serve government clients.
Task: Recruit and lead a multidisciplinary team while improving service standards.
Action: Introduced mentoring, roundtables, and frameworks for legal consistency.
Result: Team achieved a 35% increase in client satisfaction and internal promotions within 18 months.
This STAR story clearly addresses leadership, strategic thinking, and team performance—exactly the qualities this role is looking for.
Preparing for Your Government Interview for the Role of Assistant General Counsel
Once shortlisted, you’ll be interviewed by a highly experienced panel that will ask you a series of capability-based questions. These interviews are structured and rigorous, focusing on your ability to lead, influence, and provide strategic legal advice at the executive level. To stand out, you’ll need to prepare clear STAR method examples for a wide range of scenarios.
If you’re serious about securing a role like this, professional interview practice is essential. A practice session simulates the real experience—complete with difficult, role-specific questions and expert feedback to refine your responses. You’ll get a feel for the pace, tone, and expectations of a senior NSW Government interview, and walk away with a set of refined, powerful examples ready to use.
I strongly recommend booking a government practice interview session now. It’s one of the most effective ways to gain confidence, reduce nerves, and perform at your best when it counts. For many candidates, it ends up being the best investment they make in their career progression.
Get Your Assistant General Counsel, Regulator Advisory Application Ready Now
Make sure your application stands out with a $39 Cover Letter Review. It’s a simple, high-impact process:
- Send me your draft—even if it’s rough.
- I’ll align it with the role’s key requirements, strengthen your examples, and improve clarity, structure, and tone.
- You’ll get back a polished, professional letter—with clear suggestions on where you can add detail or improve impact.
If you’re aiming for a senior legal role like this, don’t leave it to chance. Let’s get your letter right.
