MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has established its own legal services team.
Its search for team members now includes a job for an “in-house planning and building lawyer”.
The shire’s advertisement says the role is “rare” and the successful applicant will join a legal services team that aims to integrate a “best practice local government legal department comprising the functions of legal, risk, insurance and claims across the shire’s operations”.
The appointee will report to David Carrington, the shire’s “corporate counsel, legal counsel – planning” and provide legal opinions and advice on building and planning activities; drafting court documents and VCAT and planning panel submissions; representing council at VCAT hearings and “other proceedings and committees as required from time to time”.
The person being sought for the job must be a lawyer with a minimum five years’ experience as an advisor on planning and building issues with a “demonstrated knowledge, skills and achievement in providing high quality and practical legal advice”.
As well as knowing and understanding the principles and practices of administrative, building and planning law the successful applicant needs to have “strong knowledge and understanding” of VCAT procedures and practices.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 27 February 2018