Tim Ffrench
General Counsel
Department of Education, Skills and Employment
Tim Ffrench is General Counsel, First Assistant Secretary, in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. In this role, Tim provides legal advice to the Secretary and executive of the Department and leads the Legal Division of approximately 90 lawyers and paralegal staff.
Tim has extensive experience in the management of government legal practices, including in Centrelink, the NDIA and the Department of Human Services/Services Australia. He was also a Tribunal member for four years.
Tim has quickly become a trusted advisor to the Secretary and executive of the Department through the provision of strategic, client-focused legal advice across the Department’s broad portfolio of work, including throughout its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His extensive experience in the management of government legal practices has ensured the DESE Legal Division is focussed on continuous improvement, staff development and the effective and efficient management of legal risk.
Tim has a particular interest in the development of effective and supportive graduate programs and in building closer ties between public and private sector legal practices.