About the Centre

Central Coast Community Legal Centre (Central Coast CLC) is a not-for-profit community organisation which is based in Wyong on Darkinjung Country in NSW. The Central Coast CLC seeks to provide free, accessible, and non-judgmental legal services to people living, working, or studying on the NSW Central Coast.

About the Role

The Principal Solicitor is a key member of the senior leadership team at Central Coast Community Legal Centre (Central Coast CLC). This role is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day management of the legal practice. This includes supervision and professional development of the legal team, oversight of legal risk and compliance, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, trauma-informed, and culturally capable legal services.

The Principal Solicitor works closely with the Executive Officer to ensure that legal services align with the Centre's strategic goals, meet professional obligations, and respond to the needs of the Central Coast community.

About You

We are looking for an experienced and community-minded legal professional to join our team as Principal Solicitor. This is a leadership role for someone who brings sound legal judgment, a supportive approach to supervision, and a strong commitment to social justice.

You’ll work closely with the Executive Officer to guide the direction of our legal services, ensuring they are accessible, culturally safe, and responsive to community need. You’ll be confident managing legal risk, mentoring a team of solicitors, and contributing to a respectful, high-performing workplace.

This role suits someone with deep legal expertise, strong people skills, and the ability to lead with cultural humility and professional integrity.

Selection Criteria

1. Hold (or be eligible to hold) a principal practising certificate in NSW.

2. Significant and relevant post-admission experience, with the depth and breadth to lead a community legal practice in areas such as family law, domestic and family violence, minor criminal (e.g. traffic), or civil law.

3. Demonstrated experience in leading a legal team, including service planning, program development, and supervision.

4. Strong understanding of legal practice risk and compliance, including the use of practice management systems (e.g. Actionstep), and the ability to quickly develop knowledge of sector-specific requirements.

5. Demonstrated commitment to social justice, grounded in Aboriginal cultural capability and trauma-informed practice, or a strong commitment to develop this practice.

6. Demonstrated ability to lead a diverse team in an inclusive workplace.

7. Proven ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships, including with funding bodies, legal networks, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

8. Experience contributing to law reform or systemic legal advocacy.

9. High-level interpersonal and communication skills.

10. Willingness and ability to travel across the Central Coast, and occasionally to Sydney and Newcastle.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary – Above-award wages.

• Work-Life Balance – 35-hour full-time work week.

• Salary Packaging – Maximise take-home pay with tax-effective salary packaging options.

• Additional Leave – Extra shutdown leave over the Christmas/New Year period.

We have a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace. We operate on Darkinjung Country and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Key selling points

• Lead a greatly valued community legal practice in new strategic directions
• Strategic role focused on justice, inclusion, and cultural safety
• Enjoy extra leave, flexibility, and salary packaging benefits