• Parramatta with flexible working is available
  
• Opportunity to fall into Talent Pool
• Legal Officer V, ($144,140 - $146,966), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation & annual leave loading

About us

Provide timely high-level litigation and/or legal advice, briefings, and correspondence on complex areas of law and policy issues to ensure efficient and effective legal services.

Assist management in the professional supervision of staff and legal services, including coordinating the allocation of resources and workloads, monitoring business and staff performance, providing instruction and direction to enhance and motivate staff to create a cohesive and skilled team.

What you’ll do

As required of the role you will be responsible for conducting both highly complex and routine legal matters (primarily advice and litigation). Under supervision from a Principal Solicitor, the role will supervise Solicitors Grades I-IV and Paralegal staff to ensure the provision of high quality, cost effective and client focused legal services which contribute to the goals of Legal and the Department’s stakeholders/business units.

This role will include (but not be limited to) the following accountabilities and challenges:

• Conducting and providing strategic and commercial legal advice and services in relation to civil claims against DCJ, including civil claims for child abuse (some of which are litigated and some of which involve class actions), prison assault claims, claims in negligence, forced adoption, false imprisonment claims, malicious prosecution and other personal injury claims.
• Providing advice to and instructions on behalf of the Attorney General for NSW on matters within the Attorney General’s responsibility, including Constitutional matters, matters of public interest or otherwise requiring intervention, matters relating to the Charitable Trusts Act 1993 and in vexatious litigant proceedings.
• Providing legal and strategic advice to internal clients on matters relating to discrimination and human rights complaints.
• Collaborating with and delivering high level and sometimes urgent legal advice to various senior stakeholders including ministers and senior executive staff.
• Representing the Department in external meetings and forums including leadership forums, mediations, and settlement conferences.
• Interpreting, preparing, and analysing more complex legal documents including drafting complex legal advice, sensitive government submissions and corresponding with senior stakeholders both internally and externally and interpreting legislation and relevant policies.
• Supervising, guiding and mentoring junior members of staff in relation to the carriage of matters, the provision of advice, legal research and gathering and reporting statistics and information and in relation to career development.
• Supervise, guide and mentor junior members of staff in relation to the carriage of matters, the provision of advice, legal research and gathering and reporting statistics and information and in relation to career development.

What we’re looking for

• A minimum of 5 years’ post admission experience undertaking work relevant to the areas of practice of the team (see above “What you’ll do”)
• Proven experience conducting research and analysis and providing client focussed legal advice
• Experience building and maintaining relationships and liaising with external stakeholders.

Essential requirements

• Legal Qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate as a Government legal practitioner issued by the NSW Law Society
• Current and valid Working with Children Check Clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
• Where required hold a National Security Clearance at the appropriate level in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF)

Some roles may require the ability to undertake travel for regional court and other commitments subject to the application of any discrimination legislation (including in respect of carer’s responsibilities).

Download the role description.

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage, and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the 2 targeted questions below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

1. Detail a recent complex and urgent legal issue or problem that arose, what you did and how you assisted and/or advised your client. What were the legal issues and what was the outcome?
2. Describe a recent challenging period impacting your team. Why was the situation challenging? What did you do to manage this and support your team? What was the outcome?

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Timothy Long on 0488 696 325 or via [email protected], using the subject line: Senior Solicitor / Legal Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best, please call Paola Pina on 02 8688 0638 or via [email protected].

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

A position description is attached.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

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