• Full Time ongoing position – 35 hours p/w with flexible working options
• Legal Officer Grade IV (starting from $134,483 plus super and annual leave)
• Civil Law Division
• Location – Sydney (Haymarket) - travel to CLSAC priority communities as required
• Expected Start Date – 8 January 2024

This vacancy is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identified recruitment under Part 5, clause 26 of the Government Sector Employment (General) Rules 2014.

If you are an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are thinking about applying you can contact the Aboriginal Services Branch for a confidential discussion by emailing [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Solicitor - Aboriginal Identified enquiry via EthicalJobs.

We may use this recruitment to create a talent pool for similar ongoing or temporary vacancies we have over the next 18 months.

About us

Legal Aid NSW helps people with their legal problems. We can help people with most areas criminal law, family law and every day civil law legal issues. We give legal advice, help at court and do family dispute resolution. We can do this over the telephone or at one of our 28 offices.

About the role

The primary purpose of the role is to:

• Provide legal advice, assistance, and case work supervise solicitors and staff
• Attend outreach and provide advice to clients in CLSAC priority communities across NSW
• Provide community legal education
• Work directly with stakeholders and service partners

The position will be based in the Central Sydney Legal Aid office and travel to CLSAC priority communities as required. 

Please Note: Legal Aid NSW considers that being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational qualification under s 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

Applicants for this role must satisfy the Aboriginality criteria. Aboriginality is defined by descent through parentage, identification as being Aboriginal and being accepted in the community as such. In the pre-screening questions you will need to provide information on how you satisfy the Aboriginality criteria. 

About the Team

The Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (CLSAC) is an interdisciplinary team within the Civil Law Division that delivers holistic, client-centred and culturally responsive services by phone and outreach to Aboriginal clients and communities across parts of regional and rural NSW.  CLSAC works with Aboriginal communities and community workers to increase their capacity to deal with civil law problems and to work in partnership with other legal and non-legal services. The Aboriginal Women Leaving Custody (AWLC) program sits within CLSAC. AWLC addresses the civil law needs of Aboriginal women while they are in custody, to reduce barriers to housing on the transition back into the community, as well as reducing other factors that may contribute to ongoing disadvantage.

About you

You are an experience lawyer in providing legal advice and casework services to Aboriginal people.  

You will:

• be able to provide high quality advice, minor assistance and representation services to Aboriginal clients who have complex needs.
• have experience managing a diverse, complex, high-volume legal practice.
• be willing to work with stakeholders and communities, and deliver targeted outreach services, designed to promote access and equity.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN LEGAL AID NSW!

We are committed to diversity and inclusion.

We are committed to creating a culturally safe and genuinely inclusive organisation and workplace for everyone who works and interacts with us. We strive to be a place where people from diverse backgrounds want to work, where voices and cultures are valued and where people feel valued, welcomed, respected and heard.

We want a workforce that reflects our clients, so we can deliver a service that meets the needs of the community. We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds — including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, the LGBTQI+ community, culturally diverse people and other diverse communities. 

We acknowledge, support and accommodate the diverse access needs of people with visible and invisible disabilities. If you need an adjustment to participate in the recruitment process, or you’d like information about what we can do to help you, please contact our team at [email protected], using the subject line: Senior Solicitor - Aboriginal Identified enquiry via EthicalJobs. 

Other benefits of working with us

• You will have access to training, development and mentoring opportunities.
• We are an accredited Flex Ready certified employer and are recognised as leaders in the area of flexible work. Most of our staff work flexibly — for example, from home some of the time or in a way that helps them balance family and work life.

The essential requirements for this role

You must:

• be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you start work with us
• be willing to do a Criminal Record Check
• be admitted or be eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW
• be able to provide a current NSW Practising Certificate before you start
• have the ability to travel to regional and remote areas
• hold a current NSW Drivers License

How to apply

You MUST submit your application online via the "Apply Now" button. If you submit your application late or by email it will NOT be accepted.

Your application must include:

• your resume (no more than 5 pages)
• cover letter (no more than 2 pages)

In your cover letter, please respond to the following 2 targeted questions:

1. What skills and experience do you have that are relevant to delivering civil law services to Aboriginal clients in regional and remote communities?
2. Outline your experience with and approach to managing diverse stakeholders.

Make sure your application is complete and you have answered all questions before you submit it.

Do you need help to apply?

It’s important to properly prepare before you apply for a role.

Here is some other information to help you:

• If you have questions about the role, you can contact the Hiring Manager – Alira Morey on (02) 9219 5184 or email [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Solicitor - Aboriginal Identified enquiry via EthicalJobs.
• The Role Description sets out the responsibilities of the role.
• The focus capabilities and key accountabilities in the role description indicate what is expected at that level. Being familiar with these will help you understand what the panel will be looking for in the successful candidate. 
• Applying for a Role
• Working at Legal Aid NSW