Solicitor - Civil - Grade IV - Statewide - Talent Pool

Candidates who satisfy the standards for this recruitment through comparative assessment will be included in the Legal Officer Grade IV Talent Pool. This Talent Pool may be used to fill future temporary or ongoing Grade IV vacancies that may arise over the next 18 months.

About us

Legal Aid NSW helps people with their legal problems. Our legal services include legal advice, help at court and family dispute resolution. We can help people across NSW with most areas of criminal law, family law and every day civil law legal issues over the telephone, or at one of our 25 offices or two satellite offices.

About the role

A Grade IV Legal Officer in the Civil Law Division will:

• Provide a high-quality advice, minor assistance and casework services in areas such as consumer rights, mental health, human rights, employment, housing, social security, and other areas of civil law.
• Conduct an efficient and effective legal practice in accordance with the standards required by Legal Aid NSW.
• Contribute to the Leadership of the Civil Law Division,
• Supervise staff
• Assist people to overcome disadvantaged circumstances
• Comply with the Legal Aid Commission Act 1979, Legal Aid policies and practice management standards and undertake all related administrative and case management activities.

About you

You will:

• Be able to manage staff in line with trauma informed supervision practices.
• Be able to plan and report against service delivery expectations.
• Be able to provide high quality advice, minor assistance and representation services to clients with complex needs, many who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Possess strong negotiation skills and significant experience advocating for clients in multiple dispute resolution forums and experience running litigation in courts and tribunals
• Have experience managing a diverse 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 erecruitment@legalaid.nsw.gov.au.

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 admitted or be eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW
• be able to provide a current NSW Practising Certificate (unrestricted) or eligible to hold an unrestricted practising certificate
• be willing to do a Criminal Record Check
• hold Australian or NZ citizenship or Australian Permanent Residency 
• hold a current Working With Children Check

How to apply

You MUST submit your application online through www.iworkfor.nsw.gov.au. 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 these two questions:

1. Outline your skills and experience working with vulnerable clients in civil law (consumer rights, mental health, human rights, employment, housing, social security, and/or other areas of civil law) as well as your experience working with stakeholders to service a local community.

2. Outline your experience and approach to supervising staff whilst developing and strengthening their skills.

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 – David Maloney on (02) 9219 5149 or at David.Maloney@legalaid.nsw.gov.au  
• If you are an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are thinking about applying, you can contact the Aboriginal Services Branch to arrange a confidential conversation about any questions you may have.
• 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