Special Counsel

Special Counsel

• Flexible and collaborative working environment
• Based in the Sydney CBD (Martin Place)
• Opportunity to work on special projects

Classification grade: PSSE Band 1

Work type: Temporary full-time or part-time up to 12 months (with a possibility of extension)

About the Role

As Special Counsel, you will be responsible for providing legal advice and conducting litigation in highly complex or important matters for the NSW Government and its agencies in the areas of law in which the practice group specialises. You will also be required to lead, manage and mentor staff to assist in the conduct of matters and to develop professionalism and integrity of staff.

The ideal candidate for this opportunity will have highly developed legal skills and extensive experience in:

•    all aspects of the conduct of tort-related civil  litigation including intentional torts, historical abuse, general personal injury claims, and other varied tort-based litigation; and
•    provision of authoritative advice on complex legal issues and points of law in connection with tort-related civil claims. 

For more information on Torts Justice Practice group, please click here.

Essential Requirements:

• Completion of a law degree from an accredited law school or completion of the Legal Practitioners Admission Board’s Diploma in Law course.
• Admission or eligibility for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW.
• Highly developed legal skills and extensive experience which enable the provision of advice and representation in highly complex or important matters in which the Practice Group specialises.
• Proven record of achievement in providing complex legal advice and solutions to senior professionals and stakeholders and achieve positive outcomes.

Special Counsel plays a pivotal role in providing highly complex and crucial legal advice, litigation, and transactional work for the state. They provide leadership in identifying and implementing practical solutions to complex legal challenges, including politically sensitive arrangements. And by fostering professionalism, integrity, and skill development within the team, Special Counsel contribute to the overall effectiveness and reputation of the legal division.

For more information about this role, please click here

How to apply:

For your application to be considered, you must submit your application online and include: 

• An updated resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for the role

The selection process may include a range of assessment techniques to assist hiring managers in determining your suitability for the role.

You can request adjustments throughout each step of the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or alternative formats to participate in the process, please contact Justyna Wieczorek, Talent Acquisition Partner on 0400 549 700 or email justyna.wieczorek@cso.nsw.gov.au to further discuss.

A recruitment pool may be created from this recruitment action for ongoing and temporary roles for this role or similar roles that may become available over the next 18 months.

Closing date:  Sunday, 26 May 2024 (AEST 7:59PM)

Recruitment enquires: Justyna Wieczorek, Talent Acquisition Partner, Justyna.wieczorek@cso.nsw.gov.au

Why work for CSO?

The NSW Crown Solicitors Office (CSO) provides high-quality and cost-effective legal services to the NSW Government and its agencies. As a trusted legal advisor to the NSW Government, our principal role is to advise and represent agencies so that they can deliver policies, programs and projects in a lawful, effective and efficient manner.

We act with integrity and professional independence, guided by the government sector's core values. We are focussed on providing excellent client service and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. We also provide our people with opportunities to learn, develop and adapt within an inclusive and supportive environment.

For more information about the CSO, click here.

Our commitment to flexible working

The CSO has adopted a teams-based approach to flexible working. We recognise that everyone has different needs and preferences, and our flexible work culture allows you to adapt your work routine to suit you. We’re all about flexibility, productivity and driving good client outcomes.

We have generous leave provisions available for our employees that acknowledge individual preferences and responsibilities including:

• Up to 20 days recreation leave
• 20 days purchased leave annually
• Inclusive paid parental leave provisions of up to 16 weeks (14 weeks + 2 bonus weeks) which can be taken flexibly within the first 24 months to support the birth, adoption, altruistic surrogacy or permanent out-of-home care placement of a child
• Study time up to 4 hours per week
• Extended Leave of up to 44 days after 10 years or up to 30.8 days after 7 years of service. 

How we support health & wellbeing:

• We offer an employee assistance program to support the wellbeing of employees in the workplace and in their personal lives, which also extends to family members
• Coaching services are available for people leaders and executives to learn and implement best practices to manage their team’s wellbeing
• We offer an annual Flu Vaccination program
• We provide access to the Fitness Passport program – a discounted workplace health and fitness program available to staff and their families

CSO's commitment to diversity

At CSO, we believe a diverse and inclusive workforce contributes to the success of our organisation and we are committed to ensuring that our workforce reflects our diverse community.

We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, including people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the LGBTQIA+ community, culturally and linguistically diverse people, veterans and other diverse communities.