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Please note - Applications have been extended and will now close: Sunday, 17 December 2023 (11:59pm)

The Legal Aid NSW Judge Bob Bellear Legal Career Pathways Program was established in 2007, to support and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through tertiary education with undergraduate cadetships and career development opportunities including Professional Legal Placements, and Graduate Development Placements.

The program is open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Law graduates who:

• Are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent and identify and are accepted as such in the community;
• Have completed their university studies to obtain a Law degree (LLB or equivalent) and;
• Are eligible to undertake their 15-week Practical Legal Training in 2024, to be compliant with the College of Law PLT requirements.

This is an Aboriginal identified recruitment. This means we want to recruit an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person for this role. Identified positions help organisations hire Aboriginal people who bring their cultural knowledge, community experience and expertise to deliver services to Aboriginal communities and increase the cultural competency of the organisation. We are proud to have more Aboriginal solicitors than any legal practice in NSW and our aim is that 11% of all staff will be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies and may be used 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 of 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 you

We are looking for committed, hardworking law graduates who are about to embark on their Practical Legal Training and interested in working in our Criminal, Family or Civil Law Divisions.

Applicants should indicate their preference in a practice area and location, which will be considered based on availability. 

In the Professional Legal Placement role, you will be responsible for:

• Providing high quality advice, minor assistance and casework service to disadvantaged communities.
• Conducting an effective legal practice.
• Complying with the Legal Aid Commission Act, policies and practice management standards and undertake all related administrative and case management activities.

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. 

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 a reasonable 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 an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
• be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you start work with us
• be willing to do a Criminal Record Check (some roles also require a Working with Children Check)

Legal Aid NSW have a number of roles where it is a statutory obligation for staff to hold a valid Working With Children Check. You will be required to provide your Working With Children Check details prior to starting in any role requiring the 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 the following two questions:

1. Why do you wish to undertake your Practical Legal Training at Legal Aid NSW?

2. Explain the skills and attributes you can bring to this role.  

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 – Alison Szylo on (02) 9219 5811 or alison.szylo@legalaid.nsw.gov.au.
• The PLT Student Role and Responsibilities sets out the responsibilities of the role. 
• Practical Legal Placement Training Program Guideline
• Judge Bob Bellear Legal Pathways Program
• Applying for a Role
• Working at Legal Aid NSW

Responsibilities

as above

Key Application Responses

as above