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Why you should join Legal Aid NSW!

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.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

Legal Aid NSW is committed to being a culturally safe and genuinely inclusive organisation and workplace for all people and communities that work with and interact with us, where people feel valued, welcomed, respected and heard.

We want people with diverse backgrounds to apply — 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.

For Aboriginal specific information regarding working at Legal Aid NSW, our Aboriginal Staff network, career development opportunities and support systems please email: aboriginalservices@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.

About the role

We currently have ongoing and temporary opportunities at our Orange and Dubbo offices. This recruitment will be used to fill any current vacancies and may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future temporary or ongoing vacancies that may arise over the next 18 months.

The role of Solicitor I-III, Family Law is 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.

About you

We are looking for passionate Solicitors with experience in family law and care and protection matters. Your strong communication skills will enable you to provide efficient and effective legal services to clients of Legal Aid from a range of diverse backgrounds.  

Essential requirements

You must:

• 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
• be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you start
• be willing to undertake a Criminal Record Check and/or Working with Children Check
• hold Australian or NZ citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency (for ongoing vacancies) or a valid visa to work in Australia (for temporary vacancies)

The Family Law Division 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 commencement 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 these two questions:

1. What post admission experience do you have in the conduct of Family Law and Care and Protection matters?

2. What are the challenges in representing socially and/or economically disadvantaged clients in a regional office?

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 – Ms Maureen Power on maureen.power@legalaid.nsw.gov.au or 02 9219 5128.
• 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