Aboriginal Identified - Solicitor in Charge - Family and Civil

Aboriginal Identified – Solicitor in Charge – Civil and Family Law

Ongoing Full-time Legal Officer Grade VI

Competitive Salary from $161,034 - $164,426 plus super and annual leave loading

Location: Bolton Street Newscastle

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: .

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

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a dynamic team in one of our largest regional offices, based in a vibrant and welcoming community. Enjoy the chance to make a real impact while working in a location known for its rich culture and strong community spirit.

The Solicitor in Charge will:

Lead and manage the day-to-day activities of the Regional Office to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources and delivery of high-quality services that meet the needs of clients and the community.

Develop key relationships with internal and external stakeholders including the private profession, legal assistance providers, community and the courts.

Conduct and lead a legal practice whilst prioritising leadership of the office.

Take the lead on ensuring the well-being of staff and the fostering of a safe, respectful, and collegial office culture.

About you

You are a highly experienced civil or family lawyer, committed to delivering high-quality, culturally appropriate legal services to legally aided clients. You bring strong leadership skills, a collaborative mindset and proven experience in managing legal teams and complex caseloads. Your leadership style is collaborative and community-minded, and you are deeply committed to ensuring equitable access to justice for all. Confident and capable, you are ready to lead a high performing team that reflects the values of fairness, accountability and integrity. You are passionate about serving the Newcastle community and surrounding areas.

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

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 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 .

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 qualified to practice as an Australian legal practitioner

be able to provide an unrestricted NSW Practising Certificate before you start work with us

be willing to do a Criminal Record Check

provide a valid Working with Children Check

live in NSW or willing to relocate to NSW

Current driver’s licence

How to apply

You MUST submit your application online. 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:

Target Question 1 – Provide an example of how you have cultivated an inclusive, respectful and collaborative workplace culture?

Target Question 2 – Describe your approach to leading and supporting a diverse team of legal and non-legal staff to deliver high-quality services that are responsive to the needs of clients and the community. .

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 – Kirsty Harrison on 02 4337 6660 or email:

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

Closing Date: Sunday 25th May 2025 at 11:59 pm