Solicitor IV

NSW Department of Communities and Justice; Coffs Harbour City Council; On-site; AUD 148,830 - 151,236; Full time

Job summary

Legal Aid NSW has an opening for Solicitor IV in the Criminal Law Division. The role involves providing legal advice and representation to clients, including complex casework, in line with policies and guidelines.

Most Grade IV solicitors supervise and lead junior staff to deliver high-quality legal services. The recruitment will build a talent pool for ongoing and temporary vacancies across Sydney and regional NSW offices.

Qualifications

• Essential Requirements include Australian or NZ citizenship, permanent residency or valid visa to work in Australia.
• Be admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW.
• Provide a current NSW Practising Certificate before you start work with us.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and representation to Legal Aid NSW clients, including complex casework services, in accordance with policies and guidelines.
• Most Grade IV solicitors supervise and lead junior legal staff in achieving the aim of delivering high quality legal services.

Education

Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW

Job description

Solicitor IV – Criminal Law Division

• Salary range $148,830.00 - $151,236.00 (plus superannuation and leave loading)
• Talent Pool – Ongoing & Temporary Full Time and Part Time Roles

About Legal Aid NSW

We stand beside people when they need it most.

At Legal Aid NSW, fairness isn’t just a legal principle, it shapes everything we do - our culture, our services, our workplace and our decisions.

Since 1979, Legal Aid NSW has provided legal advice, support and representation in criminal, family and civil law, helping people across NSW navigate hardship and complex legal issues. Our work is challenging, but deeply meaningful.

In partnerships with LawAccess NSW, Community Legal Centres and the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT, we are located throughout the state including our Central Sydney office, 25 regional offices, and satellite and outreach offices.

About The Role

We are looking for lawyers who can provide legal advice and representation to clients of Legal Aid NSW, including complex casework services, in accordance with Legal Aid NSW policies and guidelines. Our lawyers contribute to the implementation of Legal Aid NSW’s mission to deliver high quality legal services to our clients and to assist them to resolve their legal problems. Most Grade IV solicitors at Legal Aid supervise and lead junior legal staff in achieving this aim.

About You

The successful applicants will be experienced Criminal Law Solicitors who are committed to delivering excellent service for clients. An enthusiasm for mentoring/developing staff is essential, together with an interest in therapeutic jurisprudence.

We will create a talent pool from this recruitment to fill ongoing or temporary vacancies over the next 18 months. Those vacancies may arise in any of our Legal Aid offices across Sydney and Regional NSW.

You Belong Here

Here, every role has purpose.

Whether you’re delivering frontline legal services or strengthening our organisation from behind the scenes, you’ll help create fairer outcomes for the people across NSW.

We’re building a workplace where every culture, identity, ability and voice are included and valued. We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with visible and invisible disability, culturally diverse communities, and LGBTQI+ communities so you can connect and flourish at every stage of career.

You will be part of a diverse and inclusive organisation, working alongside like-minded and values driven people dedicated to justice, community impact, and delivering exceptional support and service through cross collaboration.

Benefits Of Working At Legal Aid NSW

As an employee of Legal Aid NSW, you will have access to and enjoy a variety of support and benefits so you can thrive professionally and personally. You’ll love our:

• Flexible Working - we are a Flex Ready certified and Carers and Employers accredited organisation. We are leading the way in offering a variety of flexible working options to uniquely support your unique work life balance.
• Professional Growth – as the largest law firm in NSW we offer a variety of opportunities to enhance your career at every stage, through regional graduate programs, Practical Legal Training and work placements, mentoring, training, and secondment opportunities.
• Work Health, Safety and Wellbeing – with dedicated programs, training, resources, and respectful work practices, our Wellbeing Framework ensures your physical, mental and psychosocial wellbeing matters, so you feel supported, safe and holistically well.

Essential Requirements

• Hold Australian or NZ citizenship, Australian Permanent Residencyor a valid visa to work in Australia.
• Undertake relevant pre-employment checks such as a Criminal Record Check, Working with Children Check and Conduct Service Check.
• Be admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW
• Provide a current NSW Practising Certificate before you start work with us

Download the Role Description to explore the role in-depth.

The Grade IV talent pool that is created from this recruitment will be used to fill vacancies within the Criminal Law Division. Those roles vary from Local Court Practice Managers with staff management responsibilities to senior lawyer roles with no management responsibilities in both traditional criminal law practices and within Specialist Teams.

Targeted Question 1: What attributes do you see as common to both type of role and why?

Targeted Question 2: Which roles do you see your skill set being more suited to and why?

We’re here to help

Legal Aid NSW is committed to a recruitment process that is inclusive and barrier free.

For accessibility support or recruitment adjustments, please contact Zoran ( on [e-mail].

For information on Recruitment and Workplace Adjustments, visit Adjustments for individual needs | I Work for NSW.

For more information about the recruitment process and working at Legal Aid NSW view our Candidate Information Pack.

For role specific enquiries, contact Rebecca Simpson(Associate Director Crime, Greater Sydney) at [e-mail]

For recruitment enquiries, contact the Talent Acquisition Team on 02 9134 9347 or via [e-mail].

Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to connect with the Legal Aid NSW Aboriginal Services Branch for a yarn.

For guidance on preparing for interviews , explore the NSW Public Sector’s interactive Capability Application Tool.

Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

We look forward to receiving your application!