Solicitor, LO IV - Inquests, Inquiries and Representation

Department of Communities and Justice; Council of the City of Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 134,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

A government legal department in New South Wales is seeking a Legal Officer IV to represent in coronial inquests and provide legal services. This role offers a salary ranging from $134,483 to $137,071 per year and flexible working arrangements. Ideal candidates must have legal qualifications and experience in court matters. Opportunities for training and development are included.

Benefits

Flexible work environment

Health & Wellbeing programs

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Must have legal qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate as a government legal practitioner.
• Current and valid Working with Children Check clearance required.
• Experience in preparing court matters and drafting legal documents is essential.
• Ability to supervise junior solicitors.

Responsibilities

• Represent the Department in coronial inquests and inquiries.
• Provide legal services and advice to clients and management.
• Supervise staff to ensure quality legal service delivery.
• Conduct litigation before Courts and/or Tribunals.

Skills

Legal qualifications

Experience in court matters

Experience in drafting legal documents

Supervising junior solicitors

Current Working with Children Check clearance

Education

Eligibility for practicing certificate by NSW Law Society

Job description

This role is specific to child death related matters and complex witness statement preparation is required.

• Temporary up to July 2025 (35 hrs. per week),
• Location : Parramatta with flexible working arrangements available
• Legal Officer IV Base Salary ($134,483 - $137,071) plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

The Inquests, Inquiries and Representation practice group within the Department’s Legal branch performs a broad range of work, including the following :

• Assisting Coroners in significant and high-profile inquests and inquiries
• Representing the Department in inquiries generally, including the representation of the Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW in coronial inquests into deaths in custody
• Representing the Department in coronial inquests and inquiries, particularly child death related matters.
• Representing witnesses appearing before investigatory bodies such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

What you’ll do

• Represent the Department in coronial inquests and inquiries, particularly child death related matters.
• Provide high level legal and / or litigation services and advice to clients, senior management and staff in accordance with legislation, policy, guidelines and practice standards.
• Supervise and provide guidance to staff to ensure delivery of quality professional legal services.
• Interpret, analyse and prepare more complex legal documents including legal records, correspondence, legislation, policies, reports, briefing notes, submissions and witness statements.
• Undertake more complex, contentious, or sensitive legal and administrative activities, research and cases allocated within established standards, procedures, policies, and delegations.
• Conduct litigation before Courts and / or Tribunals as the Department's representative, and respond to formal and informal requests for information, including court subpoenas and applications under relevant legislation.
• Deliver legal education and training programs to internal and external stakeholders and clients.

What we’re looking for

• Legal Qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate as a government legal practitioner issued by the NSW Law Society.
• Current and valid Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.
• Experience in preparing court matters and drafting legal documents.
• Experience in preparing affidavits or other witness statements.
• Experience in supervising junior solicitors.

Some roles may require the ability to undertake travel for regional court and other commitments subject to the application of any discrimination legislation (including in respect of carer’s responsibilities).

What We Offer

• A challenging and rewarding career.
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities.
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

an exciting and flexible working environment!

Applications close Thursday, 29 February 2024

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.