Aboriginal Identified - Solicitor I-III (Crime)

Aboriginal Identified - Solicitor I-III – Statewide - Criminal Law Division - Ongoing & Temporary both Full time and Part time roles available

This recruitment 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: aboriginalservices@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

We will create a talent pool from this recruitment to fill 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

We are looking for lawyers who will provide legal advice and representation to clients of Legal Aid NSW, including minor assistance and casework service, in accordance with Legal Aid NSW policies and guidelines in order to 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.

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.

About you

You are a dedicated legal professional committed to providing high-quality legal advice and representation. You excel in delivering efficient legal services and utilising electronic case management systems.

Your strong communication skills enable you to effectively represent a diverse range of clients. You are proactive in contributing to policy development and community education, and you stay updated on legal developments.

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 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 and Carers and Employers 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 of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent and identify and be accepted as such in the community
• be willing to do a Criminal Record Check and/or Working with Children Check

• 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 work with us
• hold Australian or NZ citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency (for ongoing vacancies) or a valid visa to work in Australia (for temporary vacancies)

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 below 2 questions:

Target Question 1: What challenges do vulnerable members of our community experience in trying to navigate the criminal justice system?

Target Question 2: How would you, as a lawyer working at Legal Aid NSW, assist client to overcome those challenges? 

Make sure your application is complete, and you have answered all questions before you submit.

Closing Date: Monday 18 August at 11:59pm

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:

• 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. 
• If you have questions about the role, you can contact: Rebecca Simpson (Associate Director Crime, Greater Sydney) at rebecca.simpson@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
• 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.
• Applying for a Role
• Working at Legal Aid NSW
• Guide to creating a resume and cover letter