Job Reference: 338989797

Talent Pool - Solicitor, In-house Counsel Unit – Legal Officer Grade I-III – Central Sydney

 

 

 

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 role will:

·       Provide legal advice and/or representation and undertake legal work relating to the operation of the Legal Aid Commission Act 1979 (NSW) (the Act), including advice to Legal Aid NSW in house solicitors on client legal privilege and professional obligations as well as administrative law, subpoenas, contracts, information and privacy laws, funding agreements and the interpretation of the Act.

·       Assist the Senior Solicitor Costs Recovery with legal costs recovery work. Assist senior solicitors within the In-house Counsel Unit in litigation, complex inquiries and/or complaints in Courts, Tribunals and relevant Commissions.

 

About you

 

The successful applicant will be passionate about providing In-house Counsel services. You will have strong communication skills to enable interaction with a range of stakeholders and strive for exceptional service delivery. Applicants should be hardworking, a team player, have a particular interest in costs recovery and a desire to learn new skills as well as expanding upon existing strengths.

 

The successful applicant will have:

 

 

• strong generalist legal skills
• the ability to exercise sound professional judgement in advising on diverse legal issues and legislative obligations
• knowledge of laws and legal issues related to the operation of the agency including costs recovery, access to information and privacy legislation, or the ability to quickly acquire such knowledge
• well-developed organisational skills and a demonstrated ability to work in a high-volume environment with tight deadlines
• excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to provide accurate, clear and comprehensive advice; and
• the ability to form strong working relationships with colleagues, staff and other key stakeholders.

 

 

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

 

 

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 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 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

·       be willing to do 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)

 

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 address the two (2) target questions below:

·       What interests you about this role? Outline your relevant skills and experience that would benefit you in this role?

 

·       Please tell us what legal costs recovery work you have undertaken and the skills required to obtain the maximum costs outcome?

 

 

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 – Pauline Chau on (02) 5525 1645 or email: pauline.chau@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.

·       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