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
The Solicitor in Charge of Prisoners Legal Service (PLS) has a diverse and interesting role and plays a vital part in providing advice and directing a team of lawyers to provide high quality service to Legal Aid clients. Matters managed by PLS include hearings at the State Parole Authority and related Supreme Court proceedings, reviews of segregation directions, providing advice and minor assistance services including in person at various correctional centres, and providing other general criminal law and prison related advice to prisoners.
PLS has an inhouse Family Law Solicitor as well as Allied Professional Staff that the SIC is responsible for supervising.  The team is also involved in projects and pilots in relation matters that impact prisoners – the SIC generally has oversight of these projects as well.
The role operates with a high level of autonomy, you are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of PLS including management of a budget and coordinating appropriate resources of the team to meet services levels.
 
About you
 
The ideal candidate for this role will be an experienced solicitor with an extensive criminal law practice background and have previous experience working with private practitioners. You have previously managed a team of lawyers and possess high level communication, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement skills.
 
Previous experience gained from working in leadership roles, participation in justice-related working groups, or with law or policy projects relating to prisoner services is desirable.
 
 
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 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 
·       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 iworkfor.nsw.gov.au. If you submit your application late or by email it will NOT be accepted.
 
Applicants are requested to attach:
 
·       current resume / curriculum vitae (CV) (maximum 5 pages)
·       cover letter (maximum 2 pages) responding to the following two questions:
 
1.    Outline the skills and experience that you think would make you the ideal candidate for the role.
 
2.    Provide an example of a time when you were required to coach and mentor staff and encourage professional development.    
 
The selection process will include a range of comparative assessment techniques to assist in determining capability and suitability for the role. 
 
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 - Melissa Burgess on (02) 9219 5816 or melissa.burgess@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 here 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