Solicitor - Legal Officer Grade I-III - Civil - Work and Development Order Service (WDO) - Orange - Full-time – Ongoing

About us

Legal Aid NSW helps people with their legal problems. We can help people with most areas of 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 27 offices.

About you

We are looking for a solicitor who has a passion for supporting clients with complex needs and is able to work as part of a regionally dispersed team. Our ideal candidate enjoys variety in their work and is able to provide quality legal services to clients with fines; support the expansion of the WDO Scheme across NSW, build the capacity of existing WDO Sponsors and contribute to the effective governance of the WDO Scheme.

This is an Aboriginal targeted recruitment. This means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply. But it doesn’t mean that non-Aboriginal people can’t apply – we also welcome applications from anyone who is interested in the role.

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

About the Role

The WDO Service is a state-wide, specialist team in the Civil Law Division that:

• provides advice, minor assistance and casework services for clients with complex fines matters and large fines debt;
• increases access to WDOs for disadvantaged people through strategic outreach, community engagement and capacity building;
• provides advice, training and support to organisations and health practitioners who are WDO sponsors or potential sponsors;
• works in partnership with Revenue NSW and Department of Communities and Justice to ensure the WDO Scheme is administered responsibly and in line with community expectations; and
• contributes to law and policy reform in the fines law space.

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 a reasonable 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 fully vaccinated against COVID-19 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)
• hold a Driver’s Licence (this role requires travel through the Central West region)

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 answer the following two target questions:

1. The role provides advice and assistance to clients with complex fines matters in a range of settings including over the phone, in person at an office or on outreach. Drawing on your experience, how would you effectively deliver a high level of client service in these circumstances?

2. The role involves strategic engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including WDO Sponsors. Explain how you effectively manage stakeholder relationships and outline what skills and experiences equip you for this responsibility?

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 – Kirsty Harrison on +61 2 4324 5611 or email: kirsty.harrison@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. 
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• Working at Legal Aid NSW