Company description:

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.

Job description:

Senior Solicitor Crime - Tamworth

Ongoing Full Time

Legal Officer Grade IV - $139,862 - $142,554 plus super & annual leave loading)

Location - Tamworth

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 is an ongoing full-time role as the Senior Solicitor - Criminal Law - Local Court team.

As the Senior Solicitor, Criminal Law - Local Court you will provide expert legal advice and representation to clients of Legal Aid NSW, handling complex casework while ensuring the highest standards of service. You will play a key role in helping individuals navigate their legal challenges.

Beyond the legal work, you will supervise and lead junior legal staff, fostering their development and ensuring excellence in legal practice. Your management of the Local Court practice and leadership of the team will contribute to the effective implementation of Legal Aid NSW's mission to support and empower clients through high-quality legal assistance.

You will play a critical role in in the provision of criminal law services to clients at Tamworth and the Greater New England region in accordance with legislation and directions, policy, guidelines, and practice management standards.

About you
You are a dedicated criminal lawyer with strong people management skills, and effective communication and problem-solving skills. The successful applicant will have demonstrated:

experience providing criminal law advice and representation, managing duty services and handling complex casework with professionalism.

experience mentoring staff and providing leadership to foster a supportive and high performing team

experience assessing and determining applications for Legal Aid, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and guidelines.

an understanding of the unique challenges facing residents of regional areas

while not an essential, experience representing young people will be considered favourably.

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

About Tamworth
Tamworth is in the heart of NSW's New England region, approximately 5 hours drive from Sydney CBD and 3 hours from Newcastle, on the stunning land of the Kamilaroi/Gomeroi people. There are plenty of beautiful walks, drives and local towns to explore. Tamworth offers cycle and walking paths, cafes, pubs and restaurants. It has a regional art gallery, museum, conservatorium of music, cinema and a thriving live music scene - and no, not just country music! It's also well known for great vintage clothes shopping! Beaches are just 3 hours' drive away - perfect for a weekend break. A weekend in Sydney isn't a problem - drive down after work on Friday or catch the plane. You'll be there in an hour.

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 [email protected].

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 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)

Highly desirable

• currently hold a valid driver licence

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 targeted questions

Targeted Question 1: Detail your experience in undertaking criminal law matters before the NSW Local Court. Describe some of the challenges you have faced representing clients on a duty basis and how you have overcome them.

Targeted Question 2: Outline your experience in working collaboratively. What skills do you possess that will enable you to guide junior solicitors to provide effective and efficient legal services, while managing their wellbeing and fostering a positive team culture?

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

Closing Date: Sunday 11 May 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:

If you have questions about the role, you can contact the Hiring Manager Kate Bromley on [email protected]

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

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