Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

• Principal location - Parramatta - Flexible working arrangements may be negotiated.
• Temporary position - 12 months - Full time (35 hours per week)
• Legal Officer I-III, Base Salary ($79,322 - $134,458), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

Our Commercial and Property team is looking for a versatile and motivated junior commercial lawyer to work within the employment, WHS and workplace relations sub-team and to provide support to our senior lawyers and, high quality advice and solutions for all commercial legal issues across the Department.

What you'll do

As part of the Commercial and Property team you will:

• Collaborate closely with the senior lawyers as well as work autonomously in the Commercial and Property practice group to advise the Department's agencies to guide legal strategy and policy.
• Undertake administrative activities and research allocated within established standards, procedures, policies and delegations.
• Work within the employment and WHS sub-team, providing advice on a wide variety of workplace health and safety and employment-related matters, as well as perform commercial work on contractual matters;
• Review, prepare and negotiate a wide range of legal documents including commercial agreements, settlement documentation, legal correspondence, protocols and policies, reports and submissions; and
• Provide advice on the Department's operations, including on regulatory and strategic matters to agencies such as Corrective Services NSW, Youth Justice, Victims Services, Women NSW, Multicultural NSW and The Advocate for Children and Young People.

The role offers a variety of work within a fun, supportive and high achieving team environment. The role reports directly to the group's Principal Solicitor, who is experienced and approachable. It will suit a passionate junior commercial lawyer looking to learn and advance their career.

What we're looking for

• Are you a junior lawyer looking for a breadth of interesting, challenging work in a great working environment? We are looking for someone who will bring with them a strong client focus, and a flexible, problem-solving mindset. Your ability to balance competing demands, work priorities and timeframes is vital to the success of the role.
• Legal Qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate as a Government legal practitioner issued by the NSW Law Society.
• Ability to travel for regional court and other commitments.

• Appointments are subject to reference checks. This role also requires the following checks/ clearances:

• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014.
• Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

Download the role description.

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now' button.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply - you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career

• Flexible, autonomous work environment

• Competitive pay and conditions

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia's top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Applications close Sunday, 27 July 2025 (11:59pm AEST).

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it's like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Sarah Armstrong via [email protected].

If you've got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please contact Paola Pina via [email protected]

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/