Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

Paralegal

Advisings and Community Protection

• Location - Parramatta with flexible working arrangements available
• Employment type - Ongoing and Temporary full-time position (35 hrs per week)
• Salary - Clerk Grade 3/4, Base Salary ($84,659 - $92,701), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

The Advising and Community Protection team provides legal advice and critical support to the Attorney General as First Law Officer in respect of his statutory and common law responsibilities, as well as other Ministers, and Executives and statutory office holders in DCJ.

The team provides advice and/or manages proceedings in relation to:

• Applications for reviews of sentences and convictions, extinguishment of historical homosexual convictions and the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy.
• Applications under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 and Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967, including determination of Act of Grace payments.
• The Attorney General's common law or statutory powers and responsibilities including constitutional matters, prosecution of indictable matters, criminal contempt, vexatious proceedings, judicial review, charitable trusts, and the powers of government body agencies and officers.
• High-risk offenders, forensic patients, parole and segregated and protective custody orders for inmates.
• Management of inmates, detainees and/or parolees by Corrective Services NSW and Youth Justice NSW.

Through these functions, the team supports the Attorney General, other portfolio Ministers and the DCJ more broadly and contributes to upholding the safety and protection of the community and maintaining public confidence in the justice system.

What you'll do

As a member of this team, you will provide essential legal, clerical, and administrative support to solicitors and legal staff, ensuring high-quality client service in a professional manner. Your contributions will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal operations within the department.

As part of the ACP team, you will undertake legal research and make inquiries as directed by solicitors and other legal staff. You'll manage and respond to telephone calls and inquiries professionally, ensuring excellent client service.

You will also:

• Provide word-processing and data entry services, drafting submissions and correspondence in line with departmental style guidelines.
• Assist in coordinating diaries and commitments for solicitors, including travel and meeting arrangements.
• Support financial management processes by checking accounts payable and preparing vouchers for payment approval.
• Undertake additional research, inquiries, and projects as directed by the Business Centre Manager.

What we're looking for

We are looking for someone who has an interest in the workings of government and has experience in in providing legal, clerical, and/or administrative support, along with a strong client service background.

The role does not require the applicant to be studying law or intending to complete a law degree. We welcome applicants with a range of professional experience.

Appointments are subject to reference checks. Some roles may also require 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 an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 3 pages) addressing the targeted question below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

• Describe your approach to planning, prioritising and managing tasks with competing deadlines or conflicting instructions.
• Describe a situation where you have worked collaboratively on a task to achieve a goal?

Applications close: Wednesday, 8 October 2025 at 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 Susie Jerapetritis at [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 Lois Jebin at [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 Applying for DCJ jobs 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/

The Welcome Experience
Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW' page.