Company description:

Legal Aid

Job description:

Solicitor in Charge

Client Specialist Services (CSS)

Legal Officer Grade VI

Competitive Salary $165,865 - $169,539 (plus super and leave loading)

Newly created ongoing role

Located in Central Sydney (Haymarket) with occasional intrastate travel

About us

Legal Aid NSW delivers accessible legal services across criminal, family and civil law. We provide advice, court representation, and family dispute resolution through 28 offices and phone-based support, helping people navigate the legal system with confidence and fairness.

About the role

In this dynamic leadership role, you will oversee a portfolio of specialist Civil Law practice areas that deliver essential services to high-priority clients. You'll lead a team of senior practitioners and support staff, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services while fostering innovation and continuous improvement across teams. This role offers the opportunity to shape strategy, strengthen practice excellence, and drive initiatives that create meaningful impact for clients across metropolitan and regional areas.

As a senior leader within the Civil Law Division, you'll also provide expert guidance and strategic oversight to specialist teams, ensuring resources are used efficiently and services are delivered to the highest standard.

Some occasional travel to staff located in regional offices will be required, offering opportunities to connect with regional teams and communities.

About you

We're seeking a highly experienced Civil Law Solicitor with proven leadership capability to take on a pivotal role as Solicitor in Charge for Client Specialist Services (CSS).

This is an exciting new opportunity for a strategic thinker and skilled manager to lead a large, multidisciplinary team delivering high-impact civil law services across NSW.

You'll bring deep expertise in civil law and a strong track record in managing people, driving innovation, and shaping service delivery. In this role, you'll oversee a broad and meaningful portfolio of legal programs that support our priority clients.

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, experiencing issues accessing information on the application form and require this in an alternate format, 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 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

Find out more at Working at Legal Aid NSW

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 unrestricted NSW Practising Certificate before you start work with us

demonstrated leadership experience

hold Legal Qualifications

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. Applications received late or by email, will not be accepted. Please make sure your application is complete, and that you have answered all questions before submitting.

Your application must include:

your resume (no more than 5 pages)

cover letter (no more than 2 pages). In your cover letter, please outline how your skills, experience, and professional achievements align with the key responsibilities and requirements of this role.

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

Do you need help to apply?

If you have questions about the role, you can reach out to Axel Maire, Talent Acquisition Business Partner on [email protected] or 0404 161 900 .

If you are an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are thinking about applying, you can contact Legal Aid NSW Aboriginal Services Branch to arrange a confidential conversation about any questions you may have.

The Role Description sets out the responsibilities and Focus Capabilities 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 is a great NSW Government resource for helping you prepare your application.

Closing Date: Wednesday 1st October 2025 at 11.59pm