Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

Principal Solicitor

Advisings and Community Protection

• Principal location - Parramatta - Flexible working arrangements maybe negotiated.
• Employment type - Ongoing and Temporary position (Up to12 months) - Full time (35 hours)
• Salary - Legal Officer - Grade 6, Base Salary ($165,865 - $169,359), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

You will be a Principal Solicitor in the Advisings and Community Protection team in the Legal Branch of the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). The team provides legal advice and support to the Attorney General as First Law Officer, as well as other Ministers and Executives in DCJ. The team provides advice and/or manages proceedings in relation to:

• 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,
• Applications for annulment of convictions, reviews of sentences and convictions, extinguishment of historical homosexual convictions and the exercise of the Royal prerogative of mercy,
• Applications for act of grace payments,
• Applications under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 and the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967, and
• the Attorney General's common law or statutory powers and responsibilities including constitutional matters, prosecution of indictable matters, criminal contempt, vexatious proceedings, judicial review and charitable trusts.

Through these functions, the team supports 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 part of the Advisings and Community Protection team, you will:

• Conduct highly complex and routine legal matters (advice, transaction and / or litigation) and supervise a team of staff including solicitors Grades I-III, IV and V and non-legal staff to ensure the provision of high quality, cost effective and client focussed legal services which contribute to the achievement of the goals of Legal and the Department's stakeholders/business units.
• Closely assist management in the professional supervision and mentoring of staff and provision of legal services, including where assigned, coordinating the allocation of resources and workloads, monitoring business and staff performance, providing instruction and direction to enhance and motivate staff to create a cohesive and skilled team.

You will also:

• Provide professional guidance and mentoring to develop a skilled, motivated legal team.
• Coordinate resource allocation and workloads to ensure timely, high-quality service delivery.
• Monitor and review complex legal matters and emerging issues to advise on potential impacts.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including Ministers and government agencies.
• Lead projects involving legal reform initiatives, law reviews, and strategic planning.
• Maintain strong client relationships and contribute to continuous improvement of legal practices.
• You will work as part of a dedicated and experienced legal team within a dynamic government legal environment, committed to professional excellence and community protection.

What we're looking for

• Extensive experience in criminal and public law, with demonstrated skills in complex litigation and legal advice.
• Proven leadership ability in supervising and mentoring legal staff in a high-volume, high-stakes environment.
• Eligibility for a Government legal practitioner practising certificate with NSW Law Society, including Working with Children Check clearance.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities under tight deadlines.

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 2 targeted questions below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

• Targeted Question 1 - Outline your strong understanding of relevant legal areas including administrative law, litigation, and criminal law, as well as experience in conducting highly complex legal matters.

• Targeted Question 2 - Describe your approach to managing competing priorities and developing staff to create a cohesive and skilled team and meet business goals.

Applications close: Sunday, 12 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 Anita Chen-Hatton, Director at [email protected] or Sarah Christian, A/Director, Advisings and Community Protection 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 [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/

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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.