Senior Solicitor, Legal Officer V - Civil Litigation and Dispute

Senior Solicitor, Legal Officer V

Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Location – Parramatta (Flexible working arrangements available)

Employment type –Temporary – 6 months - Full-Time

Salary – Legal Officer V, $144,140 - $146,966 plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

The Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution team works on sensitive and complex claims brought against the Department of Communities and Justice and applications pertaining to the Hague Convention. The team also provides quality advice to client business units.

What you’ll do

In this role you will need to provide high quality, cost effective and client focussed legal services which contribute to the achievement of DCJ’s strategic objectives.

You will also:

Undertake litigation work and instruct panel firms in relation to civil claims against DCJ, including historic abuse claims involving Youth Justice and out-of-home-care and other civil claims involving Housing, Courts Services, Corrective Services NSW, disability and other personal injury claims, where appropriate having regard to law and precedent

Represent DCJ in external meetings and forums including mediations and settlement conferences

Provide legal advice to internal and external stakeholders, including on current and potential litigation, to ensure compliant, quality assured and consistent legal advice and services are delivered to and on behalf of DCJ and stakeholders in the resolution of legal issues.

Manage proceedings brought under the Family Law (Child Abduction Convention) Regulations 1986

Provide advice and liaising with internal stakeholders in relation to matters under the Hague Convention of Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children

Liaise with external stakeholders, including panel firms and iCare as well as providing client focussed advice.

Supervising, guiding and mentoring junior members of staff in relation to the carriage of matters, the provision of advice, legal research and gathering and reporting statistics and information and in relation to career development.

What we’re looking for

Legal Qualifications and with a current NSW practising certificate.

Proven experience as a litigation lawyer in personal injury, intentional torts or related law

Track record of managing teams of lawyers and support staff and for client centred service delivery

Current and valid Working with Children Check Clearance.

Hold Australian or NZ citizenship or Australian Permanent Resident

Download the role description.

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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 - Describe a situation when you or your team were given an urgent matter to work on, when you were otherwise busy with other matters and the techniques you used to manage and juggle the competing priorities, so that all your work was dealt with in a timely manner? (200 words)

Targeted Question 2 - Briefly outline a time where you have provided expert legal advice to key stakeholders and the outcome (200 Words)

Applications close: Monday, 7 October 2024 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 Rebecca Jouana at

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

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.

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