Overview
Solicitor - LO4 - Child Law - DCJ Legal
Department: LRLS Law Reform & Legal Services Location: Sydney, NSW, AU, 2000 Parramatta, NSW, AU, 2150 Orange, NSW, AU, 2800
Req ID: 80427
Solicitor
Child Law - DCJ Legal
* Principal location – STATEWIDE – Immediate vacancy Central Coast – Talent Pool being created for opportunities in Sydney, regional and rural NSW. Locations of Children's Courts serviced include Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Lismore, Ballina, Armidale, Narrabri, Moree, Tamworth, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Broken Hill, Albury, Griffith, Bega, Nowra, Queanbeyan, Wagga Wagga, Hunter Valley, Parramatta, Surry Hills and Campbelltown - Flexible working arrangements may be negotiated.
* Employment type – Temporary (12 Months) – Full time (35 hours per week)
Talent pool will be created for statewide ongoing and temporary roles.
* Salary – Legal Officer – Grade 4, Base Salary ($144,058 – $146,831), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
Your role
This role provides an opportunity to deliver high quality, child focused legal services in complex and sensitive matters that make a real difference to children, families and communities. As a Solicitor in the Child Law Advocacy team, you will provide high level legal advice and litigation services while contributing to the development of legal standards, policy and practice.
You will be working in matters involving Aboriginal families and will be expected to work with cultural safety and in line with the Family is Culture reforms. You may appear in specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lists, such as the Winha-nga-nha List.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced practitioner to work autonomously, lead complex matters, mentor staff and collaborate with key stakeholders in a dynamic, high-impact legal environment.
What you'll do
As part of the Child Law Advocacy team, you will provide high level legal advice, litigation services, and representation in complex, contentious and sensitive matters involving children and young people. You will contribute to the effective delivery of legal services through expert advice, advocacy, and leadership.
You will lead and perform complex legal analysis, manage litigation before Courts and Tribunals, and provide strategic advice on legislation, policy and practice to support informed decision making across the Department.
You will work collaboratively with the Child Law Aboriginal preservation and reunification team, Waruuguma Barrmarrany and should you wish to be considered for future opportunities in this team, you will show demonstrated excellence in partnering with Aboriginal community.
You will also:
* Supervise and mentor legal staff to ensure the delivery of high quality, professional legal services
* Prepare and review complex legal documents, including briefs, submissions, correspondence and reports
* Have excellent case management skills that ensure the efficient and effective resolution of proceedings and utilise alternative dispute resolution wherever possible
* Be capable of working efficiently and flexibly, including by AVL while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships
* Provide expert advice on legislative interpretation, legal risk and policy development
* Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on legal issues and proposed legislative changes
* Deliver legal education and training to internal and external stakeholders
* Respond to subpoenas, information requests and statutory applications within required timeframes
* Work as part of a collaborative and supportive legal team committed to excellence, professionalism and child centred practice.
What we're looking for
* Extensive experience providing high level legal advice and litigation services in complex, contentious or sensitive matters, with the ability to exercise sound judgement and manage competing priorities.
* Strong analytical, drafting and advocacy skills, including experience preparing complex legal documents, submissions, briefing notes and correspondence to a high professional standard.
* Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring or guiding legal staff, with the ability to foster a cooperative, professional and high performing team environment.
* Legal qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate as a government legal practitioner issued by the NSW Law Society, with the ability to meet mandatory clearance requirements.
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
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
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.
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: Monday, 16 February 2026 at 8:00am AEDT.
For more information about the role or what it's like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager David Menser at [contact details removed].
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 [contact details removed].
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.
A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.
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