Legal Aid Commission, Office of the
Reference number
Occupation
Solicitor
Work type
Contract / Temporary
Location
Sydney City
Salary
No info
Closing date
01 March 2026 at 11:59pm
Solicitor Advocate - Legal officer VI
* Salary range $165, $169,359.00 pa (plus superannuation and leave loading).
* Criminal Law Division.
* 3 Year Full Time Contract, with potential for 3-year contract extension.
* Statewide talent pool, roles are based in Central Sydney and various regional locations.
* Make a real impact advocating for vulnerable and disadvantaged clients in criminal matters.
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
Provide legal advocacy in District Court trials and sentences, EAGP case conferences and other criminal, and quasi-criminal matters, on behalf of Legal Aid NSW.
Roles are currently based in various office locations, including Central Sydney, Parramatta, Campbelltown, Wollongong, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Lismore, Penrith and Dubbo; with potential roles in other locations, within existing Legal Aid offices.
A role is currently available in the newly created Parole and Prevention Orders Legal Service (PPO). This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of advocacy in this newly created specialist team; focusing on high-risk offender applications and breach proceedings, parole hearings, and other quasi-criminal matters.
About you
You are an experienced criminal law solicitor, with strong advocacy skills in the criminal law jurisdiction. You understand the vital role Legal Aid NSW plays in providing legal assistance, and representation to people facing complex legal issues, and you are committed to supporting fair and accessible justice for the community.
You bring highly developed advocacy skills, with the capacity to personally conduct trials and manage complex criminal proceedings. Your experience in courtroom advocacy is matched by your ability to engage with clients with professionalism and empathy. You value collaborative practice and contribute positively to mentoring of criminal law solicitors and law reform.
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.
For application support (including accessing information or require the application in an alternate format) or recruitment adjustments please contact the Talent Acquisition Team at or
To learn more about Recruitment and Workplace Adjustments please visit Adjustments for individual needs | I Work for NSW.
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
* at Working at Legal Aid NSW
The essential requirements for this role
You must:
* be admitted or eligible to be admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW
* be admitted or be eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW
* be able to provide a current NSW Practising Certificate before you start work with us
* be willing to do a Criminal Record Check and/or Working with Children Check
* hold Australian or NZ citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency (for ongoing vacancies) or a valid visa to work in Australia (for temporary vacancies)
* must hold valid NSW driver licence
* have highly developed advocacy skills and experience and capacity to personally conduct trials and other complex criminal proceedings as required
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 respond to the below two Targeted Questions:
* Target Question 1: Describe your criminal law advocacy experience and how you would utilise this experience in a Solicitor Advocate role at Legal Aid NSW.
* Target Question 2: Can you describe your experience mentoring junior solicitors, including how you helped them develop their skills and manage their cases?
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 Leanne Mellor - Manager of Advocates, Crime Advocate Unit on
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: Sunday 01/03/2026 at 11.59pm