Principal Solicitor, LO VI - Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Join to apply for the Principal Solicitor, LO VI - Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution role at NSW Department of Communities and Justice
Principal Solicitor, LO VI - Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Join to apply for the Principal Solicitor, LO VI - Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution role at NSW Department of Communities and Justice
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* Location: Parramatta with flexible working arrangements available
* Legal Officer VI, Base Salary ($165,865 – $169,359), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
* Ongoing Opportunity Full-time (35 hpw)
* Location: Parramatta with flexible working arrangements available
* Legal Officer VI, Base Salary ($165,865 – $169,359), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
About Us
The Department of Communities and Justice shares a common purpose across many areas of their work, particularly when it comes to improving outcomes for children and young people, Aboriginal people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people experiencing domestic and family violence, victims of sexual assault, juvenile offenders, people at high risk of reoffending, and people experiencing homelessness.
Working together for stronger communities means we can continue to deliver our services with a more unified and collaborative approach. This means a greater focus on prevention and early intervention, faster responses, more seamless operations, less duplication of effort and better outcomes.
What You’ll Do
As required of the role you will be responsible for conducting both highly complex and routine legal matters (primarily advice and litigation). The role will lead a team within the practice group and supervise Solicitors Grades I-V and Paralegal staff to ensure the provision of high quality, cost effective and client focused legal services which contribute to the goals of Legal and the Department’s stakeholders/business units.
This role will include (but not be limited to) the following accountabilities and challenges:
* Conducting and providing strategic and commercial legal advice and services in relation to civil claims against DCJ, including civil claims for child abuse (some of which are litigated and some of which involve class actions), prison assault claims, claims in negligence, forced adoption, false imprisonment claims, malicious prosecution and other personal injury claims.
* Collaborating with and delivering high level and sometimes urgent legal advice to various senior stakeholders including ministers and senior executive staff.
* Representing the Department in external meetings and forums including leadership forums, mediations and settlement conferences.
* Interpreting, preparing and analysing more complex legal documents including drafting complex legal advice, sensitive government submissions and corresponding with senior stakeholders both internally and externally and interpreting legislation and relevant policies.
* 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 Expertise & Responsiveness – Handle urgent and complex legal matters with agility, while staying current with legal developments and understanding diverse client needs.
* Team Leadership & Supervision – Oversee legal staff and manage high-volume workloads, ensuring quality, timeliness, and compliance with professional standards.
* Stakeholder Engagement – Maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support effective legal service delivery.
* Strategic Collaboration – Contribute to departmental goals by supporting data collection, performance tracking, and continuous improvement initiatives.
* A minimum of 5 years’ post admission experience undertaking civil litigation work having regard to law and precedent, including providing instructions at mediations and settlement conferences and providing advice on current and potential litigation
* Proven experience conducting research and analysis and providing client focussed legal advice
* Experience building and maintaining relationships and liaising with external stakeholders, including panel firms and iCare
Essential Criteria
* Legal Qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate as a Government legal practitioner issued by the NSW Law Society and completion of the statutory period of supervised legal practice.
* Current and valid Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.
* Where required hold a National Security Clearance at the appropriate level in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF)
For detailed information on the key accountabilities and capability framework, please click here to download the role description.
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?
Requirements
Click apply, attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the 2 targeted questions below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:
* 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? (300 words)
* How have you developed team capability? Talk broadly about your coaching and mentoring approach in working with professional staff. (300 words)
Applications close Sunday 10 August 2025 (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, Director at rebecca.jouana@facs.nsw.gov.au or 0459 861 277
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, please call Paola Pina on 02 8688 0638 or via paola.pina@justice.nsw.gov.au
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.
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Director
Employment type
* Employment type
Temporary
Job function
* Job function
Legal
* Industries
Government Administration
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