Legal Officer V (CAPPDI Project)
Legal Officer Grade V
* Competitive Salary: $154,403 - $157,430pa (plus superannuation and leave loading)
* Temporary Full-Time up to 30 June 2027 (with possibility of extension or ongoing conversation)
* Location: NSW – work from where you live (flexible working with statewide travel)
Make a Real Impact in Care and Protection Across NSW
Join a passionate, dynamic and genuinely fun team committed to lifting capability across the care and protection jurisdiction and improving outcomes for children and families. This is a unique opportunity to combine advocacy, training, mentoring, relationship-building and sector engagement, all with full flexibility to work from home, while travelling across NSW to support practitioners and strengthen practice on the ground.
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
In this role, you will support the implementation of the Care and Protection Professional Development Initiative (CAPPDI) pilot. You will:
* Train, mentor and support practitioners participating in the program
* Review and update existing care and protection training materials
* Develop a core training package for care and protection lawyers
* Deliver induction training for new panel practitioners
* Support regions to embed CAPPDI and uplift practice across NSW
* Contribute to communication materials, media pieces and sector engagement activities
This is a varied role with a mix of training, advocacy, relationship management and hands‑on project delivery.
About You
You're an experienced care and protection practitioner who thrives working independently and loves variety. From mentoring panel practitioners to creating training materials, shaping communications, and supporting advocacy in court. You're eligible (or keen) to complete child representation training, confident engaging with stakeholders at all levels, and energised by helping others build their skills and experience.
Motivated, adaptable and passionate about improving the system, you enjoy travelling across regional and remote NSW, with flexibility to plan trips around your life. If you're looking to step back from full‑time litigation while still making a big impact, this role offers purpose, autonomy, creativity and a genuinely fun team that's excited to welcome someone who wants to advocate, inspire and drive change.
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
* Find out more at Working at Legal Aid NSW
You Must
The essential requirements for this role
* be admitted or be eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW
* be able to provide a current unrestricted NSW Practising Certificate before you start work with us
* be willing to do a Criminal Record Check and 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)
* have capacity to travel regularly, and to regional and remote locations
* be a registered practitioner of the High Court of Australia as per provisions of Section 55B of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)
The Family Law Division have several roles where it is a statutory obligation for staff to hold a valid Working with Children Check. You will be required to provide your Working with Children Check details prior to commencement in any role requiring the check.
Key Knowledge And Experience
* Significant experience in care and protection
* Be eligible to complete the child representation training and preferably having undertaken child representation in care and protection
* Experience working with internal and external stakeholders
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 answer the following target questions:
* Target Question 1: Your experience in the care and protection jurisdiction, including your experience appearing for adults and children/young people (if relevant) in complex matters
* Target Question 2: Your experience or skills you can rely on to provide mentorship or technical supervision to other lawyers.
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 Carey Pearson, Manager Family Practice Development on or email
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:
Tuesday 17 February 2026 at 11.59pm