Solicitor in Charge Vi

Location: Parramatta, NSW, AU, 2150
- Req ID: 75849

This vacancy is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identified recruitment under Part 5, clause 26 of the Government Sector Employment (General) Rules 2014.

We may use this recruitment to create a talent pool for similar ongoing or temporary vacancies we have over the next 18 months.

**About us**

Legal Aid NSW helps people with their legal problems. We can help people with most areas criminal law, family law and every day civil law legal issues. We give legal advice, help at court and do family dispute resolution. We can do this over the telephone or at one of our 28 offices.

**Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities**

The Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (FamAC) provides outreach, advice, casework, community legal education and duty services at court to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The team also:

- supports and trains our other family law and care and protection lawyers who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
- advocates on systemic issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander those families

**About the role**

The primary purpose of the role is to provide senior leadership and management of the Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities and contribute to the strategic direction of the Family Law Division.

Please Note: Legal Aid NSW considers that being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational qualification under s 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

Applicants for this role must satisfy the Aboriginality criteria. Aboriginality is defined by descent through parentage, identification as being Aboriginal and being accepted in the community as such. In the pre-screening questions you will need to provide information on how you satisfy the Aboriginality criteria.

**About you**

You are a senior solicitor with experience in family law and/or care and protection as well as experience and understanding of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. You are committed to delivering best practice culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

You can lead a busy practice while also supervising and supporting other solicitors. You’ll also have experience managing stakeholder relationships and be able to provides senior Aboriginal leadership and strategic direction to the Family Law Program.

**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.

**Other benefits of working with us**
- You will have access to training, development and mentoring opportunities.
- We are an accredited Flex Ready certified employer and are recognised as leaders in the area of 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.

**The essential requirements for this role**

You must:

- be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- be willing to do a Criminal Record Check and/or Working with Children Check
- 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
- capacity to travel regularly, and to regional and remote areas
- have comprehensive understanding and knowledge of working with Aboriginal clients and communities

The Family Law Division have a number of 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.
- your resume (no more than 5 pages)
- cover letter (no more than 2 pages). In your cover letter, please respond to the following 2 targeted questions:
- **Target Question 1**: Outline your experience representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the care and family jurisdiction.
- **Target Question 2**: Provide an example of when you have provided culturally responsive interdisciplinary legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or communities.

**Do you need help to apply?**
- If you are an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are thinking about applying, you can contact the Aboriginal Services Branch to arrange a confidential conversation about any questions you may have.
- The Role Description sets out the responsibilities of the role.
- Working at Legal Aid NSW