Solicitor I-III Family

Location:
Coffs Harbour, NSW, AU, 2450

Req ID: 78371

Solicitor I-III – Family Law

• Salary range: $90,692 - $134,458pa (plus superannuation and leave loading)

• Ongoing Full-Time

• Beautiful coastal location of Coffs Harbour (flexible work arrangements available)

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

This role provides high quality advice, minor assistance and casework service to disadvantaged communities. Conduct an effective legal practice. Comply with Legal Aid Commission Act, policies and practice management standards and undertake all related administrative and case management activities.

About you

You're a passionate and driven legal professional with experience in family law and care and protection matters. You thrive working independently and manage your own case file load with precision and attention to detail. Your practice is grounded in a trauma-informed approach, and you bring empathy and understanding to working with clients affected by social and economic disadvantage.

You're keen to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families, and you have a strong interest in progressing toward roles such as Independent Children's Lawyer, Direct Legal Representative, or Independent Legal Representative.

You value a supportive work environment and are looking for a team that offers excellent mentoring and professional development to help you grow in your career which is exactly what you will find in our Coffs Harbour office.

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 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 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 the capacity and be willing to travel regularly, and to regional and remote areas

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.

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 address the below 2 targeted questions:

• Target Question 1: Can you outline your experience working in family law and care and protection matters?

• Target Question 2: Tell us about your experience supporting clients facing social or economic disadvantage. How do you apply trauma-informed practices in your work?

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 Annaliese Drayton, Solicitor IV Family 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 30 November 2025at 11.59pm