Solicitor

• Salary range $90,692 - $134,458 pa (plus superannuation and leave loading)
• Temporary Full-Time up to 30 June 2026 (possibility of extension or ongoing conversion)
• Lismore Office (Family Law Division), hybrid work arrangements available, up to 4 days on site as needed

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.

Join our dedicated team at the Lismore Legal Aid office, where you'll make a meaningful impact supporting vulnerable communities in the Northern Rivers region. Lismore offers a relaxed lifestyle surrounded by rainforests, national parks, and beautiful beaches, with a strong sense of community and affordable living. Our office provides a supportive and collaborative environment, ideal for professionals seeking rewarding work in family law, care and protection, and other areas of social justice. It's a great opportunity to combine purpose-driven legal practice with a balanced regional lifestyle.

About the role

This Family Law role delivers high-quality legal advice, minor assistance, and casework services to disadvantaged communities. It involves conducting an effective legal practice while ensuring compliance with the Legal Aid Commission Act, relevant policies, and practice management standards. The successful candidate will also be responsible for associated administrative and case management activities.

About you

You are a motivated and community-focused professional with a strong desire to contribute meaningfully to the lives of others. Your ambition is matched by a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth. You will be joining a dynamic and collaborative team within a modern, integrated office environment that works cohesively across practice divisions. Our workplace offers not only professional support but also an enviable lifestyle. Your passion, adaptability, and team-oriented mindset will make you a valued member of our organisation.

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

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 or a valid visa to work in Australia (for temporary vacancies)
• have capacity 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 following target questions.

Target Question 1: Describe your experience in family law or care and protection matters, including the types of cases you've handled, and outcomes achieved.

Target Question 2: What do you see as the key challenges in representing clients experiencing social and/or economic disadvantage, and how do you address these in your legal practice?

Clearly label your responses to each Target Question - for example, by using headings such as Target Question 1 and Target Question 2. Cover Letters that do not clearly label responses may be considered as not having addressed the Target Questions.

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 Susie Burton, Senior Solicitor, at or ; or Rachael Thomas, Solicitor In Charge Lismore, at or

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 21 October 2025 at 11.59pm