Job Description

Paralegal

Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Principal location – Parramatta - Flexible working arrangements maybe negotiated.
• Employment type – Ongoing and Temporary – Full time (35 hours)
• Salary – Clerk Grade 3/4, Base Salary ($87,199 - $95,482), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

The primary responsibility of the Civil Team is to:

• Manage civil claims brought against DCJ, including child abuse claims involving Youth Justice and out-of-home care, and other civil claims involving Housing, Courts Services, Corrective Services NSW, disability, and other personal injury claims.
• Manage claims against Government figures and bodies including the Attorney General, the State of NSW, Court and Tribunals and the NSW Sheriff’s office.
• Manage proceedings brought under the Family Law (Child Abduction Convention) Regulations 1986
• Provide advice and liaising with internal stakeholders in relation to matters under the Hague Convention of Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children

What you’ll do

In this role you will be supporting solicitors and senior staff in the management of the team’s responsibilities. As a paralegal, you will be responsible for providing legal, clerical, and administrative support in relation to a wide range of litigated and un-litigated claims against the State of NSW, predominantly child abuse claims.

This role involves exposure to materials related to child abuse matters as part of civil litigation work. The team provides vicarious trauma training, guidance and wellbeing supports. Applicants are encouraged to consider whether this type of work is suitable for them and to raise any questions during the recruitment process.

The team works on complex and often sensitive legal matters. You will receive training and support to develop your skills and succeed in the role. We take a trauma-informed approach to our work, recognising its impact on vulnerable people.

What we’re looking for

• Willingness to learn and take on new tasks
• Good attention to detail and an organised approach to work
• Ability to follow processes and manage information carefully
• Clear communication and the ability to work well in a team
• Comfortable working with confidential and sensitive information
• Legal study or experience is desirable, but not mandatory.

Additional requirements:

• A Working with Children Check (WWCC) is required for this role.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

Download the

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

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?

Click apply, attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 3 pages) addressing the 2 targeted questions below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

• Describe a situation where you had competing priorities. How did you determine what was most urgent, manage stakeholder expectations, and ensure all tasks were completed accurately and on time?

• Describe an occasion you faced a challenging or unfamiliar task. What steps did you take to overcome the challenge and deliver the result?

Please ensure you have considered the focus capabilities for this role outlined in the Role Description when answering the above questions.

Applications close:Sunday, 30 August 2026 at 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 Jade Cooper on 0458 143 024 or via jade.cooper@dcj.nsw.gov.au

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 (including an alternate method submission of the application), please contact Lois Jebin at lois.jebin@dcj.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, visitInclusion 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 Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/