Job Description

• Principal location - Parramatta - Flexible working arrangements may be negotiated
• Employment type - Ongoing - Full Time (35 hours per week)
• Salary - Legal Officer IV, base salary ($144,058 - $146,831), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

This role in the Inquests, Inquiries and Representation (‘IIR’) team provides high level legal and litigation advice on complex, contentious and sensitive matters, including inquests, inquiries and court proceedings. It offers the opportunity to work on significant matters of public interest, develop leadership capability through staff supervision, and contribute to high quality legal services in a collaborative and professional environment.

What you’ll do

The IIR team is a high functioning team within the Legal branch of the Department of Communities and Justice (‘DCJ’). We perform a range of work, including the following:

• Assist Coroners in coronial inquests and inquiries
• Represent DCJ in inquests and inquiries including the representation of the Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW in coronial inquests into deaths in custody
• Represent DCJ in other matters including tenancy and housing related matters, youth parole proceedings and discrimination complaint matters
• Represent witnesses appearing before investigatory bodies including the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

We offer flexible work practices in a supportive work environment.

You will provide supervision and guidance to legal staff, including to Legal Officer I-III solicitors and support staff.

You will also:

• Deliver high-level legal and litigation advice to clients, senior management, and staff, aligning with legislation, policy, and professional standards.

• Lead and support legal staff through supervision, guidance, and mentoring to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery.
• Analyse and prepare complex legal documents, including legislation, contracts, policies, submissions, and briefing materials.
• Manage complex, sensitive, or contentious matters, including litigation before courts and tribunals, and responses to subpoenas and statutory requests.
• Provide advice and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to shape legal frameworks, systems and processes, and deliver legal training and education.

What we’re looking for

• Extensive experience providing high-level legal advice and litigation services in complex, contentious or sensitive matters in the relevant areas of law, with the ability to exercise sound judgement and manage competing priorities.
• Strong analytical, drafting and advocacy skills, including experience preparing complex legal documents, submissions, briefing notes and correspondence to a high professional standard.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring or guiding legal staff, with the ability to foster a cooperative, professional and high performing team environment.
• Legal qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate as a government legal practitioner issued by the NSW Law Society, with the ability to meet mandatory clearance requirements.

Download the

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

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.

Essential requirements

• Legal Qualifications and eligibility to hold a practising certificate as a Government legal practitioner issued by the NSW Law Society.
• Current and valid Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
• Where required, hold a National Security Clearance at the appropriate level in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).

Some roles may require the ability to undertake travel for regional court and other commitments subject to the application of any discrimination legislation (including in respect of carer’s responsibilities).

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career

• Flexible 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 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 a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Applications close Monday, 15 June 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 Katie Llewelyn on 0409 481 236or via Katie.Llewelyn@justice.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 Paola Piña | Talent Acquisition Officer, via paola.pina@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, visit Inclusion 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/