Aboriginal Identified – Solicitor Legal Officer Grade I-III – Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (CLSAC) • Competitive salary range: $79,322 – $134,458 (plus super & leave loading) • Permanent role in Lismore/Tuckurimbah with strong career development potential • Work directly with Aboriginal clients & communities to deliver culturally appropriate and trauma-informed legal support This vacancy is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identified recruitment under Part 5, clause 26 of the Government Sector Employment (General) Rules 2014. If you are an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are thinking about applying you can contact the Aboriginal Services Branch for a confidential discussion about the role by emailing: aboriginalservices@legalaid.nsw.gov.au. 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 Lismore / Tuckurimbah Working as a solicitor in Lismore / Tuckurimbah offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact to Aboriginal clients and communities across the Northern Rivers region. You will be working in a region traditionally owned by the Widjabul Wia-bal people of the Bundjalung Nation. The Bundjalung Nation spans a significant area, stretching from the northern banks of the Clarence River to the Logan River in Queensland, and westward to the Great Dividing Range near Tenterfield and Stanthorpe. Local Aboriginal communities maintain a strong and enduring connection to Country, with Bundjalung language still actively spoken and cultural practices continuing across generations. About the role This role sits within the Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (CLSAC) team. CLSAC is a state-wide team, servicing remote and regional aboriginal communities across NSW. The team is comprised of solicitors, social workers and a financial counsellor. The team are geographically dispersed, with staff in Central Sydney, Lismore, Orange, and Wollongong. In this role, you will provide outreach services to aboriginal communities in the Northern Rivers. You will meet with clients, face-to-face, and provide high quality advice, minor assistance and casework services in areas such as consumer, mental health, human rights, employment, housing, immigration, social security, and/or coronial inquests, or other areas of civil law. You will be supported in this work through supervision by a senior solicitor, and professional development. You will also work closely with FamAC (Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities) solicitors and Aboriginal Field Officers on outreach from time to time. This Solicitor I-III role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the important work of CLSAC and Legal Aid NSW. About you We’re looking for a solicitor who brings both professional expertise and a genuine commitment to social justice. You’ll have experience working with Aboriginal clients and/or communities, and a strong understanding of the legal and social issues they face. If you’ve previously provided legal advice in this space and are passionate about making a meaningful impact, we’d love to hear from you. 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. 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. If you need an adjustment to participate in the recruitment process, experiencing issues accessing information on the application form and require this in an alternate format, or you’d like information about what we can do to help you, please contact our team at erecruitment@legalaid.nsw.gov.au 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. • Find out more at Working at Legal Aid NSW The essential requirements for this role You must: • be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander • 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 a valid NSW driver’s licence 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 respond to the following 2 targeted questions: • Target Question 1 – Please outline your experience working with aboriginal clients or communities, in a legal or non-legal capacity. • Target Question 2 – This role will involve working closely with aboriginal clients and communities. What does culturally safe legal practice mean to you, and how would you put it into action? 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?It’s important to properly prepare before you apply for a role. Here is some other information to help you: • If you have general questions, you can contact Talent Acquisition Business Partner Axel Maire on 0404 161 900 or email: axel.maire@legalaid.nsw.gov.au • If you have questions about the role, you can contact the Hiring Manager – Ammy Lewis on email: ammy.lewis@legalaid.nsw.gov.au • 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. • 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 • Working at Legal Aid NSW • Closing Date: Monday 22nd September 2025 at 11.59pm 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.
