- Permanent, full time hours (35hpw)
- Bankstown office location
- Community Legal Centre incorporating domestic and family violence services
- Salary: SCHADS Level 8
- Flexible work conditions, salary packaging to increase take-home pay, 5 weeks annual leave (pro rata) plus leave loading, additional leave at Christmas.
Are you a passionate and experienced civil or crime lawyer? Do you have demonstrated experience in leading, mentoring and developing staff? Do you have proven ability to provide strategic leadership while maintaining effective oversight of team practice and operationsDo you have a strong interest in improving access to justice for disadvantaged and vulnerable clients?
Justice Support Centre is seeking an Assistant Principal Solicitor to lead and oversee our Civil and Driving & Traffic practice, working closely with the Principal Solicitor and Family Law Assistant Principal Solicitor to shape strategy and drive service improvement. This role combines hands-on legal practice with team leadership and operational oversight, while strengthening our impact for people experiencing disadvantage, particularly women affected by domestic and family violence.
About Justice Support Centre
Justice Support Centre is a Not-for-Profit organisation committed to providing timely, effective, and high-quality legal services to the community. We focus on delivering legal support through telephone advice, face-to-face consultations, legal representation, community legal education, and participation in law reform activities. We primarily assist clients who are financially-disadvantaged, as well as victim-survivors of domestic violence & family violence, in addition to other priority criteria.
About the role
Justice Support Centre (JSC) has two Assistant Principal Solicitors (APS), each leading a designated practice with overall responsibility for supervision, performance and practice standards within their team. The Principal Solicitor and the two APSs operate as a collaborative management team, working closely to align practice direction, oversee operations, lead people management and drive strategic projects across the practice.
The role also contributes to the strategic development of the Civil and Driving & Traffic Practice, including strengthening a targeted domestic financial abuse advice and casework stream that is integrated with JSC’s broader domestic and family violence response.
Nature and Scope of Position
Justice Support Centre is a generalist community legal centre providing legal advice, casework and community education across civil and criminal law as well as family law and domestic violence legal support. JSC works closely with internal casework teams and external partners to deliver integrated and wrap-around responses for people experiencing disadvantage, particularly women experiencing domestic and family violence.
The APS ensures that the Civil and Driving & Traffic practice operates consistently with JSC’s commitment to trauma-informed, client-centred and culturally safe legal practice and integrated service delivery and works in partnership with the Principal Solicitor and Family Law APS to ensure consistency of practice standards, risk management and service delivery across all legal programs.
The APS – Civil & Crime provides supervision, leadership and oversight to lawyers within the Civil and Driving & Traffic team, working in collaboration with Senior Civil and Crime Solicitors who may provide subject-matter expertise and mentoring support. The APS retains overall responsibility for civil/crime team performance, professional development, workload management, project oversight and staff wellbeing.
In addition to their leadership responsibilities, the APS maintains an active Civil/Criminal legal practice. The role includes contributing to JSC’s telephone advice service, managing casework, delivering community legal education, participating in law reform initiatives, supervising pro bono lawyers and coordinating key stakeholder relationships and outreach activities.
FOCUS AREAS
This role primarily covers:
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Civil Law, including Victim Services, motor vehicle accident property damage, social security, and employment law
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Driving & Traffic matters (including Local Court duty lawyer work).
You may also contribute to other practice areas depending on community needs and Centre priorities.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Legal practice & casework management
- maintain an active civil/crime legal practice and deliver legal advice and targeted casework to clients in accordance with JSC’s eligibility criteria
- oversee the quality, consistency and timeliness of legal advice and casework across the Civil & Crime team
- supervise senior solicitors, including advice checking and file review to ensure high professional standards
- manage, supervise and support pro bono relationships and clinics in coordination with the Principal Solicitor and Family Law APS
- chair casework meetings and oversee matter allocation to ensure equitable distribution, appropriate prioritisation and effective service delivery
- identify and support opportunities for strategic or impact litigation aligned with organisational priorities
- monitor legal, procedural and sector developments and ensure relevant updates are shared and embedded within team practice
- support team participation in reflective supervision processes
- supervise and manage the legal practice in the absence of the Principal Solicitor.
People leadership & supervision
- lead and manage the development, performance and wellbeing of all Civil & Crime lawyers
- assist the Principal Solicitor with recruitment, induction, performance development and workforce planning
- work collaboratively with the Family Law APS to strengthen capability and consistency across the practice areas especially in Victim Services
- support the development of best-practice tools, precedents and resources to strengthen consistency across the team
- together with the Family Law APS and PS to foster a professional, supportive and high-performing team culture aligned with JSC values
- contribute legal insight to organisational policy development and regulatory compliance.
Contribute to law reform, advocacy and strategic initiatives
- support the Principal Solicitor in implementing JSC’s strategic plan
- support law reform, advocacy and policy initiatives aligned with JSC’s focus areas
- contribute to submissions, consultations and research activities
- provide strategic input into team and organisational planning, service design and program evaluation.
Practice Operations & Systems
- work collaboratively with the Family Law APS to develop and oversee quality control and practice management strategies that comply with the legal and regulatory requirements governing the legal profession and practice including relevant legislation, the CLC Risk Management Guide and funding agreements
- in collaboration with the Family Law APS and Legal Administrator lead the development and improvement of our legal case management system (Actionstep)
- work together with the Family Law APS to support and strengthen intake processes and coordination between legal and administrative functions within the team
- ensure accurate data entry, file management and reporting to meet internal requirements and funding body obligations.
Community engagement & projects
- build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders and community partners
- represent JSC at interagency meetings, networks and collaborative forums
- contribute to organisational communications, including internal monthly news, quarterly external newsletters and the Annual report
- support the development of funding applications and project proposals
- participate in the planning, development and delivery of community legal education
- contribute to development of plain-language legal resources, JSC publications and communication
- represent JSC and participate in networks, particularly with respect to the Focus Areas
- keep informed about policy and social issues affecting the communities served by JSC.
General
- ensure accurate recording of client work and contribute to internal and external reporting, including to funding bodies
- develop and work to annual plans aligned with service and strategic objectives
- maintain up-to-date knowledge of law, policy and professional obligations and comply with continuing legal education requirements
- ensure availability for client services, including telephone advice and outreach, and manage court commitments accordingly
- comply with Centre policies, professional standards and funding requirements.
Reporting
The Assistant Principal Solicitor – Civil & Crime will report to the Principal Solicitor. In the absence of the Principal Solicitor the Assistant Principal Solicitor – Civil & Crime will report to the CEO.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE
Essential
- a current Law Society of NSW unrestricted Practising Certificate and is eligible and able to practice law in NSW as a principal of a legal practice
- substantial post-admission experience (minimum 4 years), including litigation and court advocacy in one or more of the Focus Areas
- demonstrated experience delivering high-quality, trauma-informed legal advice
- substantial experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse clients and a commitment to culturally safe practice
- demonstrated capacity to work holistically with victim-survivors experiencing complex and intersecting needs
- demonstrated experience supervising solicitors and demonstrated capacity to lead a team, including mentoring and supervising staff and maintaining oversight of workload, wellbeing and professional development
- strong understanding of legal practice management, regulatory compliance and risk management obligations
- strong written and verbal communication skills, including drafting court documents and contributing to reports, law reform submissions and funding applications
- demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships and represent an organisation in external forums
- demonstrated ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- demonstrated commitment to social justice
- demonstrated ability to work with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability, young people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- strong ICT and case management capability
- current driver’s licence and access to an insured vehicle.
Desirable
- experience working in a community legal centre
- experience supervising pro bono clinics or volunteer lawyers
- experience in domestic financial abuse advice and casework
- strong understanding of domestic and family violence and trauma-informed practice
- experience contributing to law reform or sector advocacy initiatives
- experience using Actionstep or similar legal case management systems.
- familiarity with integrated or multidisciplinary service models.
What’s on offer
We are offering an attractive total remuneration depending on skills and experience.
In addition, Justice Support Centre also offer excellent employee benefits which include:
- a range of flexible work arrangements including hybrid WFH arrangements
- 9 weeks paid parental leave
- access to Long Service Leave after 5 years
- generous leave benefits (5 weeks annual leave, 5 Gratis days at Christmas, 17 days sick/personal leave per year)
- 35 hour working week which can be worked over 4 or 5 days within the working week
- learning and development opportunities.
How to apply for this position
- Apply online via this link with your cover letter, detailing how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria along with your resume
- Please address the essential and desirable criteria in full. Applications that do not address the essential criteria will not be considered.
Closing Date: 12th April 2026, 5pm
Contact Person: Enquiries about the roles should be emailed to Liz Simpson, Principal Solicitor, liz.simpson@jsc.org.au
The preferred applicants will be required to undergo a Working with Children Check and a National Police Records Check.
