Director, Domestic and Family Violence – Family Law

Family Law (Legal)
Government - State (Government & Defence)

• Temporary from September 2024 to June 2025
• PSSE Band 1

About us

Legal Aid NSW helps people with their legal problems. We can help people with most areas criminal law, family law and every day civil law legal issues. We give legal advice, help at court and do family dispute resolution. We can do this over the telephone or at one of our 28 offices.

About the role

The Director, Domestic and Family Violence is a member of the Family Law Executive Team. The role provides senior management and leadership of the Legal Aid NSW family law division’s domestic violence practice to ensure high quality services are provided to legally aided clients in family law and domestic violence matters and that our services are delivered in an effective and efficient manner across the state.

About you

You are an experienced Senior Solicitor who has comprehensive understanding and knowledge of working with clients experiencing or at risk of domestic and family violence, to provide leadership and guidance on domestic violence issues to the Family Law division, including the specialist Domestic Violence Unit. You have extensive litigation experience in family law and domestic violence, can drive and oversee the domestic and family violence strategy of the Family Law Division, and undertake related law and policy reform initiatives. 

You are able to effectively establish and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders and keep abreast of legislative and policy changes. You are also an experienced manager and can lead a positive workplace culture that promotes respect, wellbeing, diversity and cultural safety. 

You have superior time and project management skills and can provide professional support for high quality and consistent services across the state including in regional areas (including a willingness to travel to those areas) whilst maintaining an effective balance between the senior management of domestic violence services, legal education and policy and law reform work.

We may use this recruitment to create a talent pool for similar ongoing or temporary vacancies we have over the next 18 months.

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, 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.

The essential requirements for this role

You must:

• Have qualifications to practice as an Australian legal practitioner
• be admitted or be eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW 
• be able to provide a current NSW Practising Certificate (unrestricted or eligible for unrestricted practicing 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 (for ongoing vacancies) or a valid visa to work in Australia (for temporary vacancies)
• Have a valid Driver Licence to drive in NSW

The Family Law Division have a number of 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 through iworkfor.nsw.gov.au . If you submit your application late or by email it will NOT be accepted. 

Your application must include:

• your resume (no more than 5 pages)
• cover letter (no more than 2 pages). In your cover letter, please outline your experience in leading, motivating and inspiring large teams responsible for high volume and complex work.

Make sure your application is complete and you have answered all questions before you submit it.

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 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 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. 

Legal Aid NSW is a state-wide organisation providing legal services to socially and economically disadvantaged people across NSW. We deliver legal services in most areas of criminal, family and civil law. Our services are provided through our Central Sydney office and 21 regional offices. Legal Aid NSW employs approximately 900 staff. Legal Aid NSW delivers legal services in partnership with the private legal profession through grants of legal aid. In 2011-12 private lawyers represented 42.5% of legal aid clients. We work closely with our partners including LawAccess NSW, Community Legal Centres and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service NSW/ACT. The long-term strategic direction of Legal Aid NSW is overseen by a Board, appointed by the Attorney General. The day-to-day management is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer, assisted by a Senior Executive. Legal Aid NSW was established in 1979, when it was known as the Legal Services Commission, before becoming the Legal Aid Commission of NSW in 1987. The Legal Aid Commission was renamed Legal Aid NSW in 2006. More information about our history can be found on this page.

Legal Aid NSW is a state-wide organisation providing legal services to socially and economically disadvantaged people across NSW. We deliver legal services in most areas of criminal, family and civil law. Our services are provided through our Central Sydney office and 21 regional offices. Legal Aid NSW employs approximately 900 staff. Legal Aid NSW delivers legal services in partnership with the private legal profession through grants of legal aid. In 2011-12 private lawyers represented 42.5% of legal aid clients. We work closely with our partners including LawAccess NSW, Community Legal Centres and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service NSW/ACT. The long-term strategic direction of Legal Aid NSW is overseen by a Board, appointed by the Attorney General. The day-to-day management is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer, assisted by a Senior Executive. Legal Aid NSW was established in 1979, when it was known as the Legal Services Commission, before becoming the Legal Aid Commission of NSW in 1987. The Legal Aid Commission was renamed Legal Aid NSW in 2006. More information about our history can be found on this page.

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