Principal Solicitor - Child Protection

Principal Solicitor – Child Protection 

• Be part of a dynamic public sector team and work with legal experts of the profession  

• Flexible start & finish working hours + annual leave 20 days + additional flex leave (up to 18 days per year) 

• Temporary role based in the Sydney CBD with flexible work arrangements available 

Salary Classification: Legal Officer Grade VI 
Salary: $165,865 - $169,359 p.a. plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annualised leave loading.) 

Work type:  Full time -35 hour per week, Temporary up to 12 months and conversion to ongoing 

* Our primary place of work is the CSO Office located at Parkline Place, 252 Pitt Street, Sydney. Please note we will be relocating to a new premises in July 2026.
 

About the Opportunity: 

The NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office is seeking an experienced Principal Solicitor in our Child Protection Practice Group. 

The Child Protection Practice Group specialises in child protection law in the NSW and Commonwealth jurisdiction.  The practice group provides expert advice and representation to NSW Government departments and agencies in relation to child protection issues such as:  

• Complex and sensitive matters in the Children’s Court, District Court and Supreme Court of NSW pursuant to the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection Act 1998; 

• Proceedings pursuant to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth); 

• Adoptions (contested and non-contested for government and non-government agencies); 

• Parens patriae matters before the Supreme Court of NSW such as urgent medical applications and secure care orders; 

• Administrative review application in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal; and 

• Court of Appeal proceedings relating to appeal and judicial review applications.” 

About the Role  

As a Principal Solicitor (Legal Officer Grade VI) you will be responsible for assisting the Director in managing the practice group, including with client and stakeholder engagement and in the identification and implementation of team-wide initiatives which contribute to the achievement of the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office’s (CSO) business and people goals. You will be responsible for leading a sub-team within the practice group and will provide high-level advice and representation to the Crown Solicitor’s clients in a range of highly complex litigation and/or advice matters in which the Child Protection practice group specialises.  

We are looking for highly experienced and talented legal professionals with expertise in providing and supervising complex litigation and/or advice. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience in managing and supervising the work of solicitors and ensuring the provision of high quality, cost-effective, and client-focused legal services 

About You  

The ideal candidate will have experience relevant to the jurisdictions in which the practice group specialises and the demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders, prepare evidence and deal with evidentiary issues and appear and make submissions that are clear, accurate and persuasive. Prior experience mentoring or supervising and experience advising on matters in which the practice group specialises  practices are essential.  

To learn more about the role, please review the role description here.  

Essential requirements 

• Completion of a law degree from an accredited law school or completion of the Legal Practitioners Admission Board’s Diploma in Law Course. 

• Admission or eligibility for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW. 

• Highly developed legal skills and extensive experience which enable provision of advice and representation in highly complex legal matters in areas of law in which the Practice Group specialises. 

• Undertake Criminal Record Check and Working with Children Check. 

• Travel for regional or interstate court and other commitments subject to the application of any discrimination legislation (including in respect of carer’s responsibilities).   

How to apply: 

For your application to be considered, you must submit your application online and include:  

• An updated resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for the role  

The selection process may include a range of assessment techniques to assist hiring managers in determining your suitability for the role.  

You can request adjustments throughout each step of the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or alternative formats to participate in the process, please contact Margaret Ters, Talent Acquisition Partner on 0427 413 924 or email [email protected] to further discuss.  

A recruitment pool may be created from this recruitment action for ongoing and temporary roles for this role or similar roles that may become available over the next 18 months.  

Closing date:  Thursday, 18 June 2026 (7:59 PM) 

Recruitment enquires: Margaret Ters, Talent Acquisition Partner on 0427 413 924 or email [email protected] 

Why work for CSO?   

The NSW Crown Solicitors Office (CSO) provides high-quality and cost-effective legal services to the NSW Government and its agencies. As a trusted legal advisor to the NSW Government, our principal role is to advise and represent agencies so that they can deliver policies, programs and projects in a lawful, effective and efficient manner.  

We act with integrity and professional independence, guided by the government sector's core values. We are focussed on providing excellent client service and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. We also provide our people with opportunities to learn, develop and adapt within an inclusive and supportive environment.  

For more information about the CSO, click here. 

Our commitment to flexible working 

The CSO has adopted a teams-based approach to flexible working. We recognise that everyone has different needs and preferences, and our flexible work culture allows you to adapt your work routine to suit you. We’re all about flexibility, productivity and driving good client outcomes. 

We have generous leave provisions available for our employees that acknowledge individual preferences and responsibilities including: 

• Up to 20 days recreation leave and up to 18 days flex leave per annum 

• Up to 15 days sick leave and 2.5 days emergency/carers leave per annum 

• 20 days purchased leave annually 

• Inclusive paid parental leave provisions of up to 16 weeks (14 weeks + 2 bonus weeks) which can be taken flexibly within the first 24 months to support the birth, adoption, altruistic surrogacy or permanent out-of-home care placement of a child 

• Study time up to 4 hours per week 

• Extended Leave of up to 2 months after 10 years or up to 6 weeks after 7 years’ service 

How we support health & wellbeing: 

• We offer an employee assistance program to support the wellbeing of employees in the workplace and in their personal lives, which also extends to family members 

• Coaching services are available for people leaders and executives to learn and implement best practices to manage their team’s wellbeing 

• We offer an annual Flu Vaccination program 

• We provide access to the Fitness Passport program – a discounted workplace health and fitness program available to staff and their families 

CSO's commitment to diversity 

At CSO, we believe a diverse and inclusive workforce contributes to the success of our organisation and we are committed to ensuring that our workforce reflects our diverse community. 

We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, including people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the LGBTQIA+ community, culturally and linguistically diverse people, veterans and other diverse communities.