Senior Lawyer

Senior Lawyer

Clerk Grade: 9/10

Annual Salary Range: $133,348 - $146,945 plus superannuation

Employment Type: Multiple Full-time, ongoing roles available

Location: 1 Oxford Street, Sydney (hybrid work options available)

 

About the role

The Independent Review Office (IRO) is seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Lawyer to play a key role in the administration of legal funding and early resolution services for injured workers across New South Wales.

This role combines legal expertise, leadership and stakeholder engagement to ensure grant funding applications are assessed consistently, fairly and in accordance with the IRO Funding Guidelines. You will provide legal guidance to a team of lawyers and grant managers, identify opportunities for early resolution, contribute to legal and policy development, and support the delivery of high-quality services to injured workers and legal stakeholders.

About us

The IRO is an independent statutory body in NSW that helps injured workers and motor accident claimants resolve disputes with insurers and provides legal funding to support claimants through the claims process.

As part of the Department of Customer Service, IRO is committed to integrity, independence and fairness. We are focused on delivering timely and effective support to injured workers and continuously improving our services to achieve better outcomes for the community.

What you'll do

In this role, you will:

• Apply legal expertise and provide guidance to lawyers and grant managers to support consistent, high-quality funding decisions and compliance with the IRO Funding Guidelines, workers compensation legislation and the NSW Grants Administration Guide.
• Lead and mentor legal professionals, contributing to capability development, a positive workplace culture and high standards of service delivery.
• Assess, approve and manage grants of funding for approved lawyers assisting injured workers with compensation claims.
• Identify and advance opportunities for early resolution of matters to support timely outcomes and minimise unnecessary legal escalation.
• Prepare and review complex legal documentation, including funding decisions, legal advice, submissions, briefing notes and correspondence.
• Identify and respond to emerging legal, policy and reputational issues affecting IRO and contribute to the development and review of organisational policies and procedures.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives, legal policy development and organisational projects that support IRO objectives.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with approved lawyers and other stakeholders to support effective service delivery and scheme outcomes.

What we're looking for

You will bring:

•  Substantial practical experience in personal injury compensation law, legal grant administration, or a closely related area.
•  Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply complex legislation, policy frameworks and legal principles.
•  Experience providing high-quality legal advice and exercising sound legal judgement in complex matters.
•  Strong leadership, mentoring and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence outcomes and build capability in others.
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively.
•  Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify practical solutions in a complex regulatory environment.
•  A commitment to ethical practice, integrity, customer service and continuous improvement.

Why join us?

• Be part of an organisation with a strong public purpose and meaningful impact on the lives of injured workers across NSW.
• Lead and influence legal decision-making in a specialised and evolving area of law.
• Contribute to early resolution initiatives that help injured workers achieve timely outcomes.
• Work with experienced legal professionals in a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Access flexible working arrangements and career development opportunities across the NSW Public Sector.

Essential requirements

• Relevant qualifications and/or experience in law, investigations or related disciplines.
• Admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
• Hold a current Australian practising certificate that entitles you to practise as a government lawyer in New South Wales.
• Ability to satisfy mandatory pre-employment and ongoing probity screening requirements.

How to apply

To apply, please submit:

1. Your resume (maximum 4 pages), and
2. A brief cover letter (1–2 pages) outlining how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the role.

Salary Grade 9/10, with the base salary for this role starting at $133,348 base plus superannuation

Click Here to access the Role Description .

For enquiries relating to recruitment please contact Meg Rapley via [email protected].

Visit the Capability Application Tool to prepare for the recruitment process by accessing practice application and interview questions based on the focus capabilities listed in the role description.

A talent pool may be created as part of this recruitment process and will be valid for up to 18 months. The talent pool may be used to fill future ongoing or temporary vacancies of the same or similar role.     

Closing Date: Monday 24 August 2026 at 9:59am

Careers at Department of Customer Service
A career at the Department of Customer Service (DCS) gives you the opportunity to help improve government services and be part of reform that benefits people across NSW. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service, digital transformation, and regulatory reform. Come join us and influence the future of our great state.

Belong in our diverse and inclusive workplace   
The strength of our workforce lies in its diversity and embracing difference, while the key to our success is leveraging the contributions of employees with different backgrounds and perspectives.

You can view our full diversity and inclusion statement here.

We provide adjustments to the recruitment process for candidates, including individuals with disability. If you require an adjustment during the recruitment process, including alternate formats or have questions about the support available, please contact Talent Operations on 02 8276 8130 or [email protected].

For more information, please visit

Information on some of the different types of disabilities

Information on adjustments available for the recruitment process