Are you an experienced or emerging community lawyer/caseworker who wants to build a meaningful career in a trauma informed, culturally safe statewide specialist CLC legal practice?
Welfare Rights Centre provides free legal information, advice, and representation to help people navigating complex and intersecting disadvantage to understand and access their social security entitlements. WRC is highly respected for its specialist expertise, practical advocacy and commitment to improving the lives of people experiencing poverty and exclusion.
Our work supports people on low incomes and those facing structural barriers to access their legal entitlements, challenges unfair social security debts, and helps prevent and alleviate poverty and long–term disadvantage. We also work closely with Economic Justice Australia, our national peak body, to contribute to law reform and systemic advocacy for a fair, accessible and humane social security system.
About the role
The Solicitor/Caseworker’s primary role is to contribute to the casework practice of Welfare Rights Centre through the provision of advice and ongoing casework involving advocacy directly to Centrelink and to the first tier of the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). This is a rare opportunity to develop deep expertise in social security law in a highly regarded specialist service and to achieve practical, material outcomes for clients that can make an immediate difference to their daily lives.
The Senior Solicitor/Caseworker’s primary role is to assist the Principal Solicitor in leading the casework practice of Welfare Rights Centre, and in ensuring compliance with risk management procedures. In addition to advising and representing clients at both ART tiers, the Senior Solicitor/Senior Caseworker assists the Principal Solicitor in the supervision of solicitors and caseworkers in their advice and casework
See full position description here: Solicitor /Caseworker
About You
We’re looking for someone with a firm commitment to social justice. We welcome applicants who already bring relevant experience, as well as strong candidates who can demonstrate the aptitude to grow into the role with support, training and supervision.
- A practicing certificate in NSW, or eligibility to hold one or a Bachelor’s degree and experience in social security casework.
- Knowledge of social security and family assistance law, policies and Centrelink’s administrative practices, or the capacity to rapidly acquire this knowledge.
- Experience working or volunteering in the community legal sector; or experience working in Centrelink.
- Experience in supervising volunteers.
Why join Welfare Rights Centre NSW?
Welfare Rights Centre is widely respected for its specialist expertise, its strong advocacy for the rights of socially and economically disadvantaged people, and its commitment to social justice. This is an incredible opportunity to join a vibrant, collegiate and deeply supportive workplace where you will be mentored by experienced practitioners, build specialist skills in social security law, and contribute to work that achieves real impact for individuals, communities and the broader system. For the right person, WRC offers excellent training, supervision and professional development. Working in social security law can be exceptionally rewarding: the advice, advocacy and representation you provide can secure vital income, challenge unfair decisions and debts, and deliver material positive outcomes that make a genuine difference in clients’ lives.
We strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values different perspectives and contributions.
What we offer
- 10% above Award salary
- 1% additional employer-paid superannuation, above award salaries
- Salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
- Generous leave provisions including extra paid leave over Christmas and Easter
- Excellent training, supervision and ongoing professional development
- Family friendly and flexible work arrangements
- Employee Assistance Program for confidential well-being support
For questions about the role or to find out more please contact Katherine Boyle or Donna Flood on (02) 9211 5389.
How to apply
Please email the following documents to [email protected]:
- Cover letter
- Claim for position against the selection criteria
- Your CV
Applications which do not separately address each of the selection criteria will not be considered.
Applications close midnight, Sunday 28 June 2026.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Demonstrated ability to acquire skills and knowledge relating to Centrelink and employment services, social security and family assistance law and policy, and ABSTUDY payment.
- Ability to represent clients at the first tier of the Administrative Review Tribunal, including preparing written submissions.
- Good written and oral communication skills, including plain English skills.
- Ability to learn and use the Centre’s client database.
- Good time management skills, with experience in managing competing priorities and deadlines and ability to handle a high volume of client inquiries and caseload in a professional and timely manner and provide accurate advice and information.
- Experience working as part of a team and independently.
- Appropriate and relevant qualifications and experience:
a. For the position of Solicitor:
- eligible to hold a Practicing Certificate in NSW; and
- experience working or volunteering in the community legal sector; or
- experience working in Centrelink.
b. For the position of Caseworker:
- a bachelor degree; and
- experience working in Centrelink; or
- experience providing advice and undertaking casework in social security matters.
8. Experience in one or more of the following areas:
- policy and law reform work;
- Community Legal Education;
- writing publications, including website pages and factsheets
9. Demonstrated commitment to achieving social justice.
10. Additional selection criteria for Senior Solicitor/Caseworker:
For Senior Solicitor:
- unrestricted Practicing Certificate; and
- four years post admission experience including at least two years’ experience providing advice and undertaking casework in social security matters, including preparing submissions for and representing clients at the ART; and
- Experience in supervising staff and/or volunteers.
For Senior Caseworker:
- at least two years post graduate experience working in Centrelink and/or working in casework and advocacy and
- further two years’ experience providing advice and undertaking casework in social security matters, including preparing submissions for and representing clients at the ART and
- Experience in supervising staff and/or volunteers
Remuneration:
Solicitor/Caseworker SCHADS Grade 5 +10% $116,127-$121,389;
Senior Solicitor/Caseworker SCHADS Grade 6 +10% $126,874 – $132,486
Applications close: 28 June 2026