Deputy Secretary, Law, Reform and Legal Services

Job Description

Deputy Secretary, Law, Reform and Legal Services \n

NSW Department of Communities and Justice – Parramatta NSW

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The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is committed to improving lives and strengthening communities across New South Wales. We work to create a safe, just and inclusive society by delivering services that protect children and families, support vulnerable people, reduce reoffending, increase access to justice and contribute to safer communities. Every day, our people make a meaningful difference through work that has a lasting impact on the lives of individuals, families and communities.

Deputy Secretary, Law, Reform and Legal Services \n

Total remuneration payable: $483,851 - $535,240

About Department of Communities and Justice \n

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is committed to improving lives and strengthening communities across New South Wales. We work to create a safe, just and inclusive society by delivering services that protect children and families, support vulnerable people, reduce reoffending, increase access to justice and contribute to safer communities. Every day, our people make a meaningful difference through work that has a lasting impact on the lives of individuals, families and communities.

About the Role \n

As Deputy Secretary, Law Reform and Legal Services, you will provide strategic leadership to a diverse division responsible for leading law reform initiatives, delivering legal services and advice to the Department, supporting key statutory offices, and driving policy development across the justice system. Reporting directly to the Secretary and as a member of the Department's Executive Leadership Team, you will play a critical role in supporting the Attorney General in their responsibilities as the First Law Officer of the Crown and advancing priorities that strengthen the rule of law, integrity of the legal system and access to justice.

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The role requires a highly accomplished executive capable of leading complex legal and policy reforms, influencing decision-making at the highest levels of government, and fostering strong relationships across the judiciary, government agencies, statutory bodies and community stakeholders. You will provide authoritative advice on complex and sensitive matters while contributing to the strategic direction and governance of one of NSW's largest and most complex public sector agencies.

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The role also serves as the executive leader of DCJ's legal function, ensuring the Department receives high-quality legal advice and representation while maintaining strong legal governance, risk management and professional standards across a complex operational portfolio.

What you'll do \n

As Deputy Secretary, Law Reform and Legal Services, you will:

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• Lead a high-performing division responsible for law reform, legal services, strategic legal policy and the provision of administrative support to key statutory offices.
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• Lead DCJ's legal function, ensuring the provision of high-quality, strategic legal advice and services that support the Department's operations, major programs, litigation, statutory obligations and decision-making processes.
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• Serve as the Department's most senior legal adviser, providing authoritative counsel on significant legal, regulatory, legislative and governance matters with whole-of-government implications.
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• Provide expert and authoritative advice to Ministers, the Secretary and senior executives on complex civil and criminal law, legal policy and justice system matters.
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• Drive the development and implementation of strategic legal and policy reforms that support government priorities and improve justice outcomes for the people of New South Wales.
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• Lead NSW's involvement in national and inter-jurisdictional law reform initiatives, including representing the State on national committees, forums and negotiations.
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• Oversee the development of Cabinet proposals and provide strategic advice on matters of significance across the Communities and Justice portfolio.
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• Establish and maintain effective relationships with the Judiciary, statutory office holders, government agencies, legal stakeholders and community representatives.
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• Lead the development of evidence-based policy, legislative and regulatory reforms, ensuring alignment with government objectives and emerging community needs.
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• Contribute as a member of the Department's Executive Leadership Team, providing strategic leadership, sound governance and organisational stewardship across the Department.
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• Lead and develop a diverse workforce, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
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• Oversee the effective management of significant operational, financial and strategic resources to deliver high-quality outcomes.
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• Oversee governance, risk, financial and operational management to ensure the effective delivery of services and organisational objectives.
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What we're looking for \n

We are seeking an exceptional executive leader with extensive experience leading legal, policy, strategy or reform functions within a large and complex organisation.

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To be successful in this role, you will bring:

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• Tertiary qualifications in Law.
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• Extensive executive leadership experience in legal services, law reform, policy development, strategy or related functions within government or a similarly complex environment.
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• Demonstrated experience leading a large and complex legal function, including the provision of strategic legal advice, management of legal risk and oversight of legal services in support of organisational objectives.
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• A strong understanding of the role of government legal services and the ability to balance legal risk, public policy objectives and operational considerations in advising on complex matters.
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• Demonstrated experience providing high-level strategic advice to Ministers, Statutory Office Holders, Boards, Chief Executives or equivalent senior decision-makers on complex and sensitive legal, policy and governance matters.
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• Significant expertise in law, public policy, justice systems and legislative reform, with the ability to navigate complex legal and political environments.
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• Proven ability to influence, negotiate and build trusted relationships with senior government officials, the Judiciary, statutory office holders and key external stakeholders.
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• Strong experience leading complex reform programs, inter-jurisdictional initiatives and whole-of-government projects that deliver lasting outcomes.
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• Demonstrated success leading large and diverse teams through change, fostering a high-performance culture and building organisational capability.
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• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, with the ability to represent the Department at the highest levels of government and across national forums.
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• Strong governance, financial management and organisational leadership capabilities, with a track record of delivering strategic outcomes in complex operating environments.
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Download the role description.

We do work that really matters \n

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

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Applications close Tuesday 29 September 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

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For more information about the role, the recruitment process, or if you would benefit from an adjustment to participate in the recruitment process (including an alternative method of application submission), please contact Marijana Puric at **************@dcj.nsw.gov.au.

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Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit \n

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

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To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application. \n

As Deputy Secretary, Law Reform and Legal Services, you will provide strategic leadership to a diverse division responsible for leading law reform initiatives, delivering legal services and advice to the Department, supporting key statutory offices, and driving policy development across the justice system. Reporting directly to the Secretary and as a member of the Department's Executive Leadership Team, you will play a critical role in supporting the Attorney General in their responsibilities as the First Law Officer of the Crown and advancing priorities that strengthen the rule of law, integrity of the legal system and access to justice.

We offer: \n

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

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