Summer Clerkship
Applications for the 2021 - 2022 Summer Clerkship Program with Policy, Reform and Legislation (PRL) Branch is open.
Casual (Full-Time or Part-Time)
Location: Sydney
Clerk Grade 1/2, Salary ($64,973 - $70,636) pro rata over the placement period
About us
The Department of Communities and Justice carries an important purpose across many areas of its work, particularly when it comes to improving outcomes for children and young people, Aboriginal people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people experiencing domestic and family violence, victims of sexual assault, juvenile offenders, people at high risk of reoffending, and people experiencing homelessness.
Working together for stronger communities means we can continue to deliver our services with a more unified and collaborative approach. This means a greater focus on prevention and early intervention, faster responses, more seamless operations, less duplication of effort and better outcomes.
About the role
A summer clerkship with the Policy, Reform and Legislation Branch provides a unique opportunity to be involved in formulating government policy, law reform and Parliamentary practice. You will have hands-on involvement in a range of projects from civil to criminal law policy and legislation development.
Some of the tasks you may be expected to complete include:
- preparing briefing notes for the Attorney General and other Strong Communities cluster Ministers;
- liaising with stakeholders;
- conducting in-depth analysis on proposed Bills or policy reform from other Ministers;
- writing speeches;
- attending meetings;
- working with other Government Departments; and
- conducting research.
A summer clerkship with the Policy, Reform and Legislation Branch is suited to students who enjoy working in a fast paced and dynamic workplace, have excelled in a variety of academic and non-academic fields, and are interested in pursuing a career in government or public policy.
Only candidates who are short-listed for interviews will be contacted.
Essential requirements of the role
- Currently studying a law degree (whether an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or postgraduate Juris Doctor (JD)
Appointments are subject to reference checks. Some roles may also require the following checks/ clearances:
- National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014
- Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
Read the role description
About you
In addition to meeting the essential requirements, the successful candidate must:
- A strong academic record
- Well-developed legal research and writing skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and
- A demonstrated interest in law reform and policy development
Applying for the role
Please submit your application via 
https://jobs.dcj.nsw.gov.au/
Applicants are required to be in their penultimate or final year of their law degree.
Your application must include:
- a covering letter addressing all the selection criteria
- a CV
- an academic transcript
- contact details for at least two referees
The formal selection criteria used to assess summer clerkship applications includes:
- Interest in, and an understanding of, the work of the Department of Communities and Justice;
- Experience, gained through paid or voluntary work and extracurricular activities, that would enable you to contribute to the Department;
- Good communication and interpersonal skills; and
- Strong academic record.
Please explain how you meet these criteria in your application and provide examples, where possible.
Applications must not be longer than 4 pages, including your CV.
Please submit your application as one PDF file. Your academic transcript is not counted toward this total.
Closing date: Sunday 11 August 2021 at 11:59pm.
If you would like any further information about undertaking a Summer Clerkship with the Policy, Reform and Legislation Branch please email policy@justice.nsw.gov.au
If you experience technical difficulties when submitting your application, please contact Rossie Matamaki on 9765 3235.
IMPORTANT
To ensure recruitment at the Department of Communities and Justice continues without interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, some interviews and assessments may be performed using alternative methods.
This may include video interviewing, telephone interviewing and online assessments. If you are successful following review of your application, you may need to perform assessments and/or interviews via online platforms using a PC, laptop, or smart phone. By doing so, we will be adhering to the strict social distancing advice currently in place.
Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit
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.
If you require an adjustment within the recruitment process, please contact Rossie Matamaki at rossie.matamaki@facs.nsw.gov.au and advise us of your preferred method of communication.
If you are looking for more information about workplace adjustments at DCJ, please visit our Careers site
Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.