The Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions at the Department of Customer Service works in regulatory litigation supporting SafeWork NSW, with related enforcement opportunities also possible. The role involves prosecutions, administrative reviews, court and tribunal work, legal advice and the careful handling of sensitive evidence.
This guide explains how to apply for Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions and how to use the two-page cover letter to show the judgement behind your litigation experience. The panel needs a clear view of your post-qualification practice, legal-risk decisions and ability to manage a demanding caseload.
View the official job ad before preparing your documents. These are ongoing full-time opportunities based in Haymarket in the Sydney CBD.
The resume can establish matters, jurisdictions and responsibilities, while the cover letter should explain how you analyse evidence, advise clients and progress litigation under pressure. Include your motivation for applying because the instructions ask for it directly.
Your application checklist
- Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions role snapshot
- Application requirements for Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions
- Evidence to include in your Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions application
- How to structure the cover letter and résumé
- Help with your Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions application
Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions role snapshot
| Role title | Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Department of Customer Service |
| Location | Haymarket, Sydney CBD |
| Job reference | req53553 |
| Work type | Ongoing full-time |
| Grade and salary | Clerk Grade 9/10, $133,348 to $146,945 plus superannuation |
| Closing date | 9 September 2026 at 10:00am |
| Official job ad | View and apply |
Application requirements for Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions
The application asks for two concise documents. Keep the legal detail relevant to the regulatory setting and use the cover letter to make your motivation, suitability and personal contribution easy to assess.
- Cover letter explaining your motivation and relevant skills and experience, maximum 2 pages
- Up-to-date resume, maximum 5 pages
The two-page cover letter needs a selective approach. Use one substantial litigation or prosecution example and one shorter example showing stakeholder advice, legal-risk management or workload control.
Essential role requirements
Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Laws or equivalent degree, be admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of NSW, and hold or be eligible to hold a current practising certificate as a solicitor. The role also calls for at least three years of relevant post-qualification litigation experience.
Evidence to include in your Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions application
The role requires a senior litigator who can move between legal analysis, representation, client advice and detailed drafting. Your examples should show how those responsibilities came together in real matters.
| What the role needs | How to show it |
|---|---|
| Regulatory prosecutions and litigation | Use a matter that shows your role in strategy, pleadings, evidence, appearances, counsel briefing or resolution. |
| Legal analysis and drafting | Explain how you interpreted legislation and evidence, identified the decisive issue and produced clear advice or court documents. |
| Independent legal advice and risk management | Show how you advised a client on options, legal exposure and practical next steps while preserving professional independence. |
| Stakeholder and client relationships | Describe work with investigators, regulators, counsel, witnesses or business areas where clear communication helped progress the matter. |
| Competing priorities and deadlines | Give evidence of managing a large or urgent caseload while maintaining accuracy, procedural compliance and timely advice. |
| Relevant legal knowledge | Connect your experience with regulatory prosecutions, criminal law, work health and safety, consumer protection, building law, administrative law or NSW court and tribunal procedure. |
How to structure the cover letter and résumé
The application requires a cover letter and resume. The cover letter has a maximum of two pages, and the resume has a maximum of five pages. The outline below keeps motivation visible while giving the panel enough legal substance.
| Cover letter section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening paragraph | State your post-qualification litigation experience, current practising status and motivation for joining the DCS prosecutions team. |
| Regulatory litigation example | Describe a matter that shows analysis of legislation or evidence, your litigation strategy and the legal outcome or decision supported. |
| Advice and stakeholder example | Explain how you advised a client, worked with investigators or counsel and communicated legal risk under time pressure. |
| Caseload and professional judgement | Show how you prioritise urgent matters, maintain procedural fairness and protect the quality of written work. |
| Essential requirements | Confirm the degree, admission, practising-certificate eligibility and relevant post-qualification experience. |
| Closing paragraph | Connect your legal experience with SafeWork NSW’s regulatory and public-interest responsibilities. |
What strong prosecution and litigation evidence looks like
- Your own legal analysis and decisions within a prosecution or comparable matter
- Accurate drafting of advice, pleadings, submissions or evidence-related documents
- Clear management of legal risk and client expectations
- Professional judgement in a sensitive or time-critical matter
- A result that supported lawful, fair and effective regulatory action
Help with your Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions application
Check that the cover letter reads as a case for this regulatory litigation role. The panel should be able to see your motivation, practising eligibility and the quality of your legal judgement within the first page.
For help selecting matters and keeping the legal detail clear within two pages, request a Complete Government Job Application. Review the official Senior Lawyer – Prosecutions job ad before uploading both documents.