Introduction
The Executive Director – Civil Law Division at Legal Aid NSW leads statewide civil law services for people experiencing hardship and disadvantage. Reporting to the CEO, the Band 2 executive oversees a large multidisciplinary workforce across metropolitan and regional locations. The role combines service leadership with organisational strategy and advice on civil justice issues.
This guide explains how to apply for Executive Director – Civil Law Division with a resume and a two-page cover letter answering two targeted questions. Your examples need to explain a significant reform you led and how you managed competing demands in a senior executive role. An unrestricted NSW practising certificate and the stated citizenship or residency eligibility are important checks before preparing the application.
Choose a reform where you can identify the service problem and explain the decisions that changed its direction. Include the people you needed to influence and what happened after the change was implemented. For the competing-priorities question, make the trade-offs and the effect on operational performance clear so the panel can assess your judgement.
View the official job ad while you plan your application.
Executive Director – Civil Law Division role snapshot
| Role | Executive Director – Civil Law Division |
| Organisation | Legal Aid NSW |
| Location | Sydney CBD, with flexible working options |
| Employment | Ongoing full time |
| Salary or remuneration | Public Service Senior Executive Band 2 remuneration package |
| Source job ID | 603496 |
| Closing date | 18 October 2026 at 11:59 pm |
Application requirements for Executive Director – Civil Law Division
- Current resume, maximum five pages
- Cover letter, maximum two pages, outlining suitability and addressing two targeted questions
Answer both targeted questions within the cover letter. The full letter has a two-page maximum, so use examples that show your own executive decisions and the resulting service outcomes.
Role conditions and qualifications
- Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or Australian permanent residency
- Unrestricted NSW practising certificate
- Working with Children Check, Criminal Record Check and Conduct Service Check
Application prompt 1
Describe a significant organisational or service reform initiative that you have led. What was your approach, how did you influence key stakeholders, and what outcomes were achieved?
Response limit: Maximum two pages for the full cover letter
Choose a substantial reform that affected service delivery. Explain your decisions and how you secured stakeholder support, with outcomes that can be checked.
Application prompt 2
This role requires balancing strategic leadership, operational performance and external stakeholder engagement. How have you successfully managed these competing priorities in a senior executive role?
Response limit: Maximum two pages for the full cover letter
Use a senior executive situation where the priorities competed for attention or resources. Explain how you decided what to progress and kept the service performing.
Candidate evidence for Executive Director – Civil Law Division
Legal Aid NSW’s Band 2 executive leads statewide civil law services for people experiencing hardship and disadvantage. The role reports to the CEO and oversees a large workforce across metropolitan and regional locations, with responsibility for significant resources and service reform. Its application asks for two examples inside a two-page letter, covering reform and the way you balanced executive priorities.
The following evidence areas are practical application guidance for the work described.
| Evidence area | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Executive leadership and service reform | Describe a significant reform, the priorities you set and the effect on service delivery or access to justice. |
| Managing a dispersed workforce | Explain how you led senior staff across locations and supported consistent performance or service standards. |
| Resources and organisational risk | Show how you balanced budgets or risk with service needs, including the decisions you made when priorities competed. |
| Influencing external stakeholders | Use an example of securing cooperation across government, the legal profession or community partners during a difficult initiative. |
Example application structure for Executive Director – Civil Law Division
The cover letter must explain your suitability and answer both targeted questions, alongside a current resume. The maximum is two pages for the letter and five pages for the resume. The outline below helps give each response enough detail while keeping the executive decisions and outcomes clear.
| Application section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening | Briefly explain your relevant executive experience and interest in leading statewide civil law services. |
| First targeted question | Describe the significant reform, how you influenced key stakeholders and the outcomes achieved through your leadership. |
| Second targeted question | Explain how you balanced strategic, operational and stakeholder priorities, including a specific decision and its effect. |
| Closing and role conditions | Confirm the relevant eligibility and practising certificate, then check that the complete letter stays within two pages. |
Use the exact application prompts
| Application prompt | What a useful response includes |
|---|---|
| Describe a significant organisational or service reform initiative that you have led. What was your approach, how did you influence key stakeholders, and what outcomes were achieved? | Choose a substantial reform that affected service delivery. Explain your decisions and how you secured stakeholder support, with outcomes that can be checked. |
| This role requires balancing strategic leadership, operational performance and external stakeholder engagement. How have you successfully managed these competing priorities in a senior executive role? | Use a senior executive situation where the priorities competed for attention or resources. Explain how you decided what to progress and kept the service performing. |
What the panel will want to see in your examples
- Describe a significant reform, the priorities you set and the effect on service delivery or access to justice.
- Explain how you led senior staff across locations and supported consistent performance or service standards.
- Show how you balanced budgets or risk with service needs, including the decisions you made when priorities competed.
- Use an example of securing cooperation across government, the legal profession or community partners during a difficult initiative.
Before you submit
Check your unrestricted NSW practising certificate and the citizenship or residency conditions. Answer both targeted questions within the two-page letter and ensure the resume stays within five pages. The reform outcomes and executive responsibilities in the letter should be consistent with the career history you submit.
Return to the official vacancy to check the final submission instructions.
Help with your Executive Director – Civil Law Division application
For help choosing and organising your own examples, request application support from Team 3Thirty. Bring the vacancy and your current CV so the written application can explain work you have completed.