Supreme Court of NSW
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Employment Opportunities

  • Appointment to the Staff of the Chief Justice
  • Applying for a Tipstave Position at the Supreme Court
  • Job Opportunities in the Registry



    Appointment to the Staff of the Chief Justice
    Applications are invited for the position of Tipstaff to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, The Honourable J J Spigelman AC.

    The appointment will commence in late January 2009. Applicants should be prepared to continue on the staff of the Chief Justice for the year 2010 in the position of Research Director. The salary for the first year as Tipstaff is currently $48,518. The salary for the second year as Research Director is currently $76,896.

    The primary role of Tipstaff is assisting the Chief Justice with legal research. The Tipstaff also performs a range of court-related duties in Chambers as well as spending a substantial amount of time in Court. In the second year of appointment, the tasks to be performed are almost entirely research with less frequent attendance in Court.

    The successful applicant should have or expect to attain an undergraduate law degree with Honours or equivalent (distinction average or higher).

    Applications should contain a full curriculum vitae, covering letter and academic transcript. Applications should also contain either references or the names of referees.

    Further information about the position may be obtained from the Chief Justice's Research Director, Mila Cerecina on (02) 9230 8216 or mila_cerecina@courts.nsw.gov.au .

    The closing date for the receipt of applications is 20 March 2008. It is anticipated that an appointment will be made by the end of March 2008.

    Applications should be sent to:
    Ms S Packham
    Associate to the Chief Justice
    Supreme Court of New South Wales
    GPO Box 3
    SYDNEY NSW 2001


    Applying for a Tipstave Position at the Supreme Court

    Overview
    The Supreme Court of New South Wales currently comprises the Chief Justice, President, two Chief Judges, 43 judges and four associate judges. Each judge is currently assisted by two staff members, an associate and a tipstaff. Each associate judge is currently assisted by an associate. Judges can elect to have a legal or non legal tipstaff.

    Legal tipstaves provide a high level of legal research and administrative support to judges in the Equity and Common Law Division and to judges in the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court also employs eight legal researchers on an annual basis.

    Legal work
    Legal tipstaves and researchers in the Supreme Court of NSW conduct often complex legal research on behalf of judges. This would generally involve a detailed analysis of case law and an examination of legal developments in areas where precedents may not be well defined. These skills may be used in drafting background papers and assisting judicial officers in their work.

    Fast paced and demanding
    The day to day functions of the modern Supreme Court of NSW are fast paced and demanding. Tipstaves will be expected to possess highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, proficiency in the use of IT and be able to professionally display tact, confidentiality and confidence in their interactions with court users, practitioners, the judiciary and other court staff.

    Salary
    Salary and other terms and conditions of employment are determined by the Attorney General of NSW.

    Travel
    Tipstaves at the Supreme Court of NSW may accompany their judges to regional circuit locations within NSW, including Orange, Wollongong, Newcastle, Lismore, Goulbourn and Wagga Wagga.

    Applying for a Tipstave or Researcher position
    Tipstaves are generally appointed for a period of one year. Applications should be made early in the year before the appointment is to take effect,preferably no later than 30 March in that year. Interviews are usually conducted in April and May, with the successful applicant commencing work in late January the following year.

    Positions as tipstaves or researchers are extremely popular and therefore highly competitive. Candidates applying for positions are expected to display the following skills and attributes:
    Highly developed legal research, conceptual and analytical skills;
    Excellent organisational skills;
    Strong interpersonal skills; and
    High level computer and keyboard skills.

    Each judge’s chambers operates individually. Applicants are strongly recommended to contact the chambers of individual judges for specific information relating to applying for the tipstaff position with that judge. Please refer to the Judicial Officer Contact List on this web site for contact details.

    Law graduates applying for tipstave or researcher positions are expected to have a strong academic record in their law studies. Highly developed legal research skills and involvement in extracurricular activities or voluntary work in legal areas is also highly desirable.

    If you wish to apply for a position as a tipstave or researcher, please forward a covering letter (outlining your interest in the role) accompanied by your Curriculum Vitae and academic results addressed to:

    Judicial Staff Coordinator
    Supreme Court of NSW
    Law Courts Building, Queens Square
    Level 4, 184 Phillip St, Sydney 2000
    GPO Box 3, Sydney 2001

    Telephone: (02) 9230 8111
    Facsimile: (02) 9230 8628
    TTY Phone: (02) 9230 8011

    E-Mail: supreme_court@courts.nsw.gov.au
    Website: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/sc

    Applicants seeking tipstaff positions with a particular judge are advised to apply directly to their chambers.

    Applications will remain with the Supreme Court for a period of 12 months only.

    Job Opportunities in the Registry
    The Attorney General's Department of NSW advertises vacant registry positions on the jobs.nsw website and in the Employment section of the Sydney Morning Herald online. You can only apply for a position if it has been advertised. Applications will not be retained for later use so, if you wish to be considered, you must apply for each position individually by the due date set out in the advertisement. The jobs.nsw website and the Attorney General's Department's Career Opportunites web site contain additional information about how to apply for a position.



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