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Employment Opportunities
Applying for a Tipstaff Position at the Supreme Court
Overview
The Supreme Court of New South Wales currently comprises the Chief Justice, President, two Chief Judges, 45 judges and three 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 Tipstaff 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 tipstaff 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 tipstaff 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 8100
E-Mail: supreme_court@courts.nsw.gov.au (attn: Judicial Staff Coordinator)
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 Department of Justice & Attorney General 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 Department of Justice and Attorney General's Career Opportunites web site contain additional information about how to apply for a position.
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