Associate | Employment, Safety & Migration

Macpherson Kelley; Sydney; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring programs

Additional leave options

Parental leave policies

Job summary

Macpherson Kelley is seeking an Associate to join the national Employment, Safety & Migration team in Sydney. You will gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to matters spanning advisory and litigation for a diverse client base including ASX-listed companies and SMEs.

Ideal candidates have 2+ years PAE in employment/industrial relations, litigious experience across tribunals, and strong analytical and client-facing skills.

Qualifications

• 2+ years PAE in employment and industrial relations law, representing employers.
• Experience in litigation across courts/tribunals, incl. Fair Work Commission.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with commercial advice.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with clients.

Responsibilities

• Assist on advisory and litigation matters in employment and industrial relations.
• Contribute to delivering practical, commercial legal solutions.
• Collaborate with national team across offices to service clients.

Skills

Employment law

Industrial relations

Litigation experience

Analytical skills

Communication

Job description

At Macpherson Kelley, people come first, always. Our clients and staff are at the heart of everything we do.

About The Opportunity

We’re currently seeking a talented and ambitious Associate to join our national Employment, Safety & Migration team based in Sydney. In this role, you’ll gain hands-on experience, benefit from ongoing mentorship, and collaborate with colleagues across our national team - offering exposure to a diverse range of matters and clients. This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your career in a supportive and dynamic environment. The role will see you working with clients ranging from ASX-listed companies and multinationals to small businesses and individual executives across a range of sectors including information technology, health, aged care, agriculture, and manufacturing. You'll gain experience across advisory and litigation matters, including employment disputes, work health and safety issues, restructures and employee relations matters, while developing a pragmatic and commercially focused approach to legal practice.

About You

You will ideally have

• At least 2 years PAE in employment and industrial relations law, primarily representing employers.
• Demonstrated experience in litigation across a range of courts and tribunals, including the Fair Work Commission.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to deliver practical and commercial advice.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to engage effectively with clients.
• A genuine interest in understanding clients' businesses and helping them navigate complex workplace issues.
• Outstanding attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
• A proactive approach to learning, coupled with a desire to develop your technical expertise and commercial judgement.
• A strong commitment to excellence in client service.

If you're a self-motivated people person who thrives in collaborative environments and is ready to take the next step in your legal career, we’d love to hear from you!

Our Firm

Macpherson Kelley is a national Commercial law firm that thinks differently. Our people possess a rare combination of commercial acumen, legal ingenuity, and human insight. That’s why we treat each client’s business as if it’s our own, delivering intelligent recommendations they can act on. With offices in Brisbane, Dandenong, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, as well as international connections through our Pacific Legal Network, Multilaw and PrivacyRules partners, our lawyers collaborate across practice areas and borders to take care of any legal issues faced by our clients.

Our People Promise

The best thing about Macpherson Kelley is its people. Really good people and talented lawyers, in an inclusive, high performing and positive workplace culture. We are flexible and outcome focused in how we work, so you can get on with the job. Together, we believe in better and are ambitious for growth, and we understand that growth comes from leveraging all business and learning opportunities, many of which are delivered through our practical and commercially focused Macpherson Kelley Business School.

Our benefits include mentoring programs, additional leave options, and generous parental leave policies. Learn more about building your career with us at www.mk.com.au/careers.