Associate, Front-End Banking & Finance

JLegal; Sydney; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

JLegal is seeking a Lawyer with 2–6 years’ PAE to join its front-end banking and finance team in Sydney. You will run matters from instruction to settlement, draft and negotiate facility agreements, and advise on loan structures and security with increasing autonomy.

You will work closely with senior practitioners, supervise junior staff, and develop your commercial and technical skills in a collaborative, high-calibre environment.

Qualifications

• Admitted as a lawyer in Australia.
• 2–6 years’ PAE in banking and finance or related transactional practice.
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating finance and security documentation.
• Solid grounding in front-end lending and security.
• Good knowledge of PPSA, security and settlement processes.
• Excellent attention to detail and written communication.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload and meet deadlines.
• Commercial, solutions-focused approach to client service.

Responsibilities

• Act for lenders and sometimes borrowers on lending transactions.
• Draft and negotiate facility agreements, security documents, guarantees, and related documents.
• Prepare and review mortgages and security instruments.
• Run conditions precedent, diligence, and settlement processes.
• Advise on loan structuring, security arrangements and risk.
• Coordinate settlements with clients, borrowers’ solicitors and brokers.
• Manage a portfolio with autonomy and client contact.
• Mentor junior lawyers and support staff as experience grows.

Skills

Banking & Finance

Front-end Lending

Drafting & Negotiation

PPSA Knowledge

Attention to Detail

Client Communication

Caseload Management

Commercial Mindset

Relationship Building

Education

Australian admission as lawyer

Job description

Sydney, Australia | Posted on 10/29/2026

A specialist legal practice is looking for a Lawyer with 2–6 years’ PAE to join its front-end banking and finance team.

This role suits a lawyer with a solid grounding in transactional lending who wants to run matters with more independence, work directly with clients and keep developing their technical and commercial skills.

You’ll work closely with senior practitioners on a steady flow of lending and security work, and run your own files from instruction through to settlement.

The Role

You will work across the front-end lending lifecycle, including:

• Acting for lenders, and sometimes borrowers, on commercial, corporate and property-backed lending transactions.
  
• Drafting and negotiating facility agreements, security documents, guarantees and related transaction documents.
  
• Preparing and reviewing mortgages, general security deeds and other security instruments.
  
• Running conditions precedent processes, due diligence and settlement requirements.
  
• Advising clients on loan structuring, security arrangements and documentation risk.
  
• Handling PPSR searches and registrations, title searches and security perfection.
  
• Coordinating settlements with clients, borrowers’ solicitors, brokers and other stakeholders.
  
• Managing a portfolio of matters with a high level of autonomy.
  
• Helping supervise and mentor junior lawyers and support staff as your experience grows.
  

You’ll work with experienced partners and senior lawyers, take ownership of your matters and become a trusted point of contact for clients.

About You

We are looking for an admitted lawyer with 2–6 years’ PAE in banking and finance, ideally with a strong front-end lending focus.

You will ideally have:

• Current admission as a lawyer in Australia.
  
• 2–6 years’ PAE in banking and finance, secured lending or a closely related transactional practice.
  
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating finance and security documentation.
  
• A sound working knowledge of the PPSA, real property security and settlement processes.
  
• Excellent attention to detail and strong written communication skills.
  
• The ability to manage a busy caseload and meet transaction deadlines.
  
• A commercial, solutions-focused approach to client service.
  
• Confidence dealing directly with clients, financiers and opposing practitioners.
  

Experience with lender-side work, property finance or debt refinancing would be highly regarded.

Why This Role?

This is a chance to take the next step in your banking and finance career in a specialist team where you’ll run quality transactional work and play a real part in client relationships.

You’ll get strong support from senior practitioners, real autonomy in managing your matters and a clear path to grow your practice and seniority.

For a lawyer looking to build on their front-end lending experience in a collaborative, high-calibre environment, this is a great next move.