Associate/Senior Associate - Commonwealth Government - Administrative Law & Litigation - Canberra

HWLE Lawyers; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development opportunities

Flexible work arrangements

Supportive and inclusive culture

National recognition in the legal market

Job summary

A leading Australian law firm is seeking high-performing lawyers to join their Commonwealth Government administrative law team, based in Canberra, Melbourne, or Sydney. The role involves managing a variety of government-related legal matters, engaging in advocacy, and collaborating closely with senior lawyers. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to advance their careers within a supportive and inclusive firm renowned for its culture and mentorship.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in public and administrative law with a litigation focus.
• Interest in appearing before Courts and Tribunals.
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent drafting and advice writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of merits and judicial review matters for Commonwealth agencies.
• Draft submissions and prepare evidence for court.
• Undertake solicitor advocacy in relevant courts and tribunals.

Skills

Public and administrative law experience

Litigation focus

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Drafting skills

Advice writing skills

Job description

HWLE is not your typical law firm. Our rapid rise to become the largest legal partnership in Australia shows that in our case, the differences are real. We deliver first class legal advice to our government and commercial clients in every state and territory across Australia. Firm wide, we have over 270 Partners and 1700 people.

The opportunity

We are seeking high-performing lawyers at all levels to join our highly regarded Commonwealth Government administrative law team, led by Michael Palfrey and Will Sharpe . While you may be based in Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney, you will be joining a national team, working collaboratively with other lawyers and team members across each of those locations.

This is a unique opportunity to take your career to the next level and be a part of a growing practice.

You’ll have responsibility for:

• a caseload of merits and judicial review matters, representing various Commonwealth Government agencies - including, in particular, the Department of Home Affairs - before the Federal Circuit, Federal and High Courts, and the Administrative Review Tribunal;
• day-to-day carriage of matters;
• drafting prospects advice and litigation strategies;
• preparing evidence;
• drafting submissions;
• Preparing other Court and Tribunal documents ;
• undertaking solicitor advocacy in the Administrative Review Tribunal and Federal Circuit Court; and
• instructing Counsel.

You will also:

• work on a broad range of engaging matters;
• gain direct client exposure and have the opportunity to build strong professional relationships;
• collaborate closely with Partners and senior lawyers within the team; and
• receive meaningful supervision and support, with a genuine focus on your development as a valued member of the team.

To succeed in this role, ideally you'll have

• previous public and administrative law experience with a litigation focus;
• An interest in appearing before the Courts and Tribunal as a solicitor advocate
• well developed interpersonal and communication skills;
• excellent drafting and advice writing skills; and

What we offer

• Unrivalled career pathways: Our unique meritocracy model proudly offers our staff career development, promoting talent based solely on merit. Our size, range of experience and competitive pricing model will provide you with everything you need to succeed. Unlike our competitors, our Solicitor to Partner ratio enables greater mentoring and client engagement compared to our competitors. Our 180 day career forecasting sessions provide the platform to fast-track your progression.
• Work-Life Balance: We offer flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance.
• Culture: Be part of a firm renowned for its friendly and down-to-earth culture.
• Impact: Join a firm consistently ranked at the forefront of the Australian legal market, where your work is recognised nationally.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV via the 'Apply' function. Applicants must have full working rights in Australia and a valid practising certificate to apply. HWLE also strongly encourages applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

HWLE strives to create an inclusive environment where our people want and feel comfortable to bring their entire selves to work. Varied perspectives contribute to our collective success so whatever your background, we'd love to hear from you and encourage you to apply. If you have reasonable accessibility requirements that will enable you to participate equitably in our recruitment process, please reach out to Steve Lalic - [e-mail] for a confidential discussion.