Associate, Senior Associate Lawyer

Law Staff; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working

Parental Leave

Health & Wellbeing

Gym Membership

Salary Packaging

CPD & Study Support

Social & Team Culture

Diversity & Inclusion

Job summary

Law Staff, a national law firm, seeks an Associate or Senior Associate to join its Brisbane Employment and Safety practice. You will work closely with Partners, advising unions, government bodies, employers and individuals on administrative law, regulatory prosecutions and industrial relations.

With 3–8 years PAE, you will bring strong litigation experience and a client‑focused approach, expanding your practice across WHS and professional discipline matters.

Qualifications

• 3–8 years PAE, ideally from government prosecution, regulatory or litigation backgrounds.
• Experience preparing cases, assessing evidence and appearing in contested proceedings or briefing counsel.
• Understanding of procedural fairness, administrative decision‑making and litigation processes.
• Confidence managing complex and sensitive matters involving multiple stakeholders.
• Sound judgement, commercial awareness and a practical, client‑focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Advise and represent unions, government bodies, employers and individuals across administrative law, criminal and regulatory proceedings, professional discipline and industrial relations.
• Handle Administrative Law, Judicial Review, statutory interpretation, merits and challenges to administrative decisions.
• Advise on Occupational Regulation, professional discipline and regulatory compliance.
• Appear in tribunals (QCAT and others) and contribute to case strategy and submissions.
• Support industrial relations matters, enterprise agreements and workplace relations matters.
• Provide employment and workplace advisory services on misconduct and complex advisory issues.
• Assist with Work Health and Safety prosecutions and regulatory investigations.

Skills

Legal analysis

Written advocacy

Litigation experience

Procedural fairness

Client focus

Job description

Associate, Senior Associate Lawyer to Employment and Safety (National Firm)

Law Staff

Industrial Relations and Employment Law (Legal)

Full time

An established national law firm is seeking an Associate or Senior Associate to join its Brisbane Employment and Safety practice. The firm is particularly interested in lawyers from public prosecutions, child safety litigation or state government legal agencies looking to transition into private practice.

Working closely with experienced Partners, you will advise and represent unions, government bodies, employers and individuals across administrative law, criminal and regulatory proceedings, professional discipline and industrial relations.

The team undertakes significant work for a major Queensland education union, including criminal matters involving teachers. With a strong industrial relations practice, this opportunity offers the chance to broaden your expertise, develop direct client relationships and take greater ownership of matters.

The Work

• Administrative Law and Judicial Review to statutory interpretation, merits and judicial review, procedural fairness and challenges to administrative decisions
• Occupational Regulation and Professional Discipline to disciplinary proceedings, investigations, professional registration and regulatory compliance
• Criminal Law and Procedure to criminal matters involving professional conduct, procedural advice and court appearances
• Tribunal Advocacy and Litigation to QCAT and other tribunal proceedings, preparing evidence, drafting submissions, advising on prospects and developing case strategy
• Industrial Relations and Union Matters to industrial disputes, union representation, enterprise agreements and workplace relations proceedings
• Employment and Workplace Advisory to workplace misconduct, disciplinary matters, employment obligations and complex advisory issues
• Work Health and Safety to WHS prosecutions, regulatory investigations and workplace safety compliance.

The broader practice also advises on significant workforce restructures and industrial relations strategy for major projects.

About You

You will have 3-8 years PAE, ideally gained within a government prosecution, regulatory or litigation environment.

You will bring:

• Strong legal analysis, statutory interpretation and written advocacy skills
• Experience preparing cases, assessing evidence and appearing in contested proceedings, or briefing counsel
• An understanding of procedural fairness, administrative decision-making and litigation processes
• Confidence managing complex and sensitive matters involving multiple stakeholders
• Sound judgement, commercial awareness and a practical, client-focused approach.

Experience in administrative law, occupational regulation, professional discipline or tribunal advocacy will be particularly well regarded.

Traditional employment law experience is not essential. The priority is a lawyer with strong litigation or prosecution experience and an interest in developing broader expertise within the firm's Employment and Safety practice.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Established National Firm to strong client base, clear career progression pathways and competitive remuneration with annual performance reviews
• Flexible Working to working from home, reduced working days and the ability to purchase additional leave
• Parental Leave to 26 weeks' paid parental leave, with ongoing support for returning parents
• Health and Wellbeing to comprehensive EAP including financial coaching, nutrition and sleep health support, annual flu vaccinations and skin checks
• Gym and Insurance Benefits to fully subsidised gym memberships for legal practitioners, plus health and life insurance discounts
• Salary Packaging to Smart Salary packaging options, including novated leasing
• Professional Development to comprehensive CPD and leadership development programs, full-fee study assistance and additional study leave
• Additional Opportunities to employee referral program, pro bono opportunities and community service leave
• Social and Team Culture to active social program including firm and office events, sporting teams, book clubs and other initiatives
• Diversity and Inclusion to ongoing support of the Australian Disability Network and Diverse Women in Law.

THE PROCESS

We offer flexible interview options, either in person or virtually via FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or phone. Choose between a one-on-one discussion or panel interview, allowing you to present your experience and career goals in the format that suits you best.

Transparency is key, so you will receive a detailed information document by the end of our meeting to review at your leisure.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Salary: Attractive package will be offered to right candidate