Associate / Senior Associate - Personal Injury (Plaintiff)

Hooker & Heijden; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hooker & Heijden in Melbourne is seeking an experienced Associate/Senior Associate to lead plaintiff personal injury matters with autonomy. The role covers WorkCover, TAC and public liability claims, advising clients on entitlements and liability issues, and progressing complex claims across Victoria.

You will manage a busy caseload, draft pleadings, liaise with insurers and experts, and work with senior partners to drive settlements while maintaining client communication and professional

Qualifications

• Admission as an Australian legal practitioner and Victorian Practising Certificate.
• Solid experience in plaintiff personal injury law.
• Experience across WorkCover, TAC and public liability matters.

Responsibilities

• Manage plaintiff personal injury claims from initial instructions through to resolution.
• Assess new matters and advise clients on their rights and potential entitlements.
• Develop and implement strategies for the progression of claims; gather evidence.
• Brief medico-legal specialists, counsel and other experts.
• Prepare pleadings, affidavits, pleadings and settlement materials.
• Liaise with insurers, defendants, medical practitioners and other stakeholders; maintain client communication.

Skills

Plaintiff personal injury law

Autonomy

Negotiation skills

Advocacy skills

Education

Admitted Australian legal practitioner with Victorian Practising Certificate

Job description

About the Firm

Our client is one of Victoria’s longest-established plaintiff personal injury law firms, with more than 50 years’ experience representing injured people.

The firm has developed a significant institutional abuse practice, acting for survivors of historical and more recent physical and sexual abuse across Victoria and nationally.

The team represents survivors in claims involving schools, religious organisations, state care facilities, children’s homes and other institutions. The practice handles a substantial volume of complex civil abuse claims and has achieved significant outcomes for clients through negotiated settlements and litigation.

This is a specialist practice offering lawyers the opportunity to develop genuine expertise in an important and evolving area of plaintiff litigation.

About the Role

This is a hands-on plaintiff personal injury role suited to an experienced lawyer who is comfortable managing their own caseload and progressing matters with a good degree of autonomy.

Depending on your background, your practice may include WorkCover, TAC and public liability claims, with exposure to other personal injury matters across the broader firm.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing plaintiff personal injury claims from initial instructions through to resolution;
• Assessing new matters and advising clients on their rights and potential entitlements;
• Developing and implementing strategies for the progression of claims;
• Obtaining and analysing medical, employment, liability and economic loss evidence;
• Briefing medico-legal specialists, counsel and other experts;
• Preparing legal correspondence, statements, affidavits, pleadings and settlement material;
• Managing statutory benefit and impairment issues where relevant;
• Preparing and progressing serious injury and common law damages claims;
• Advising clients regarding liability, quantum and settlement strategy;
• Preparing matters for conferences, mediations and settlement negotiations;
• Instructing counsel and preparing litigated matters for court;
• Liaising with insurers, defendants, medical practitioners and other stakeholders; and
• Maintaining regular and meaningful communication with clients throughout their claim.

At Senior Associate level, there may also be scope to take on more complex matters, provide guidance to junior lawyers and play a broader role within the team.

About You

You will ideally have:

• Admission as an Australian legal practitioner and a current Victorian Practising Certificate;
• Solid experience in plaintiff personal injury law;
• Experience across one or more of WorkCover, TAC, public liability or related personal injury matters;
• Strong knowledge of the relevant Victorian compensation framework within your area of practice;
• Experience managing files with a good level of autonomy;
• Strong drafting, negotiation and advocacy skills;
• Confidence dealing directly with clients, counsel, insurers and medical experts;
• The ability to manage an active caseload and competing deadlines; and
• A practical and strategic approach to progressing claims.

Lawyers with broad plaintiff personal injury experience will be well suited, although candidates with strong experience in a particular compensation jurisdiction are also encouraged to apply.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

The firm offers:

• Genuine carriage of plaintiff personal injury matters;
• Exposure to a broad range of Victorian compensation work;
• Direct access to experienced partners and senior practitioners;
• Strong administrative and paralegal support;
• Established systems and resources;
• Ongoing professional development and clear career progression;
• Opportunities for increased responsibility at Associate and Senior Associate level;
• The stability and resources of an established Victorian plaintiff law firm.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced plaintiff personal injury lawyer looking for quality work, genuine autonomy and the flexibility to work from a location that best suits them across Melbourne.

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Associate / Senior Associate - Personal Injury (Plaintiff) • Dandenong, VIC, au