Employment Senior Associate / Special Counsel

Barry Nilsson; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Flexible working arrangements

BNWell health program

Dress for your Day

Job summary

Barry Nilsson is seeking an Employment Senior Associate / Special Counsel in Melbourne to join the Employment Practices Liability (EPL) team. The role involves advising and litigating across workplace law, with opportunities to work on broader financial lines matters.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years PAE in employment law, enjoys building client relationships, mentoring, and delivering excellent outcomes in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years PAE in the employment law space, ideally with EPL exposure.
• Ability to manage complex matters for insurers, insureds and direct clients.
• Strong client service focus with attention to detail and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide front-end advisory and back-end litigation support across workplace law matters.
• Advise and represent clients on employment terms, disputes, and industrial relations.
• Draft and review enterprise agreements, settlement agreements, and related policies.

Skills

Employment law

Client relationships

Mentoring

Collaborative approach

Job description

Employment Senior Associate / Special Counsel

About Us

Welcome to Barry Nilsson. For 60 years, we’ve been shaping a better experience for our clients and our people. What sets our firm apart is not just what we do, but who we are: a team known for its collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence, inclusion, and innovation. As an award-winning national law firm, we’ve built a culture that empowers you to not only grow your career, but be your authentic self while you do it.

About the Team

Our national Insurance & Health practice combines deep industry knowledge with local expertise and the highest standards of client service. Our team of more than 300 specialist lawyers has the depth of experience and agility to help our clients, both in Australia and overseas, to navigate the complex risk landscape and support their insureds.

The Role

Due to continued growth, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Associate or Special Counsel to join our Employment Practices Liability (EPL) team in Melbourne. This position requires an enthusiastic and driven professional with strong attention to detail and a focus on client service for a broad range of supportive clients. There will also be the potential to work on a broader range of financial lines matters.

Some of the work you will be undertaking will involve:

• front end advisory and back-end litigation work covering the full spectrum of the workplace law including employment and industrial matters;
• acombination of acting for insurers, insureds and direct clients;
• advising and representing clients in respect to employment related claims, including but not limited to unfair dismissal, general protections, sexual harassment and discrimination;
• attending conciliation conferences and appearing in the Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Fair Work Commission and as relevant State and Federal tribunals;
• advising clients on employment terms and conditions (including enterprise agreements, modern awards and other legislative entitlements);
• advising clients on performance management; and
• reviewing and drafting enterprise agreements, settlement agreements, contracts of employment and policies and procedures.

About You

If the following sounds like you, we would love to hear from you:

• you are an experienced senior practitioner (5+ years PAE) in the employment law space and ideally have exposure to insurance matters/EPL;
• you enjoy building client relationships and achieving excellent outcomes;
• you remember what it was like being a junior practitioner and understand the importance of mentoring, and are happy to pass on your expertise and knowledge; and
• you are a problem-solver who values collaboration and understands the importance of strong working relationships.

Benefits of Working with Us

Just to name a few, we have:

• been acknowledged as an ‘Employer of Choice’ for the last 7 years;
• asupportive environment where managers genuinely care about your wellbeing;
• opportunities for structured mentorship and continuous professional development;
• progressive policies for flexible working arrangements including a 9.5-day fortnight, working from home, purchase of leave options and a public holiday swap policy;
• an annual performance bonus scheme designed to recognise and reward strong performance;
• arelaxed office environment where you can “Dress for your Day”;
• access to our Health & Wellbeing program, BNWell, which supports the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of our people including a yearly health & wellbeing allowance and a health & wellbeing leave day;
• ashared care parental policy with equal leave for all parents; and
• support to undertake pro bono legal work, secondments, volunteering and industry appointments.

Ready to Go Further?

From your first day, expect to be embraced for who you are – because we’re a firm defined by our people. Step into a workplace where individuality is celebrated, ambitions are realised, and collaboration drives success. At Barry Nilsson, it’s about being you and going further.

Barry Nilsson is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and flexible workplace where all of our people are supported to be their authentic selves, valued for their unique contributions, rewarded fairly, connected to colleagues, and empowered to achieve their full potential. We welcome applications from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+, as well as people of all ages, genders, abilities and cultures. Feel free to chat to the recruiter for this position regarding any accommodations or adjustments you may require to the role or the recruitment process to ensure your equitable participation.