Planning Lawyer / Associate - Planning & Environment

Engage Personnel; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Engage Personnel is seeking a Planning Lawyer/Associate in Melbourne to join a growing planning practice. The role offers exposure to significant development projects and a collaborative team with mentorship from experienced practitioners.

Ideal candidates have 2–3 years of planning law experience, enjoy strategic thinking, and are keen to progress toward advocacy and VCAT appearances as they advance in their careers.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of experience in planning law
• Willingness to develop advocacy and VCAT appearances over time
• Strong communication with clients and colleagues
• Keen to learn from experienced practitioners

Responsibilities

• Work on planning and environment matters across Victoria
• VCAT planning disputes and appeals
• Planning permit applications and disputes
• Major property and development projects
• Town planning matters
• Liquor licensing and related regulatory issues

Skills

Planning law

Client communication

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Job description

Looking for a planning law role where you’ll be exposed to interesting work, experienced practitioners and some of Victoria’s most significant development projects?

A highly regarded Melbourne planning practice is continuing to grow and is looking for a Planning Lawyer / Associate to join its established and expanding team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a lawyer with around 2-3 years’ experience in planning law who wants to deepen their technical expertise, work on complex matters and learn from some of the most recognised practitioners in the space.

The team acts across a broad range of planning and environment matters throughout Victoria, including work for major and high-end property developers as well as private clients.

You’ll gain exposure to:

• VCAT planning disputes and appeals
• Planning permit applications and disputes
• Major property and development projects
• Strategic land use and planning advice
• Town planning matters
• Liquor licensing and related regulatory issues

There’s plenty of variety, with the opportunity to work on matters ranging from individual developments through to larger-scale projects with significant commercial and planning implications.

While advocacy isn't a core requirement of the role initially, there is scope to develop towards advocacy and VCAT appearances as your experience progresses.

You’ll be someone who:

• Enjoys strategic thinking and problem solving
• Is confident communicating with clients and colleagues
• Takes pride in producing high-quality work
• Is keen to learn from experienced practitioners
• Wants to build a long-term career in planning and environment law

This is a team that has grown significantly and continues to do so, with around 15 lawyers working across the practice.

You’ll work closely with multiple Partners and senior practitioners, giving you access to genuine mentorship and guidance rather than being left to figure things out yourself.

The calibre of the team is also a real drawcard! Senior practitioners within the group have been recognised across leading industry directories, with multiple members of the planning team recognised in Doyle’s Guide and Best Lawyers.

Despite that level of expertise, the team has maintained a young, collaborative and genuinely supportive culture where people work closely together and enjoy being part of the group.

Career progression is also firmly on the agenda. The firm is currently developing a more structured career progression framework, with individual conversations around how each lawyer can develop and progress their career.

If you’re already working in planning law and want to join a team where you can learn from recognised experts, work on high-quality matters and build your own career in the planning space, this is an opportunity worth exploring.