Principal Solicitor

Compliance & Risk Management Recruitment; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work flexibility

Dedicated admin and marketing support

Opportunity for team growth

Job summary

A national law firm in Melbourne seeks an experienced Principal Family Lawyer to lead a small team and manage complex caseloads. The role offers the chance to shape the family's law practice in a supportive, collaborative environment with hybrid work flexibility. Ideal candidates will have 7+ years in Family Law and a strong client network. Competitive compensation between A$140,000 - A$180,000 annually is offered.

Qualifications

• 7+ years PAE in Family Law, ideally at Principal or Senior Associate level.
• Strong referral network with ability to bring in work.
• Proven track record of hitting billable targets.

Responsibilities

• Manage a diverse family law caseload including property and parenting matters.
• Lead and mentor a small family law team in Melbourne.
• Drive business development leveraging personal and firm-wide networks.
• Provide commercially focused and empathetic solutions to clients.

Skills

Family Law expertise

Leadership ability

Business development skills

Client relations

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced family lawyer ready to step into a Principal role where you can lead, grow, and shape the future of a practice – without the burden of running your own firm alone?

This is your chance to join a firm that blends the best of both worlds: the personal touch of a family-run practice with the infrastructure and resources of a 300+ person national network.

Here, you’ll enjoy the autonomy to build your practice, the support to deliver for your clients, and the opportunity to be part of a collaborative, growth-focused team.

Why this role stands out

• Principal-level opportunity: Step into a leadership role where your input genuinely shapes the Melbourne practice and its national expansion.
• Family-run culture: A close-knit, supportive environment that values collaboration, client care, and commercial results – without unnecessary hierarchy or bureaucracy.
• National resources: Enjoy the security of being part of a growing national firm with 300+ staff and established cross-referral streams in Wills & Estates, Employment, Commercial, and Litigation.
• Hybrid flexibility: Split your time between the Queen Street office and working from home, with genuine work-life balance built in.
• High-quality support: Dedicated admin and marketing assistance, allowing you to focus on client work and business development, not back-office tasks.
• Growth pathway: Opportunity to shape and eventually lead a national family law function, with expansion into Queensland and other states on the horizon.

Responsibilities

• Managing a diverse family law caseload, including property settlements, parenting matters, and family violence matters.
• Leading and mentoring a small Melbourne-based family law team, with scope to grow further.
• Driving business development: leveraging your own network, tapping into firm-wide referrals, and building the team’s profile in the market.
• Delivering commercially focused and empathetic solutions to clients navigating complex, often sensitive matters.
• Working with the leadership team to grow the family law practice as a core pillar of the firm’s national offering.

Qualifications

• 7+ years PAE in Family Law, ideally already at Principal or Senior Associate level.
• A modest client following or strong referral network – and the appetite to bring in and grow your own work.
• Commercially minded with a proven track record of hitting billable targets (approximately 5 hours per day).
• Eligible for inclusion on the BLSB register and family law legal aid panel (even if rarely used).
• Someone who thrives in a family-focused, yet commercially driven environment, with the confidence to lead and grow a team.

If you’re currently running your own practice or working in a smaller firm and want to step into a Principal role with the backing of a supportive, family-oriented team – this is the opportunity to do it without sacrificing autonomy or earnings potential.

All enquiries are treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Job details

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Quality Assurance and Legal
• Industries: Legal Services

Base pay range

A$140,000.00/yr - A$180,000.00/yr

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia