Senior Associate - Employment & Safety (Adelaide)

Law Staff; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

26 weeks' paid parental leave

EAP including financial coaching

Health and life insurance discounts

Gym memberships for legal practioners

Job summary

Law Staff in Adelaide is seeking an experienced Senior Associate to join its Employment & Safety practice. With 5+ years PAE, you will advise major Australian and multinational organisations, government and large private sector employers across industries.

The role offers significant client contact, ownership of matters, and work across IR, litigation, workplace investigations, WHS, and advisory work, in a senior, commercial environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years PAE in employment and workplace relations law.
• Experience advising major organisations and government bodies.
• Strong technical expertise and commercial judgement.

Responsibilities

• Develop IR strategies and advise on enterprise agreements.
• Manage employment litigation and workplace investigations.
• Provide strategic employment advisory and transactional employment support.
• Deliver WHS governance and regulatory matters advice.
• Lead high-level client relationships and senior stakeholder guidance.

Skills

Employment law

Job description

A leading national law firm is seeking an experienced Senior Associate with 5+ years PAE to join its established Employment & Safety practice in Adelaide.

Working within an experienced team, you will advise major Australian and multinational organisations, government and significant private sector employers across financial and professional services, health and aged care, education, energy, defence, construction and infrastructure, transport and logistics, manufacturing and retail.

This is a senior role offering significant client contact and matter responsibility, across a sophisticated practice spanning employment, industrial relations, workplace investigations, litigation and WHS.

The Work

You will work across matters including:

• Industrial Relations & Enterprise Bargaining - developing and implementing IR strategies, advising on enterprise bargaining and enterprise agreement negotiations, protected and unprotected industrial action and complex industrial disputes
• Employment Litigation - defending unfair dismissal, general protections and discrimination claims, enforcement of employment agreements and other contested workplace proceedings
• High-Level Workplace Investigations - sensitive allegations involving sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, assault, fraud and serious misconduct, including matters involving senior employees and executives
• Strategic Employment Advisory - performance and disciplinary matters, restructures, redundancies, senior employee exits, underpayments and broader workplace compliance
• Transactional Employment - employment and industrial relations issues arising from mergers and acquisitions, transfers of business, outsourcing, insourcing and significant organisational change
• WHS & Safety Governance - strategic advice to organisations, boards and executives on WHS obligations, officer duties, governance frameworks and operational risk
• Serious Incidents & Regulatory Matters - advising on serious workplace incidents, regulator investigations, enforcement activity and WHS prosecutions.

The broader practice also acts in coronial inquests, Royal Commissions and significant regulatory proceedings, offering a level of breadth that extends well beyond a conventional employment practice.

About You

You will have 5+ years PAE in employment and workplace relations law, ideally gained within a high-quality commercial practice.

You will bring strong technical expertise and commercial judgement, with the confidence to take ownership of matters, manage client relationships and advise senior stakeholders on complex workplace issues.

Experience across industrial relations, enterprise bargaining, employment litigation, workplace investigations and/or complex employment advisory will be particularly relevant.

WHS experience will be well regarded but is not essential. The priority is an accomplished employment and workplace relations lawyer who can operate confidently at Senior Associate level and provide practical, business-focused advice.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Established national firm with a strong client base and clear career progression pathways
• Flexible working arrangements, including working from home and reduced working days
• Ability to purchase additional leave
• 26 weeks' paid parental leave, with ongoing support for returning parents
• Comprehensive EAP including financial coaching, nutrition and sleep health support
• Annual flu vaccinations and skin checks
• Fully subsidised gym memberships for legal practitioners
• Health and life insurance discounts
• Smart Salary packaging, including novated leasing
• Comprehensive CPD and leadership development programs
• Full-fee study assistance and additional study leave
• Competitive remuneration and annual performance reviews
• Employee referral program
• Pro bono opportunities and community service leave
• Active social program including firm and office events, sporting teams, book clubs and other initiatives
• 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.

Please note, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.