Senior Associate - Estate Litigation

Legal - Professional; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Full-time/Part-time opportunities

$5,000 PD allowance

Parental leave & extra leave

Wellbeing programs

Team events

No requirement to bring existing base

Job summary

Legal - Professional in Melbourne is seeking a Senior Associate or Special Counsel with a strong focus on estate litigation to join a specialist trusts and estates practice. You will work on complex disputes, take ownership of matters with autonomy, and contribute to ongoing growth.

Ideally you have extensive experience in trusts and estates litigation, the ability to independently manage complex matters, supervise and mentor junior lawyers, and a commitment to high professional standards.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in trusts and estates litigation with focus on estate disputes.
• Ability to independently manage complex matters.
• Experience at well-regarded law firms with high professional standards.
• Stable employment history showing commitment to roles and development.
• Ability to supervise, mentor and support junior lawyers.
• Interest in contributing to growth of a specialist trusts and estates practice.
• Estate administration and advisory experience valued.
• Specialist accreditation in Wills and Estates viewed favourably but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor and support junior lawyers.
• Manage complex disputes from start to finish with autonomy.
• Contribute to growth of the specialist trusts and estates practice.
• Collaborate with senior practitioners and maintain a strong pipeline of work.

Skills

Estate litigation

Mentoring juniors

Independent matter management

Job description

Join a highly regarded specialist trusts and estates team as a Senior Associate or Special Counsel, focusing on complex estate litigation, with excellent benefits, flexible working and genuine opportunities for career growth.

The Opportunity

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Senior Associate or Special Counsel with a strong focus on estate litigation to join a highly regarded specialist trusts and estates practice in Melbourne.
This role offers the opportunity to work on complex, high-quality disputes, take ownership of matters with a high degree of autonomy, and play an active role in the continued growth of a specialist practice. You will work alongside experienced senior practitioners within a collaborative team, with access to a strong pipeline of work and the opportunity to build a long-term career.
The position will suit an experienced estates litigator who enjoys technically challenging work, brings sound commercial judgment, and is confident managing complex disputes from beginning to end.

About You

Ideally looking for someone with:

• Extensive experience in trusts and estates litigation, with a practice predominantly focused on estate disputes rather than estate planning.
• A strong technical foundation and the ability to independently manage complex matters.
• Experience gained primarily within well-regarded law firms, with a demonstrated commitment to high professional standards.
• A stable employment history, demonstrating a clear commitment to their roles and professional development.
• The ability to supervise, mentor and support junior lawyers.
• An interest in contributing to the growth of a specialist trusts and estates practice.

Experience in estate administration and advisory work will also be valuable.

Accreditation as a Specialist in Wills and Estates will be viewed favourably but is not essential.

The Benefits

The firm offers an impressive range of benefits to its people including:

• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working.
• Full-time or part-time opportunities.
• A $5,000 professional development allowance.
• Paid parental leave and additional leave initiatives.
• Wellbeing programs and regular team events.
• The opportunity to work on complex, interesting matters within a specialist practice.
• A strong pipeline of work, without the requirement to bring an existing client base.

This is an opportunity to join a specialist team with an established reputation in trusts and estates, work closely with experienced practitioners, and take a meaningful role in complex estate disputes. With a strong flow of work and a genuine focus on long-term career development.