Senior Associate - Estate Litigation

Engage Personnel; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Full-time/Part-time options

$5,000 professional development

Paid parental leave

Wellbeing programs

Team events

No need to bring existing client base

Job summary

Engage Personnel seeks a Senior Associate or Special Counsel with a strong focus on estate litigation to join a respected trusts and estates team in Melbourne. You will handle complex disputes, take ownership of matters with a high degree of autonomy, and contribute to the growth of a specialist practice.

The role offers hybrid working, flexible arrangements, and opportunities for long-term career development within a supportive environment.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Work on complex, high-quality estate disputes from start to finish.
• Take ownership of matters with autonomy.
• Collaborate with experienced practitioners within a collaborative team.
• Contribute to growth of a specialist trusts and estates practice.
• Support junior lawyers and mentoring.

Skills

Estate litigation

Mentor junior lawyers

Independent management

Law firm experience

Stable employment history

Education

Specialist in Wills and Estates accreditation

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.