Senior Associate, Plaintiff Personal Injury – Melbourne Se

Hooker & Heijden; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hooker & Heijden is seeking an experienced Associate or Senior Associate to join its plaintiff personal injury team in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs. The role offers genuine carriage of matters with autonomy and exposure to WorkCover, TAC and public liability work.

You will manage your own caseload, draft pleadings, instruct counsel and negotiate settlements, with progression opportunities at Associate and Senior Associate levels within a supportive firm.

Qualifications

• Admission as an Australian legal practitioner with Victorian Practising Certificate.
• Solid experience in plaintiff personal injury law.
• Experience across WorkCover, TAC, public liability or related compensation matters.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and litigation skills.
• Ability to manage an active caseload with autonomy.
• Effective client, counsel and insurer liaison.

Responsibilities

• Manage plaintiff personal injury claims from initial instructions to resolution.
• Assess new matters and advise clients on compensation entitlements.
• Develop strategies for progression of claims and settlement planning.
• Obtain and analyse medical, employment, liability and economic loss evidence.
• Brief medico-legal specialists, counsel and other experts.
• Prepare statements, affidavits, pleadings and other litigation material.
• Instruct counsel and progress litigated matters for court.
• Conduct negotiations with defendants and insurers.

Skills

PI law

Caseload management

Drafting

Negotiation

Litigation

Client communication

Education

Victorian Practising Certificate

Job description

Dandenong, Australia | Posted on 10/01/2026

About the Firm

Our client is one of Victoria’s longest-established plaintiff law firms, with close to 50 years’ experience representing injured people.

The firm has a substantial personal injury practice across WorkCover, TAC, public liability, medical negligence and related compensation matters , supported by experienced senior practitioners and Accredited Specialists in Personal Injury Law.

With an extensive network of metropolitan and regional offices, the firm has a particularly strong presence across Melbourne’s south-east and offers lawyers the opportunity to build their career within an established plaintiff practice while remaining close to the communities they represent.

The firm combines the resources, systems and technical expertise of a large personal injury practice with local teams where lawyers have meaningful responsibility for their matters and direct access to experienced senior practitioners.

About the Role

The firm is looking to appoint an experienced Associate or Senior Associate to join its plaintiff personal injury team in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.

This is a genuine file-management role suited to a lawyer who is comfortable taking carriage of matters and progressing claims with a good degree of autonomy.

Depending on your existing background, your practice may include WorkCover, TAC and public liability matters , together with exposure to other areas of personal injury across the broader firm.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing plaintiff personal injury claims from initial instructions through to resolution;
• Assessing new matters and advising clients regarding their potential compensation entitlements;
• Developing and implementing strategies for the progression of claims;
• Managing statutory benefit and impairment issues where relevant;
• Obtaining and analysing medical, employment, liability and economic loss evidence;
• Briefing medico-legal specialists, counsel and other experts;
• Preparing statements, affidavits, pleadings and other litigation material;
• Preparing and progressing serious injury and common law damages claims;
• Advising clients regarding liability, quantum and settlement strategy;
• Preparing matters for conferences, mediations and settlement negotiations;
• Instructing counsel and preparing litigated matters for court;
• Conducting negotiations with defendants and insurers;
• Liaising with medical practitioners, experts and other stakeholders; and
• Maintaining regular and meaningful communication with clients throughout their claim.

At Senior Associate level , there will also be scope to take carriage of more complex matters, assist with the development of junior lawyers and play a broader role within the local practice.

About You

You will ideally have:

• Admission as an Australian legal practitioner and a current Victorian Practising Certificate;
• Solid experience in plaintiff personal injury law ;
• Experience across one or more of WorkCover, TAC, public liability or related compensation matters ;
• Strong knowledge of the relevant Victorian compensation legislation within your area of practice;
• Experience managing your own caseload with an appropriate level of autonomy;
• Exposure to serious injury and/or common law damages claims;
• Strong drafting, negotiation and litigation skills;
• Confidence dealing directly with clients, counsel, insurers and medico-legal experts;
• The ability to manage an active caseload and competing deadlines; and
• A practical and strategic approach to achieving outcomes for clients.

Lawyers with broad plaintiff personal injury experience will be well suited, although candidates with strong expertise in a particular Victorian compensation jurisdiction are also encouraged to apply.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

The firm offers:

• Genuine carriage of plaintiff personal injury matters;
• Exposure to a broad and established Victorian compensation practice;
• Access to highly experienced practitioners and Accredited Specialists in Personal Injury Law;
• Strong administrative and paralegal support;
• Established systems and resources;
• Exposure to serious injury and complex common law matters;
• Ongoing technical and professional development;
• Genuine progression opportunities at Associate and Senior Associate level;
• The opportunity to develop your career within an established south-eastern suburbs practice ;
• The stability and resources of one of Victoria’s longest-standing plaintiff personal injury firms.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced plaintiff lawyer looking for high-quality personal injury work, genuine file ownership and the opportunity to develop within an established practice close to home in Melbourne’s south-east .