Workplace Relations – Senior Lawyer / Special Counsel

Moores; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation-friendly

Hybrid work model

Part-time options available

Career progression

Mentoring

Job summary

Moores in Melbourne is seeking a Senior Workplace Relations Lawyer / Special Counsel to lead complex matters for a diverse client base, including education, housing, disability, health and not-for-profit sectors.

You will work closely with the Practice Leader, mentor junior lawyers, and engage with clients across tribunals, courts and commissions while building your practice in a collaborative, values-driven environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in workplace relations or related litigation.
• Proven ability to mentor lawyers and lead teams.
• Strong client service and cross-border collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients across education, housing, disability, health and not-for-profit sectors.
• Represent clients in courts, commissions and tribunals; develop strategy with Practice Leader.

Skills

Workplace relations

Litigation

Client management

Mentoring juniors

NZ/Australia transition

Education

Legal Practising Certificate

Job description

Workplace Relations – Senior Lawyer / Special Counsel

Posted: 30/06/2026

Closing Date: 20/12/2026

Job Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Hawthorn

Job Category: Corporate Advisory

Melbourne, Australia – Employment Opportunity for NZ Lawyers

Are you a senior workplace relations lawyer based in New Zealand and considering a move across the Tasman? Join Moores, a values-driven law firm in Melbourne, where your expertise will be valued, your career supported, and your lifestyle enhanced.

Why Moores?

• Relocation-friendly – we welcome applications from New Zealand-based lawyers and can support your transition to Melbourne.
• No time recording – we use value pricing to focus on outcomes, not billable hours.
• Hybrid work model – work from home and our Hawthorn office (car parking provided).
• Part-time options available – we support flexible work arrangements.
• Fast-tracked career progression – excellent mentoring and leadership opportunities.

Job Description

About the Role

You will work closely with our award-winning Practice Leader, Skye Rose, advising clients across the education, housing, disability, health, and not-for-profit sectors. The role offers:

• Significant client engagement with a well-established client base.
• Representation in courts, commissions, and tribunals.
• A clear pathway to leadership with support to build your practice.
• The opportunity to work in a collaborative environment with support from a collegiate team on complex multi-disciplinary matters.

The role will support a thriving workplace relations practice with a loyal and existing client base, with opportunities to build your profile and practice with values-aligned clients.

Desired Skills and Experience

About You

• 5 + years’ experience, ideally including workplace litigation, wage compliance, and managing complex workplace investigations.
• A collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.
• A proven ability to mentor lawyers.
• A proven ability to provide excellent client service.
• An ability to build a profile and practice in a supportive environment.

Why Melbourne?

• A vibrant legal and professional community.
• Excellent public transport, schools, and cultural life.
• Proximity to beaches, wineries, and nature escapes.

About us

• We actually innovate – we were the first law firm to ditch time sheets in favour of value pricing. We price value, not time.
• Our staff love working here – Moores recently ranked in the top 25% of Australian organisations surveyed by InSync in relation to employee engagement.
• We are truly flexible – a large proportion of our staff and practice leaders work flexibly or part time.
• We are proudly inclusive and committed to equality – our CEO and more than 50 percent of our practice leaders and senior leadership team are female.
• We pride ourselves on being professional, but we don’t wear suits unless we have to.
• We value work-life balance, so we focus on working smarter.
• We have a strong commitment to social impact. We focus on working with purpose aligned clients to deliver great outcomes that benefit the community.
• We keep it real – we’re a down-to-earth group that are committed to excellence but don’t take ourselves too seriously.
• We do it with heart – people are the heart of Moores. We care about each other, and we are proud of the culture we have created.

Other benefits of joining our team include:

• Opportunities to work on multi-disciplinary teams.
• Access to complex and varied work.
• Supportive Practice Leaders who have a proven ability to effectively support lawyers transition to Australia with ease.
• Tailored learning and development initiatives.
• A supportive and enthusiastic team, who thrive on working collaboratively with clients to find solutions to complex problems.
• Leave purchase options and a wellbeing program.

Ready to make the move?

Visit www.moores.com.au to learn more about our values and work. We would love to hear from you.

Any questions?

Contact: Belinda Balmer, Head of People & Culture

[phone]

[e-mail]