Associate / Senior Associate - Building & Construction

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About us

Moray & Agnew is one of Australia's leading law firms with over 700 employees nationally. Originally a specialist insurance firm, we have grown and evolved over the years with client demand guiding our expansion into workplace, commercial and government practice areas. We have offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Perth and Cairns, and an unrivalled reputation in our market. Over the last decade, the firm has tripled in size to support the growth of our Australian and international clients.

One of the centres of our national commercial practice is in Newcastle where we have more than 120 staff, making Moray & Agnew the best resourced workplace, commercial and insurance legal practice in the Hunter region.

Moray & Agnew is proudly committed to fostering a flexible, inclusive and diverse environment for its employees. In 2024 we were named one of the 25 most attractive firms to work at in Australia, with the fifth highest percentage of female partners, and demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion which was recognised in the AFR Law Partnership Survey in December 2023. That commitment adds to our professional approach and focus on client service excellence.

We are passionate about what we do and want you to be too. We value technical excellence and the ability to function independently or in a team. We offer a unique workplace culture and excellent opportunities to further your personal and professional development.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate or Senior Associate to join our Newcastle building and construction team on a full-time basis. Working directly with a partner, you'll enjoy a mix of interesting and challenging work across building and construction projects across New South Wales and beyond.

You'll advise a wide range of public and private clients, from contractors and subcontractors to principals and developers, primarily involving "back-end" disputes on administration and project delivery issues: including variations, extensions of time, delay and defect claims, and adjudications under the Security of Payment legislation.

This role offers real variety, strong client contact, and the chance to be part of a supportive and highly regarded team. A hybrid working arrangement is available, giving you flexibility to balance career and lifestyle in Newcastle.

About you

You are a motivated lawyer with at least five years' post-qualification experience in building and construction law. You'll bring a good grounding in construction contracts, contract administration and project issues, and ideally some experience in Security of Payment disputes.

You'll be someone who enjoys working closely with clients to provide clear, commercial solutions. Strong drafting skills, a collaborative approach, and a genuine interest in the construction sector will set you apart. In addition, you will demonstrate well-developed client relationship management skills, a commitment to high-quality client service, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a lawyer looking to take the next step in their career, develop under the guidance of numerous experienced partners, and enjoy the lifestyle benefits of Newcastle while working on matters of state and national significance.

Culture & benefits of working with us

We work for great clients and advise them on interesting issues and matters so every day is different. We celebrate diverse thinking and experiences so you can bring your authentic self to the workplace. To support you, we offer a wide range of wellbeing and financial benefits, including:

• Flexible working arrangements to help you balance your work and personal commitments
• Health and wellness initiatives, including an Employee Assistance Program for yourself and your family, corporate discounts at 400+ leading fitness and wellbeing brands and mental health first aiders
• Paid parental leave and accreditations as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace and Family Inclusive Workplace
• Continuous learning and development programs so that you are always being challenged, engaged and encouraged to grow
• Mentoring opportunities and on the job learning to support your professional and personal development
• Diversity, inclusion and equality policy and employee reference groups (LGBTQIA+, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Gender, Parents & Caregivers, Mature Workers and Health & Wellbeing) to ensure that we continue to live our values
• Dress for your day because we trust our people to make choices which appropriately represent our firm.

How to apply

If this opportunity is attractive to you, please submit your cover letter and CV, or call Samantha Morris, People & Operations Manager, for a confidential discussion on

We welcome people of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, neurodiverse people and people with disability. If you have questions about the recruitment process or require any adjustments to participate, please let us know in your application.

We prefer to connect with people directly and do not require recruitment agency assistance with this vacancy. Any applications submitted by recruitment agencies without having been briefed will not be considered a valid introduction.