Practice Leader

Slater and Gordon Lawyers are a leading personal injury and class actions law firm where every member of our team has a shared passion for our clients we are people caring for people.

Our commitment to our people includes offering genuine work-life balance, with a hybrid work environment allowing them to split their time between home and the office. We recognise and reward high performance and have outstanding employee benefits including an extra week of annual leave, 26 weeks paid parental leave, extra-long service leave together with various ongoing learning and professional development opportunities.

Acknowledgement of Country
Slater and Gordon acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples today.

Diversity + Inclusion
Slater and Gordon is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity and ensures equal opportunities for all. Slater and Gordon is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other legally protected attributes. We understand that everyone has different needs. If you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process please let us know in your application.

*What are we looking for?*
We are offering a unique and rare career opportunity for an experienced and driven lawyer to join our well-established National Superannuation and Disability Insurance team in Melbourne as a Practice Leader. This full-time, permanent position is ideal for a driven superannuation disability insurance lawyer or personal injury Lawyer with 7+ years post-admission experience who is ready to take the next step in their career.

As a Practice Leader, you'll play a vital role in supporting the Head of Practice to deliver on the group's strategic, financial, operational, and people objectives. You'll lead and supervise a high performing team of dedicated professionals, managing complex legal matters while also fostering a culture of collaboration, performance, and excellence in client experience.

*Why join us?*
This role offers a unique opportunity to expand your legal expertise by exposure to new areas of law including insurance law, equity and trusts, administrative law as well as litigation.

Leadership capability will be highly valued but is not essential to be considered for this opportunity. A proactive mindset and willingness to grow into leadership will be equally regarded.
For those with demonstrates leadership capability, it affords an opportunity to accelerate your career progression with a pathway to Senior Practice Leader.

Key Responsibilities Include
People Leadership

• Mentor, coach and support the members of the team to develop leadership and technical capability and manage performance
• Demonstrate enterprise leadership and be an active contributor in practice group forums and initiatives
• Positive and effective leadership with your direct reports to support their developmental growth, engagement, retention and performance
• Role model, promote and ensure team behaviours align with firm values

Mastering Legal Expertise, Client Experience & Supervision

• Demonstrate a high level of specialised knowledge within your defined practice area
• Effectively manage a complex file load for delivery of successful client outcomes and support client management challenges
• Support your team to provide high quality legal advice and ensure consistent delivery of quality client outcomes and care
• Ensure understanding and compliance across your practice group with all relevant legal procedures, rules and regulations. Additionally with firm governance and working methods, national practice standards and the firm's supervision model.

Running our Business

• Aligned with your Head of Practice, demonstrate strategic thinking and the ability to effectively manage the operation of your practice group and deliver strong financial performance, including budget delivery, revenue forecasts and file management strategies
• Work collaboratively with others to identify process efficiencies and practice management improvements
• Support Head of Practice with change management initiatives when required
• Support ongoing business development plans and growth of your practice group
• Demonstrate strong client conversion
• Develop strong and trusted relationships with both internal and external key stakeholders, including regulators, law societies, the Courts, insurers/defendants, government, counsel, medical and allied health professionals.

*What will you bring?*
As a Practice Leader with our firm, you will be required to make regular complex decisions that will impact directly on your client matters and your team, in consultation with your Head of Practice and practice leader peers. You will also bring the following skills and attributes

• Proven post admission experience (7+ PAE) as a Personal Injury Lawyer, with a strong preference for expertise in superannuation and disability insurance claims
• Sound legal technical expertise with a commitment to high standards of professional practice
• Proven ability to foster strong relationships across all levels of an organisation, including direct reports, peers, clients, and stakeholders
• Demonstrated leadership experience with a track record of motivating and guiding legal professionals (highly regarded)
• Taking a systematic and structured approach, ensuring work is completed efficiently and accurately
• Proactive with the ability to take initiative and drive client matters forward independently
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, tailored to a diverse audience
• Strong technical and functional skills to support and mentor others
• A collaborative team player, committed to contributing to a positive and high-performing team environment

*What next?*
If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply directly to Slater and Gordon. We prefer to talk with you personally and are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies.