Senior Associate

Slater and Gordon Lawyers are a leading employment, industrial, 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 a week of shutdown leave, paid parental leave, extra-long service leave, together with various ongoing learning and professional development opportunities.

What are we looking for?

Our Land Rights, Disputes and Advisory practice is now seeking a Senior Associate (6+ PAE) (with some flexibility as to level) with expertise in compulsory acquisition and a strong drive to lead practice growth.

Ideally you will have 6+ years post admission experience and have practiced extensively in the area of compulsory acquisition and planning as well as having significant litigation experience. You may have experience in other aligned areas of practice. You will have experience in supervision of a team and driving business development activities.

Our compulsory acquisition team represents claimants around the country but currently has its strongest presence in Victoria. Our team has acted in a range of compulsory acquisition matters, including novel test-case claims. We are recognised as specialists and leaders in the claimant-work space.

In addition to the compulsory acquisition work of the team, the practice undertakes a wide variety of work in both dispute and advisory work, including to NFPs and in the field of environmental claims.  Existing work includes an environmental class action investigation and work for a significant Indigenous corporation on native title claims amongst other interesting matters. You may bring expertise or experience in these areas, and may have opportunities to contribute to work in these areas of the practice. Work in a team with excellent employment benefits, a supportive team environment, and the intrinsic rewards of important claimant-focused work.

This unique opportunity is now available as a permanent full-time position.

Duties and responsibilities will include:

• Supervision of lawyers and support staff conducting a compulsory acquisition practice;
• Contribute to skills development within the team, including leading CPDs and training;
• Collaborate with other parts of the Land Rights, Disputes & Advisory practice to support work and client acquisition in those areas.
• Maintain and build new client relationships for the practice and drive business development activities to expand the practice;
• Management of a file load;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with clients to hold their trust throughout their matters;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with expert witnesses critical to our client's claims such as valuers, town planners and forensic accountants;
• Negotiating with Acquiring Authorities to progress and resolve matters;
• Conducting litigation in appropriate matters;
• Provide clear, practical and concise legal and commercial advice; and
• Providing exceptional service to clients.

What will you bring?

Working within a collaborative and highly regarded team, you will be a committed and enthusiastic individual who possesses the following:

• Significant practising experience in compulsory acquisition, including litigation;
• Excellent case analysis and practice management skills;
• Excitement, skills and motivation to collaborate with colleagues to learn and build the practice and the proven capacity to drove business development;
• A positive and creative mindset in relation to business and practice development;
• Outstanding communication & interpersonal skills;
• Exceptional skills in delivering advice to clients, both written and verbal;
• Exceptional negotiation skills and an ability to communicate effectively and compassionately;
• Ability to work autonomously as well as within a team environment;
• Ability to exercise judgement & resolve problems expeditiously & satisfactorily.

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.

To be eligible for this position, you must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or hold a valid visa with full and unrestricted working rights in Australia. Proof of work rights will be required as part of the recruitment process.

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.