Associate - Pro Bono

About us

We're passionate about what we do and want you to be too.

Moray & Agnew is one of Australia's leading law firms with an unrivalled reputation in our markets. We're proud that our partners and our legal expertise is consistently recognised by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Best Lawyers and Doyle's Guide.

With over 110 partners, our teams are organised into three strategic pillars so that we can play to our strengths:

• Insurance – including commercial classes such as financial lines, professional indemnity, public & product liability, life insurance and through to statutory classes such as workers compensation and compulsory third party.
• Commercial & Workplace – spanning corporate and commercial, construction and projects, property and environment, commercial dispute resolution, insolvency, owners' corporation and workplace law
• Government – spanning local, state and federal government

Our clients include Australian and international insurers and reinsurers, corporates of all sizes, and federal, state and local government.

Nationally, over 750 talented people deliver top-quality legal advice and representation, coupled with exceptional client service and support, across our offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Perth and Cairns.

Our partners are committed to fostering flexible, inclusive and diverse environments for our employees. We have the fourth highest percentage of female partners according to the AFR Law Partnership Survey, July 2024.

We value technical excellence and collegiality, offer a great workplace culture and excellent opportunities to further your career, whether you are just starting out, are an experienced lawyer or a business services professional.

About the role

We have a unique and exciting permanent full-time opportunity for a Lawyer with a minimum of 3 years' PAE to work on a full-time secondment at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre (UNLC). Working as member of the UNLC team, this role requires the successful candidate to provide advice and representation in client matters, project management and administration.  It involves oversight of students undertaking their clinical legal placement at the UNLC, and may include participation in teaching practical legal skills to students as part of their clinical studies.

The University of Newcastle Legal Centre is the centrepiece of the School of Law and Justice clinical program and offers a range of services to the public, including free legal advice and assistance, representation, law clinics, community education seminars and assistance in the clinical placement programs conducted by the School of Law and Justice.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will be an admitted Lawyer with a minimum of 3 years' PAE. Ideally, you will have had some experience working in the Community Legal, Pro Bono or Not-for-Profit sector, and have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for providing Pro Bono legal services. In addition to your technical skills and your commitment to client care, some of the other skills we are looking for include:

• An ability to work both collaboratively and autonomously
• Excellent time management and the ability to prioritise, set and meet deadlines under pressure
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Self-confidence, initiative and good judgement

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. If you are applying for a Paralegal, Law Graduate or Lawyer role, please also provide your academic transcript with your application.

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.