Legal Counsel

About us

Acting to combat climate change is one of the world's most pressing challenges. Climate Friendly was founded in 2003 as a profit-for-purpose business. Our growing team is passionate about active land management, and we are focused on finding economically viable solutions to maximise our impact on climate change. 

We are one of Australia's largest and most experienced carbon farming project developers. This includes more than 160 projects with farmers, plantation managers, agribusiness, and Indigenous groups on carbon farming projects.

Climate Friendly has delivered over 20Mt in carbon abatement as at the end of 2020. Our immediate mission is to establish partnerships, by 2025, that will store or reduce 150Mt of CO2-e, while repairing nature and supporting reconciliation. Join our team and you will be helping to build A productive, sustainable land sector that contributes to a zero net emissions & nature positive Australia by

We have a genuinely friendly and supportive culture where everyone has a voice and opportunity to help shape our future and to fulfil our purpose.

The role

The Legal Counsel plays a critical role in delivering high-quality legal services that enable Climate Friendly to operate confidently, compliantly and with purpose. Working within a small but dynamic in-house Legal Hub, this position is responsible for providing expert legal advice across a diverse and fast-paced portfolio of issues, especially commercial contracting and financial regulatory compliance, but also including environmental law, native title and corporate governance.

In addition to advising on legal and regulatory matters, the Legal Counsel contributes to the ongoing development of legal systems, templates, and processes that improve efficiency, reduce risk, and support sustainable growth.

This position requires a proactive, solutions-focused legal professional who can balance strategic insight with practical execution, and who is committed to contributing to an inclusive, values-driven workplace.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Team support

• Supporting the continuous improvement of the Legal Hub, including contributing to team strategy, knowledge sharing, and capability development.
• Developing templates, systems workflows and processes to streamline workflow and reporting across the team.
• Fostering an inclusive and values-led team culture that supports diversity, collaboration and learning.

Commercial contracts

• Leading the negotiation and drafting of commercial agreements with client and partner lawyers, especially for carbon and nature projects and trading carbon credits.
• Creating and refining templates and tailored agreements to support new and emerging business areas, including natural capital and carbon markets.

Financial services and compliance

• Advising on and conducting investigations for financial services and scheme compliance and complaint processes.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of compliance frameworks, policies, and internal controls.
• Delivering training and guidance to internal teams on managing and mitigating legal risk across the business.

General legal advice

• Providing timely, practical legal advice across a range of matters including commercial, carbon farming, employment and administration law, along with project registration, property sales and grant processes.
• Managing relationships with external legal service providers, including scoping, briefing and renewing advice.
• Delivering internal legal training and developing resources to strengthen legal capability across the business.
• This position is being offered as a 12-month fixed term contract in the first instance, with the possibility of extension or permanency subject to business needs and performance.

About you

Essential

• Current legal practising certificate.
• A minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience in private practice / in-house.
• Legal experience in commercial agreements and financial services compliance.
• Excellent legal skills including ability to solve problems, prioritise workload and provide clear practical advice.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a small remotely based team and to work independently with minimal supervision.

Desirable

• In-house legal experience.
• Legal experience in carbon credit agreements, complaints handling and property.
• Experience and interest in AI and technical applications that assist legal workflow.
• Experience and interest in carbon farming and natural capital projects in Australia.
• Climate Friendly encourages people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from different cultural backgrounds and people with disabilities.

Why join our team?

Our goal is to be seen as an organisation that supports wholeness, lifestyle and wellbeing whilst rewarding individual and collective performance. In addition to competitive salary and transparent career progression opportunities, our benefits include:

• Work with purpose, contributing to a productive, sustainable land sector that contributes to a zero net emissions and nature positive Australia by 2050
• A fully hybrid workplace – work to your own rhythm and balance connection and productivity
• A supportive and inclusive environment that promotes diversity
• 2 all staff events a year to connect with your friends and colleagues
• Christmas holiday – 3 days of additional leave each year
• Floating public holidays
• Gender neutral paid parental leave
• 2 days each year for training / development / study leave
• Home office setup and refresh allowance
• Company performance bonus and shared equity