Careers

• Broaden your experience with our rapidly growing Insurance practice groups in Australia with one of the largest National client bases.
• A true meritocracy model - be promoted by your contribution and not held back by outdated structures
• Generous leave policies including purchased, parental and performance reward leave

About us

HWLE is not your typical law firm. Our rapid rise to become the largest legal partnership in Australia shows that in our case, the differences are real. We deliver first class legal advice to our government and commercial clients in every state and territory across Australia. Firm wide, we have over 270 Partners and 1900 people.

The opportunity

Our Sydney Insurance (Statutory Classes) team is seeking an Associate with a passion for advising and defending employers and insurers in industrial common law negligence matters. This is an opportunity to work on high-profile and sensitive matters, including fatalities and complex liability disputes under the NSW statutory framework.

As a key member of the team, you will be responsible for providing high-quality legal advice & representation to a wide variety of clients, including insurers, self-insured, specialised insurers and regulators. You will engage in advocacy and manage complex trial and appeal litigation in the Supreme Court, District Court, and Personal Injury Commission. You will also advise on best practice risk and claims management, policy coverage issues and work closely with our Partners, junior lawyers, and external Counsel to deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients.

You'll be busy with

• managing a varied portfolio of statutory insurance matters under the NSW workers compensation and industrial accident framework
• preparing advice on liability, psychological injury, risk management and return‑to‑work strategies
• analysing medical, psychological and regulatory material to support clear and commercially focused recommendations
• drafting high‑quality correspondence, reports, submissions and briefs to counsel
• engaging directly with insurer clients, self‑insureds, scheme agents and government stakeholders
• assisting with the management of high‑profile or sensitive matters, including fatalities and complex liability disputes
• developing early‑intervention strategies that align with legislative requirements and client objectives
• preparing for and attending conferences, mediations and hearings as required
• collaborating closely with a supportive and high‑performing team to deliver timely, practical outcomes
• contributing to continuous improvement initiatives and supporting innovative claims‑management approaches

To succeed in this role, ideally, you'll have

• 3+ years PAE
• strong attention to detail with the ability to analyse complex insurance and statutory compensation matters
• excellent written communication skills, including drafting clear and accurate correspondence, reports and briefs
• the ability to manage competing deadlines and maintain high standards of organisation in a fast‑paced practice
• confidence working with sensitive, high‑profile and confidential matters, exercising sound judgement and discretion
• a proactive approach with the ability to anticipate workflow needs and stay ahead of key deadlines
• strong client‑service focus with an understanding of practical and commercially minded support
• the ability to adapt quickly to evolving legislative and procedural requirements in the insurance and compensation space
• comfort reviewing medical, psychological and regulatory documentation relevant to industrial accident and psychological injury claims
• maturity, professionalism and empathy when supporting matters involving psychological injury, fatalities and complex liability issues

What we offer

• Unrivalled career pathways: Our unique meritocracy model proudly offers our staff career development, promoting talent based solely on merit. Our size, range of experience and competitive pricing model will provide you with everything you need to succeed. Unlike our competitors, our Solicitor to Partner ratio enables greater mentoring and client engagement. Our 180-day career forecasting sessions provide the platform to fast-track your progression.
• Great culture and a huge networking platform: Be part of a firm renowned for its friendly and down-to-earth culture. We also have sports clubs, social club and monthly firmwide drinks.
• Impact: Join a firm consistently ranked at the forefront of the Australian legal market, where your work is recognised nationally.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV via the 'Apply' function. Applicants must have full working rights in Australia and a valid practising certificate to apply. HWLE also strongly encourages applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

HWLE strives to create an inclusive environment where our people want and feel comfortable to bring their entire selves to work. Varied perspectives contribute to our collective success so whatever your background, we'd love to hear from you and encourage you to apply. If you have reasonable accessibility requirements that will enable you to participate equitably in our recruitment process, please reach out to Gianni Sgualdino for a confidential discussion.