Careers

• Join a rapidly growing government practice in the largest legal partnership in Australia.
• Receive strong mentoring, hands-on experience, and real support to grow your career.
• Build a solid foundation in the Commonwealth Government - Administrative Law & Litigation team either in our Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney Office

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

We are seeking high-performing lawyers at all levels to join our highly regarded Commonwealth Government administrative law team, led by Michael Palfrey and Will Sharpe. While you may be based in Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney, you will be joining a national team, working collaboratively with other lawyers and team members across each of those locations.

This is a unique opportunity to take your career to the next level and be a part of a growing practice.

You’ll have responsibility for

• a caseload of merits and judicial review matters, representing various Commonwealth Government agencies – including, in particular, the Department of Home Affairs – before the Federal Circuit, Federal and High Courts, and the Administrative Review Tribunal;
• day-to-day carriage of matters;
• drafting prospects advice and litigation strategies;
• preparing evidence;
• drafting submissions;
• Preparing other Court and Tribunal documents;
• undertaking solicitor advocacy in the Administrative Review Tribunal and Federal Circuit Court; and
• instructing Counsel.

You'll also be busy with

• work on a broad range of engaging matters;
• gain direct client exposure and have the opportunity to build strong professional relationships;
• collaborate closely with Partners and senior lawyers within the team; and
• receive meaningful supervision and support, with a genuine focus on your development as a valued member of the team.

To succeed in this role, ideally you'll have

• previous public and administrative law experience with a litigation focus;
• An interest in appearing before the Courts and Tribunal as a solicitor advocate
• well developed interpersonal and communication skills;
• excellent drafting and advice writing skills; and
• a desire to develop your career in private legal practice.

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 compared to our competitors. Our 180 day career forecasting sessions provide the platform to fast-track your progression.
• Work-Life Balance: We offer flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance.
• Culture: Be part of a firm renowned for its friendly and down-to-earth culture.
• 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 - gsgualdino@hwle.com.au for a confidential discussion.