Careers

• A true meritocracy model - be promoted by your contribution and not held back by outdated structures
• Flexible 3:2 work arrangements
• 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 1700 people.

The opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate or Senior Associate to join our Environment & Planning practice working alongside our newly appointed Partner Andrew Natoli. Andrew is an experienced Planning & Environmental lawyer and a LIV Accredited Specialist in Environment & Planning Law. Andrew and his team have a strong track record of delivering outcomes for his private and public sector clients, including largescale property and earth resource approvals and major reforms to the Victorian planning system. 

HWLE is seeking applications from enthusiastic lawyers to support HWLE's growing Environment & Planning practice. The practice services a diverse range of private and public sector clients, including some of Victoria's largest developers and operators in the residential, renewables and earth resource sectors.

In this role you will work closely with Partner, Andrew Natoli and a team of lawyers advising clients on a range of projects and helping them navigate complex approval processes, often in VCAT, Planning Panel and Supreme Court settings.

To succeed in this role, ideally you'll have

• 5+ years PAE
• experience and interest in environment and planning law
• ability to build relationships with client, members of the planning and other teams within HWLE
• interest in earth resources and renewables industries
• interest in working within all property development settings, including greenfield and built environment.
• interest in planning reform, broader regulatory reform and innovation.

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.
• Location: Our cutting-edge office is conveniently located in the heart of the Melbourne CBD amidst a fast-pace, high-networking legal community. Enjoy working in a state-of-the-art office environment with access to modern end of trip facilities.
• 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 Gabrielle Saunders for a confidential discussion.