Careers

• Make your mark in a newly created specialist role
• A genuinely flexible, part‑time opportunity that supports balance without compromising impact.
• A supportive and pragmatic People Risk team that values expertise, trust and collaboration.

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 have created a new part‑time Employment Relations Specialist role for someone who genuinely specialises in ER and enjoys working at the intersection of people, risk and compliance.

Reporting to our Head of People Risk & Compliance, you’ll provide specialist advice and hands‑on support across employment relations matters, working with stakeholders to help mitigate people‑related risk and promote consistent, well‑managed approaches to workplace relations across the firm.

The role supports the development and application of practical, compliant ER frameworks and contributes to the effective management of workplace issues, including psychosocial safety and positive duty obligations.

This is a valued specialist role, well suited to an experienced ER practitioner seeking meaningful advisory work, strong collaboration and flexibility.

You'll be busy with

• Staying ahead of workplace relations changes and turning complex legislation into clear, practical guidance.
• Providing employment relations advice and support across a range of matters, including performance management, conduct, grievances and investigations.
• Partnering closely with P&D and leaders to support psychosocial safety, positive duty obligations and respectful workplace practices.
• Interpreting awards and contracts to inform compliant decisions around conditions and entitlements.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of people risk management through input into ER policies, frameworks, controls and processes.
• Identifying themes and insights from ER activity and compliance data and working with People Risk and Compliance team to support reporting, risk mitigation and capability uplift.

To succeed in this role, you'll have

• Demonstrated specialisation in ER/workplace relations – this is not a generalist role.
• Strong experience across investigations, procedural fairness and quality documentation.
• Proven ability to interpret awards and strong understanding of employment law.
• Excellent drafting and communication skills including across policies, briefs, findings and reporting.
• Sound judgement, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience in a professional services or similarly complex environment is advantageous.

What we offer

• Work-Life Balance: We offer flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance.
• Location: Our offices are located in the heart of the action across Australia - our Sydney office just opened its door at our new and exciting location at 5 Martin Place.
• Culture: Be part of a firm renowned for its friendly and down-to-earth culture and rewarding meritocracy model.
• 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.