Careers

• Join one of Australia’s fastest growing construction practices
• Build broad experience across projects of every size and sector, including billion dollar public infrastructure works, renewable energy developments, major property portfolios and more
• Flexible 3:2 work arrangements
• Generous leave policies including purchased, parental and performance reward leave and our transparent bonus structure

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 opportunity for a Senior Associate to join our Construction and Infrastructure practice, working closely with Partners Alan Chiang, Leighton Moon, Paul Graham, Theo Kalyvas, Tony Whelan, Matt Bliem and Lisa Vo.

Our depth of experience and strong market reputation see us engaged by tier one contractors, Commonwealth and State Government agencies, listed developers and sovereign wealth funds. At the same time, we pride ourselves on delivering value for money on small to medium projects and providing a platform that genuinely supports senior lawyers to grow and shape their own practice.

You'll be busy with 

Front end

• preparing and reviewing construction contracts, consultancy agreements and procurement documents
• supporting tender processes and assisting clients with contract strategy and risk allocation
• assisting with contract negotiations and execution
• advising on project governance, delivery models and early project planning
• working closely with client teams during project delivery to ensure commercial and operational success

Back end

• assisting with contract administration issues
• advising on claims, variations, delays and extensions of time
• supporting clients with dispute resolution processes including mediation, expert determination and arbitration
• preparing clear, strategic advice to support the resolution of commercial and technical disputes

To succeed in this role, ideally you'll have

• 4+ years PAE
• front end and back end experience
• be an associate ready to step into a Senior Associate role  
• a passion for mentoring and leading teams of lawyers
• strategic and critical thinking capabilities
• a desire to pursue business development opportunities to grow an already strong and diverse practice
• strong leadership skills to assist in developing our junior cohort who are exceptionally talented, motivated and passionate.

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. Sign up for our 'Latte Link-Up' program to connect with members of the firm outside of your practice group, across all levels from shared business services through to C-Suite!
• 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.