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Senior Associate / Special Counsel - Construction - Adelaide

  • 492681
  • Adelaide, SA, Australia
  • Permanent Full time
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Senior Associate/Special Counsel – Construction - Adelaide

  • Market‑leading construction team working across infrastructure, civil, energy, commercial and residential sectors
  • Front‑end and back‑end construction, engineering and infrastructure work
  • Merit‑based progression with clear career pathways

About us

HWL Ebsworth is Australia’s largest legal partnership, delivering high‑quality advice to government and commercial clients nationwide. Firm wide, we have over 270 Partners and 1,700 people across all states and territories. We are preeminent in the SA market.

The opportunity

Our Adelaide Construction & Infrastructure practice, led by John Vozzo, is growing rapidly. Since being established in 2022, the team has quickly built a strong profile and high‑quality client base. As one of the largest construction teams in SA, we are engaged on major state and national projects. We expect continued growth as SA’s major project pipeline expands.

You will work with a leading team acting for major contractors, consultants, government agencies, and listed and private developers.

This role offers exposure to complex, high‑value matters and the chance to contribute to significant local, interstate and international projects, while enjoying a collaborative team culture focused on client experience, building expertise and long‑term professional growth.

Our work spans the full project lifecycle - from procurement and contracting through delivery and disputes. We support career development through structured training, mentoring and genuine opportunities for progression.

What you will bring

  • 5+ years post‑admission experience;
  • strong communication and drafting skills;
  • proven construction law expertise;
  • commercial judgement and analytical ability;
  • leadership skills for senior applicants; and 
  • collaborative approach and ability to build trusted client relationships.

What we offer

  • Career progression: A genuine merit‑based model, strong partner accessibility, and structured development through 180‑day planning sessions and ongoing training
  • Work-life balance: Flexible working arrangements
  • Great environment: State‑of‑the‑art Adelaide CBD office with modern facilities
  • Supportive culture: Friendly, down‑to‑earth team with a reputation for approachability
  • Impact: Work recognised nationally in a top‑tier Australian legal environment

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter via the 'Apply' link. 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 Anthony Gosti - agosti@hwle.com.au for a confidential discussion.

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