At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide strategic employment law advice and mentor other lawyers in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Leading university in Melbourne with a supportive legal team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 17% superannuation, and excellent work-life balance.
- Other info: Opportunity for long-term career stability and progression within a well-resourced legal function.
- Why this job: Influence key decisions and shape employment law functions in a respected institution.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in employment law, pragmatic approach, and in-house experience preferred.
The predicted salary is between 121500 - 148500 $ per year.
As a Senior Employment Lawyer, you will play a key role within a well-established, high-performing in-house legal team that supports a large and complex organisation with a highly unionised workforce. This role has been newly created as part of a strategic decision to bring senior employment and workplace relations capability in-house. You will be trusted to provide strategic, high-level advice on complex employment and industrial relations matters and to act as a key legal adviser to senior stakeholders across the organisation. You will have genuine influence, autonomy and visibility, working on matters that are business-critical and often high risk. This organisation also offers strong public sector conditions, including excellent superannuation and genuine work-life balance.
The General Counsel considers mentorship and training as paramount. You will work closely with senior legal leaders and will have the opportunity to operate as a subject‑matter expert within employment and workplace relations law. This role is well suited to a senior employment lawyer looking to step into a trusted adviser role, with scope to help shape the employment law function, mentor other lawyers, and influence how employment risk is managed across a large organisation. The role offers long‑term career stability, seniority and progression within a sizeable, well‑resourced in‑house legal function.
This organisation is a large, highly respected university. Lawyers working in the legal team highlight the quality and complexity of the work, exposure to senior decision‑makers, a supportive and collegiate culture, and genuinely reasonable hours. The organisation also offers remuneration and benefits that compare very favourably with private practice, including 17% superannuation and public sector conditions.
What work will you do?
- Provide strategic employment law and workplace relations advice on complex matters
- Act as a senior legal contact for HR and Workplace Relations teams
- Support the management of employment‑related disputes and litigation
- Draft, review and negotiate complex employment documentation
- Assist with risk mitigation and policy development
- Mentor and support other lawyers within the legal team
- Manage external legal counsel
What type of person will be successful?
- Admitted as a solicitor in Australia
- 10+ years experience in employment law and workplace relations
- In‑house experience is highly regarded
- Pragmatic, calm and solutions‑focused approach
- Comfortable operating in a large, complex and unionised environment
- A willingness to take ownership of matters and lead by example
Please apply below or send your CV to arrange a confidential discussion. If this role isn’t quite right for you, but you’re interested in other roles, please get in contact. We have live roles across Sydney in both private practice and in‑house.
Senior Employment Lawyer employer: Beacon Legal
As a Senior Legal Counsel at our growing international business in Melbourne, you will enjoy a unique opportunity to take ownership of the legal function while working closely with senior leadership. Our collaborative and low-ego culture fosters clear communication and practical decision-making, allowing you to influence the direction of the legal team significantly. With access to an experienced international legal network and the potential for career advancement towards a Head of Legal or General Counsel position, this role offers a rewarding environment for those seeking meaningful and impactful work.
