Senior Associate/Special Counsel - Insurance General - Melbourne

• Advise and act as defence and coverage counsel on behalf of leading Australian underwriters and self-insured corporates in relation to a mix of casualty and professional indemnity claims.
• A true meritocracy model - be promoted based on your contribution to the team and not held back by outdated structures
• Generous leave policies including purchased, parental and performance reward leave

About us

HWLE Lawyers 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 an opportunity for a Senior Associate or Special Counsel to join our highly regarded general insurance practice, working with one of our Partners Ashley Harding, Lewis Cohen and Jacomb Bell. You’ll work on an interesting and broad mix of casualty and professional indemnity claims, specialising in the provision of coverage and risk management advice, and the defence of public liability, product liability, professional indemnity and third‑party property damage claims, as well as statutory claims brought by workers and the Victorian WorkCover Authority.

Ashley's team has a strong track record of building and maintaining longstanding relationships with corporate and underwriter clients in the Australian general insurance market, and of mentoring talent from junior solicitor ranks through to partnership.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• be mentored by leading industry specialists
• participate in advising a broad portfolio of corporate and underwriter clients in respect of public liability, property damage, professional indemnity, product liability and statutory liability claims
• manage your own file load, whilst having access to a supportive group of junior solicitors to delegate work and, at the same time, handling claims, in tandem, with an experienced, supervising partner to provide increased claim exposure and to facilitate continued learning and development
• direct client access and be genuinely involved in business development and marketing opportunities
• form part of a high-performing, collaborative and friendly team

To succeed in this role, ideally you'll have

• ideally from 4+ years PAE
• substantial experience in General Insurance casualty and/or professional indemnity claims, including defence work and the provision of coverage advice
• ability to manage a file load autonomously, whilst delegating work tasks effectively
• excellent written skills and ability to use plain English to explain legal concepts concisely
• great interpersonal skills to be able to deal with policyholders, insurers, other parties to litigation and the courts
• a desire to develop your career and professional networks in the general insurance industry
• a ‘can do’ approach and a team player attitude

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.
• Work-Life Balance: We offer flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance
• 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.