Associate / Senior Associate

Associate / Senior Associate - Employment, Workplace Relations & Safety

An excellent opportunity for an experienced mid to senior level lawyer to join our Workplace Relations & Safety team.

This role will allow you to take carriage of interesting and challenging matters, develop your own relationships with clients, build a strong brand within the industry, and work closely with our market leading partner and team.

What can you expect in the role?

• Diverse range of matters including both strategic advisory work and complex litigation matters
• Working directly with clients to advise on dismissals, workplace investigations, workplace bullying and sexual harassment claims, work health and safety, award compliance and enterprise bargaining
• Defending unfair dismissal, general protections and anti-discrimination claims
• Working with businesses of varying sizes, including large private corporations and ASX listed entities, across industries such as construction, mining and resources, technology, manufacturing, education and training, medical and health services, and professional services
• Taking ownership of your own case load with the assistance of junior lawyers
• Involvement in business development opportunities and presentations external stakeholders to develop a strong brand within the industry

To be successful in the role, you will need:

• 3+ years PQE
• Demonstrated experience working on a range of employment and industrial relations matters
• A strong work ethic, technical knowledge and organisational skills
• A proactive approach to delivering timely and practical solutions to solve complex legal issues
• A genuine passion and interest in employment law
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills and the enthusiasm to provide mentoring to other team members

Benefits:

• ‘5-star’ Employer of Choice 2025 by HRD Australia and Australasian Lawyer and 2025 Beaton Client Choice Award winners for ‘Best Australian Law Firm, Best Professional Services Firm, Most Innovative Law & Related Services Firm, and Most Trusted Law & Related Services Firm. ($30m - $100m revenue)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellbeing initiatives
• Wellness facilities and onsite classes (i.e. yoga and mindfulness)
• Flexible work arrangements
• Competitive salary and parental leave policy
• Other benefits: purchased leave program (pre-tax), novated leasing, corporate medical insurance plans, networking, and social events and much more!

About Cooper Grace Ward

Cooper Grace Ward is a leading independent law firm based in Brisbane. We are a full-service law firm providing a range of legal services to clients nationally and internationally. We are a vibrant, energetic, growing and diverse team committed to supporting and developing our people to meet the changing needs of our clients. We take personal responsibility and pride in our work and have fun while we do it. We strive to be leaders in everything we do, and our impressive achievements can be viewed on our website.

Our workplace policies and strong values foster a safe and inclusive work environment. Cooper Grace Wards hires a diverse workforce, including people of all genders, ages, cultures, ethnicities, those who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQ+ and people with disabilities.

If this sounds like a team you would like to be a part of and you value mutual respect, excellence and curiosity, we encourage you to apply.