ADIFFERENT KIND OF EMPLOYMENT LAW ROLE
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) is Australia’s peak employer association for the retail sector, representing some of the country’s largest and most recognisable retail brands.
Our associated legal practice has been at the heart of that work for years, providing specialist employment law services to our member base. With the growth that has followed the amalgamation, we’re now expanding the legal team to meet the needs of a significantly larger client base — and we’re looking for an Employment Lawyer with 2–5 years’ PAE to join us.
WHAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY BE DOING
This role spans the full spectrum of employment and work health and safety law, with real
exposure to matters that make a difference:
- Employment litigation — running matters alongside experienced practitioners across disputes, unfair dismissals, adverse action and more
- Enterprise bargaining — supporting negotiations and agreement drafting for major retail employers
- Workplace investigations — conducting and advising on sensitive and complex investigations
- Wage compliance — working on large-scale compliance projects across our member base
- Fair Work Commission — award matters, applications and proceedings, with a genuine policy and advocacy dimension that sets this role apart from typical legal practice
- Advisory — delivering high-quality legal advice to members on the full range of employment and WHS issues
- Member engagement — authoring legal updates, fact sheets and bulletins; presenting at client
webinars and training programs
WHY THIS ROLE STANDS OUT
- Variety and pace- no two weeks look the same
- Real matters from the start – not just research and reviewing
- An established, high-performing legal practice – with the energy and opportunity that comes from rapid growth
- A high-profile client base – Australia’s leading retail brands
- Genuine flexibility – remote-first, with in-office days for collaboration and connection
- Strong exposure to senior practitioners – in an environment that genuinely invests in your development
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
- 2 – 5 years’ PAE in employment law (private practice or in-house)
- Strong understanding of Australian employment legislation and the Fair Work framework
- Excellent written and verbal communication – you’ll be advising members and clients and producing client-facing content
- Commercially minded and solutions-focused
- Someone who thrives with autonomy and variety
ABOUT US:
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) is the unified voice for the retail community in Australia. It represents a $444 billion sector that employs 1.4 million Australians across metropolitan, regional, and remote communities – making retail the largest private sector employer in the country and a significant contributor to the Australian economy.
Our membership spans the spectrum of retail, from family-owned small and independent retailers that make up 95% of our membership, through to our largest national and international retailers that employ thousands of Australians and support both metropolitan and regional communities every day.
We are committed to ensuring every Australian respects and celebrates the sustaining contribution of retail to our nation.
We encourage all applicants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australian South Sea Islander people, people with disability, LGBTIQ and culturally diverse candidates to apply.
We support flexible working arrangements for employees which allows balancing working from home and working from our offices.
INTERESTED?
If you’re an employment lawyer who wants to do interesting work, build on an already strong foundation, and grow with a team experiencing a genuinely exciting period of expansion — we’d love to hear from you.
We welcome applicants from all states, and we support flexible working arrangements which allows balancing working from home and working from our offices.
We also welcome applications from candidates seeking part-time arrangements. We’re committed to making this role work for the right person, and we’re open to a conversation about what that looks like.
Please submit your CV and a Cover Letter.
Applications close 29 May 2026.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
