Solicitor/Associate – Professional Liability

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Solicitor or Associate to join Partner Michael Gapes’ Professional Liability practice in our Brisbane office. This is a great opportunity for someone early in their career to be mentored by senior specialists, build strong client relationships and develop their expertise across a varied and intellectually engaging professional liability caseload.

The Team

The Professional Liability team works across three sub-areas: professional indemnity, D&O and management liability, handling claims made against professionals across all industries. The team acts for underwriters, brokers, insureds, representative bodies, accountants and auditors, company directors and officers, trustees, financial advisers, engineers, architects, financial institutions, barristers, solicitors, hospitals and medical and para-medical professionals. The team also works closely with the REIQ on matters under their Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme, defending real estate industry claims including resident unit managers.

What you’ll be doing

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Drafting and reviewing legal documents, agreements and formal legal opinions
• Managing your own budget and consistently billing 6.5 chargeable hours per day
• Participating in negotiations with counterparties and liaising with other parties as required
• Matter completion and post-closing work
• Advising clients directly in consultation with senior lawyers, maintaining strong professional relationships
• Business development and networking activities — maintaining awareness of client-related topics and issues, and retaining and building business with existing and new clients
• Mentoring law graduates and junior staff
• Contributing to the ongoing learning and development within the team

Essential Experience and Criteria

• 1 to 3 years post-admission experience in professional indemnity, insurance litigation or commercial litigation
• LLB or equivalent and a current (or eligible) Queensland Practising Certificate
• Professional indemnity experience
• Proactive, positive and responsive approach with strong attention to detail and well-developed analytical skills
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly build rapport with internal and external clients
• Strong client focus with the ability to understand and anticipate client needs
• Ability to sustain high performance, problem solve and meet deadlines with limited supervision
• Highly developed time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and adapt to changing schedules

Benefits

At Carter Newell we are a professional team and have a strong client focus, but we love to have some fun along the way. We also provide:

• A healthy approach to flexibility that looks different for each of us
• Internal AI Software
• 20 weeks paid gender-neutral parental leave
• Leave of absence, public holiday swap and study assistance policies
• A wellbeing program with an annual wellbeing allowance, mental health support, and a focus on work-life balance – over 20% of our firm are trained as Mental Health First Aid Officers.
• A genuine commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging with dedicated subcommittees for Pride, Women, Cultural, and Ability & Wellbeing – ensuring real action, not just words

How to Apply

To make a confidential application, please Apply Now, or contact our People and Culture team at careers@carternewell.com.

Carter Newell is an equal opportunity employer, and we value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We welcome applications from individuals of diverse ages, abilities, cultural backgrounds, genders, LGBTIQA+ people and those with carer responsibilities. We particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.