Receive excellent mentoring, guidance and training whilst working on high-value disputes before the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Work closely with the Partner, Alex Ottaway, to advise government and private-sector clients on construction disputes, involving complex engineering, factual and legal issues.

About us

HWLE 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 a unique opportunity for a dynamic candidate to join our impressive and highly regarded Commonwealth Government practice as an Associate or Senior Associate. This role is suitable for someone with experience and an interest in construction disputes who is looking for first-class training and exposure to premium client matters.

The successful candidate will be engaged in:

Direct client access

Working closely with Alex Ottaway and other fee-earners

Supportive training and mentoring

Advising top-tier clients on liability, strategy and risk management

Analysing information and providing concise, pragmatic and adaptable legal advice To succeed in this role, ideally you'll have:

4+ years PAE

Analytical skills and legal reasoning

Proficiency in commercial, construction and contract law

Written skills including plain English

Interpersonal and communication skills

Hunger to learn

Solid work ethic

Drive to contribute to the success of the team and firm

'Can do' approach

Interest in marketing and BD (e.g. preparing and delivering client presentations)

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 quick-track your progression.

Work-Life Balance: We offer versatile 3:2 work arrangements to support your work-life balance

Location: Our cutting-edge office is conveniently located in the heart of the Sydney CBD amidst a fast-pace, high-networking legal community. Enjoy working in a state-of-the-art office workplace 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 Laura Harrison for a confidential discussion.

📌 Associate/Senior Associate - Construction Disputes, Government and Private-sector - Sydney
🏢 HWLE Lawyers
📍 Sydney