Employment Lawyer - SA - Special Counsel
Exciting role with real autonomy and a pathway to Principal.
Join a leading South Australian commercial law firm with a recognised employer side employment practice, advising businesses from owner managed operators through to large corporate companies, major construction and building groups, and not for profit organisations.
The firm has been advising South Australian business for more than two decades and has an enviable reputation.
Why this opportunity?
Step into a genuinely senior role in a recognised employer side practice, acting exclusively for employer clients
Real autonomy from day one.
You run your own client relationships and speak directly to decision makers, without a layer between you and the client
A truly collaborative firm where clients belong to the firm rather than to individual practitioners, so work and credit are shared
Work alongside an experienced employment and disputes practitioner with deep South Australian market knowledge
The role:
Working within the corporate group alongside disputes and transactions, you will advise employer clients across matters including:
Employment contracts and executive service agreements
Workplace policies, compliance and risk management
Industrial relations, enterprise agreements and workplace agreements
Terminations, unfair dismissal and general protections claims
Workplace investigations
Bullying, discrimination and harassment claims and investigations
Post termination restraints
Work health and safety
Restructures, redundancies and organisational change
Fair Work Commission and tribunal proceedings
Strategic workplace advisory to boards and executives




You will work with clients across a broad range of industries, including construction, health and care, professional services and government, helping them manage workplace risk with advice that is commercial and practical rather than academic.
The firm is looking for someone with the standing and gravitas to be put in front of its corporate clients in their own right, and the judgement to run those relationships without close supervision.
About you
You will ideally have:
Senior Associate or Special Counsel level experience in employment and workplace relations
An employer side background acting for corporate and commercial clients
Genuine breadth across advisory, litigation and workplace investigations
The presence and gravitas to hold client relationships independently, including with larger corporate clients
Strong drafting, strategic thinking and commercial judgement
A collaborative approach and a willingness to contribute to the growth of the practice
Australian admission and a current practising certificate
Candidates with employment experience gained at boutique, mid tier or national firms are encouraged to apply.
What you can expect
A flat structure with approachable people and no hierarchy to navigate
Realistic billables of 6 a day
WFH Wednesday and a collaborative culture.
Meaningful client responsibility and the autonomy to run matters your way
A team-oriented culture, closer in feel to a London firm than a traditional local practice
An inclusive environment where people are genuinely accessible across the firm
If you are a senior employment lawyer looking for autonomy, quality corporate work and a firm that shares its clients, I would welcome a confidential conversation.
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📌 Employment Lawyer (Adelaide)
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