Job Description
Overview
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Are you an experienced family lawyer ready to step into a Principal role where you can lead, grow, and shape the future of a practice – without the burden of running your own firm alone?
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This is your chance to join a firm that blends the best of both worlds: the personal touch of a family-run practice with the infrastructure and resources of a 300+ person national network.
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Here, you'll enjoy the autonomy to build your practice, the support to deliver for your clients, and the opportunity to be part of a collaborative, growth-focused team.
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Why this role stands out
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Principal-level opportunity: Step into a leadership role where your input genuinely shapes the Melbourne practice and its national expansion.
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Family-run culture: A close-knit, supportive environment that values collaboration, client care, and commercial results – without unnecessary hierarchy or bureaucracy.
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National resources: Enjoy the security of being part of a growing national firm with 300+ staff and established cross-referral streams in Wills & Estates, Employment, Commercial, and Litigation.
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Hybrid flexibility: Split your time between the Queen Street office and working from home, with genuine work-life balance built in.
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High-quality support: Dedicated admin and marketing assistance, allowing you to focus on client work and business development, not back-office tasks.
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Growth pathway: Opportunity to shape and eventually lead a national family law function, with expansion into Queensland and other states on the horizon.
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Responsibilities
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Managing a diverse family law caseload, including property settlements, parenting matters,



and family violence matters.
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Leading and mentoring a small Melbourne-based family law team, with scope to grow further.
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Driving business development: leveraging your own network, tapping into firm-wide referrals, and building the team's profile in the market.
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Delivering commercially focused and empathetic solutions to clients navigating complex, often sensitive matters.
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Working with the leadership team to grow the family law practice as a core pillar of the firm's national offering.
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Qualifications
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7+ years PAE in Family Law, ideally already at Principal or Senior Associate level.
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A modest client following or strong referral network – and the appetite to bring in and grow your own work.
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Commercially minded with a proven track record of hitting billable targets (approximately 5 hours per day).
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Eligible for inclusion on the BLSB register and family law legal aid panel (even if rarely used).
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Someone who thrives in a family-focused, yet commercially driven setting, with the confidence to lead and grow a team.
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If you're currently running your own practice or working in a smaller firm and want to step into a Principal role with the backing of a supportive, family-oriented team – this is the opportunity to do it without sacrificing autonomy or earnings potential.
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All enquiries are treated with the strictest confidentiality.
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Job details
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Seniority level: Director
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Employment type: Full-time
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Job function: Quality Assurance and Legal
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Industries: Legal Services
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Base pay range
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A$140,******/yr - A$180,******/yr
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Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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📌 Principal Solicitor (Victoria)
🏢 Compliance & Risk Management Recruitment
📍 Victoria