An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Lawyer with 1-3 years' PAE or an experienced Career Paralegal to join an established Employment & Safety team in Cairns.
The position has a strong migration focus alongside employment law work, providing the opportunity to develop experience across complementary areas of workforce law. You'll work closely with experienced Partners and senior practitioners as part of a well-resourced national team.
The Opportunity The practice acts for ASX-listed employers, multinationals, universities, Commonwealth and State government departments, regulators and other major organisations, as well as businesses and individuals navigating Australia's migration system.
With migration forming a key focus of the position, you'll gain exposure to a broad range of corporate and skilled migration matters, including:
- Employer sponsorship and sponsored visa pathways.
- Skilled and regional migration.
- Permanent residency pathways.
- Intra-company transfers and global mobility.
- Visa applications and sponsorship compliance.
- Labour agreements, including Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) and company-specific agreements.
- Visa strategies for international businesses establishing operations in Australia.
- Administrative Review Tribunal proceedings involving sponsorship, nomination and visa decisions.
You'll also gain exposure to employment matters including:
- Employment agreements and workplace policies.
- Award interpretation and compliance.
- Workplace investigations and misconduct.
- Workforce restructuring and redundancy.
- Regulatory and workforce compliance.
- Employment disputes and litigation.
Why Consider This Prospect?
- Work closely with experienced Partners and senior practitioners.
- Flexible working arrangements designed to support work-life balance.
- Ability to purchase additional annual leave.
- 26 weeks' paid parental leave, with ongoing support for returning parents.
- Comprehensive learning and development, including CPD, dedicated New Lawyer training and leadership development programs.
- Full-fee study assistance with additional study leave.
- Clear progression pathways based on capability and performance.
- Comprehensive wellbeing support, including annual health initiatives and a confidential Employee Assistance Program.
- Corporate benefits including health and life insurance discounts and salary sacrifice options.
- Fully subsidised gym membership for legal practitioners.
- Active social culture with firm and office events, sporting teams and social clubs.
- Community service leave and opportunities to participate in pro bono and community initiatives.
- Strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, including ongoing support of the Australian Disability Network and Diverse Women in Law.
About You This role could suit a junior lawyer looking to develop their employment and migration expertise or an experienced Career Paralegal seeking their next long-term opportunity.
Ideally, you'll have:
- 1-3 years' PAE if applying at Lawyer level, or relevant experience as a Career Paralegal.
- Experience or a genuine interest in employment and/or migration law.
- Strong drafting and written communication skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and organisational capability.
- A practical and client-focused approach.
- The ability to work collaboratively while taking responsibility for your matters.
Next Steps Law Staff offers confidential, no-obligation career guidance tailored to your career goals.
Click Apply or contact Georgina See:
[email protected]
Even if this opportunity isn't quite right, we'd still love to hear from you. Many of our best opportunities are exclusive and never advertised.
Please note, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
📌 Lawyer or Career Paralegal - Employment & Migration (Cairns)
🏢 Law Staff
📍 Cairns