Job Description

The Opportunity

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Solicitor/Associate to join our high-performing Melbourne team. This role is ideally suited to a lawyer with experience in insurance litigation (defendant preferred, although plaintiff lawyers are encouraged to apply) and a genuine interest in building a long-term career in this space.

You will work across a broad mix of personal injury and general liability matters, with exposure to County Court and Supreme Court proceedings and will have the opportunity to take ownership of your own files while being supported by experienced Principals.

This is a great opportunity for someone who is self-sufficient but still values mentorship, as you’ll receive hands-on guidance while also having autonomy to manage matters end-to-end. We are open to candidates from diverse backgrounds, as we can provide training on our specific files and client base.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing a varied portfolio of defendant insurance litigation matters
• Working across personal injury, public liability, subrogated recovery and interstate claims.
• Handling matters in the County Court and Supreme Court, including procedural and contested work
• Drafting high-quality advices, pleadings, briefs, and court documents
• Attending mediations, conferences, and court hearings, and managing litigation strategy
• Communicating directly with clients and providing timely, pragmatic advice
• Operating with a high level of autonomy, while also supporting and overseeing more junior team members

About You

• 3+ years PAE in insurance litigation or closely related areas
• Experience in personal injury matters (defendant preferred; plaintiff experience welcomed)
• Exposure to court processes, including County Court and/or Supreme Court litigation
• Ability to draft clear, concise legal advices and court documents
• A demonstrated interest in pursuing a long-term career in insurance litigation
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Self-sufficient and proactive, with the confidence to manage files independently while knowing when to seek guidance
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail

Your new team

Our team is made up of highly skilled and dedicated legal professionals who are committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients. We work collaboratively to ensure that every client receives the highest level of service and support throughout their legal journey.

Our team members have a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise, allowing us to provide comprehensive legal solutions to our clients. We value innovation, creativity and a passion for the law, and we encourage our team members to continually develop their skills and knowledge through ongoing training and professional development opportunities.

We believe that a supportive and positive team culture is essential to our success, and we foster a collaborative and respectful working environment where all team members feel valued and empowered to contribute to our collective success.

About Us

McInnes Wilson is a leading independent full-service firm with offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Maroochydore. The firm has approximately 60 principals and over 400 staff nationally. We pride ourselves on delivering high quality outcomes for our valued clients whilst being recognised as a positive, collegiate place to work. We believe in our people and trust them with our brand.

What we offer

As a national corporate law firm, we offer exposure to premium clients, large scale, multi-party, complex litigated matters and transparent career pathways, together with a variety of benefits including: generous paid parental leave, paid salary continuance insurance, flexible working, study assistance, pro-bono opportunities, complementary massages, realistic billables targets for legal practitioners, a formal mentoring program, professional memberships, birthday leave, social club, EOFY functions and end of year celebrations.

All applicants should note that the successful candidate will be required to undergo background screening including reference checks and police checks.

Any questions regarding this role should be directed to our Talent team, recruitment@mcw.com.au.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our firm. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals who represent the communities in which we live and work. We encourage people from all backgrounds to join us; we are committed to providing an equitable recruitment experience for all candidates.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact the business in relation to this vacancy. Unsolicited CVs will not be considered or accepted.