Senior Associate or Special Counsel

About Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers

Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers is a well-established Australian mid-tier law firm with offices across Sydney, Parramatta, Campbelltown, Wollongong, Newcastle, Raymond Terrace, Hobart and Melbourne.

We provide comprehensive legal services across property, commercial, litigation and dispute resolution, employment & industrial relations, and plaintiff personal injury law. Our clients include corporations, government, not-for-profit organisations, SMEs and individuals.

At our core, we are a values-led firm. We are committed to delivering high-quality legal advice with integrity, while fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace. We invest in our people, encouraging growth, recognising contribution, and providing opportunities to build meaningful and rewarding careers.

About the Role

A senior opportunity exists for an experienced Employment & Industrial Relations Lawyer to join our Sydney office as a Senior Associate or Special Counsel working within our Employment Law team.

You will be exposed to a variety of matters including workplace investigations, unfair dismissal claims, general protections disputes, restraint of trade matters, disciplinary matters, enterprise bargaining and employment advisory work. You will also be involved in discrimination claims, bullying applications and a range of other employment related cases.

Key Responsibilities:

• Direct liaison with clients and providing accurate and timely legal advice
• Drafting employment contracts, enterprise agreements and workplace policies
• Preparing court and tribunal documents, correspondence and legal opinions
• Attending the Fair Work Commission and other tribunals for dispute resolution
• Conducting legal research and advising the wider team on complex matters
• Mentoring and supporting junior members within the team
• Building the firm’s Employment Law presence in Melbourne

What You’ll Bring

• You are a confident and commercially astute employment lawyer who combines technical excellence with strong interpersonal skills and sound judgement.
• Minimum 4+ years’ post-admission law firm experience specialising in employment and industrial relations law
• Advanced knowledge of the Fair Work Act, enterprise agreements and public sector frameworks
• Experience managing complex employment matters with significant client exposure under minimal supervision
• A strong track record of building and maintaining client relationships
• A current and unrestricted practising certificate in Victoria (or eligibility to obtain one)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to deliver practical, solutions-focused advice
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work both independently and collaboratively

Benefits

• A blend of working in the office & remotely
• Annual flu injections
• Annual Christmas gift
• Employee Assistance program
• IT equipment provided to our people to work remotely
• Annual COD Health dollars towards your health & wellbeing
• Social gatherings and sporting groups
• Internal learning and development program
• Wellbeing program
• Annual practising certificate paid for

How to Apply

If this opportunity aligns with where you want to take your career, we encourage you to apply.

We require successful applicants to provide a satisfactory police clearance prior to commencing employment.

We actively encourage and welcome candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, candidates with a disability, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.