Solicitor, Work, Health & Safety

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Solicitor to join our Australian Work Health and Safety team, based in our Melbourne office.

Working closely with Partner Steve Bell , as well as other specialist WHS Partners from our national team, you'll be a valued member of a market leading practice. You will advise clients across the full spectrum of WHS issues acting for Australia’s largest businesses – helping them with legal issues touching on proactive risk management, Board and Executive duties through to high-consequence workplace investigations, prosecutions and inquests.

We are very proud of our national WHS team. We have a close-knit and longstanding group of senior lawyers, and a strong culture of creating opportunities for growth and development. We work for interesting and sophisticated clients, and the advice and support we are asked to provide is challenging and often at the forefront of WHS legal developments. The practice is equal parts advisory and litigious.

Opportunities to join the team are rare, but current workloads and client opportunities have created an opening for someone to join our team and work with our Senior Associates, Counsel and Partners.

What you’ll do

Advise clients on work health and safety obligations, safety regulation and risk management strategies. This covers a range of different safety laws – including specific regimes involving heavy vehicle, rail safety, dangerous goods and electrical safety laws. No two matters are the same.

Support clients in responding to serious workplace incidents, providing practical and timely guidance in the immediate aftermath of an event, including attending site and managing interactions with regulators and other investigators.

Conducting or overseeing workplace investigations. This might include investigations into conduct issues, psychosocial safety matters or physical safety incidents. Sometimes we conduct those investigations ourselves, sometimes we work with external investigators.

Advise on the strategies available to respond to regulatory investigations. These have increased in scope and complexity in recent years.

Work on safety-related litigation, including criminal prosecutions, coronial proceedings, inquests and public inquiries. We deal with these entirely within our safety team, appearing in Court’s or tribunals or working with Counsel, depending on the matter.

Partner with clients to develop and implement health and safety compliance frameworks, contractor engagement models and governance systems aligned to their operational needs. This is something we are known for in the market. The structures and frameworks we establish are often adopted across whole-of-industry.

Collaborate closely with clients' executive teams, legal counsel, operational leaders and stakeholders to navigate complex workplace and regulatory challenges.

Contribute to thought leadership, client training and presentations on developments affecting workplace health and safety regulation. Our training programs on WHS issues at the Board, executive and operational level is second to none. If this is of interest to you, there are great opportunities to develop this part of your practice.

Support the firm’s pro bono work, advising NFPs on a range of WHS matters.

What you’ll bring

Admission to practice in Australia or New Zealand.

Experience as a Solicitor practicing in WHS or relevant regulatory law within a leading private practice, government, or in-house environment.

Excellent academic results and commitment to continuous learning.

Strong communication skills and drive to develop as a lawyer within a market-leading practice.

A positive, collaborative and team focused approach.

An innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies.

What you can expect from us

We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.

We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.

We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.

We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click here .

Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Apply now with your resume and academic transcript, or contact Carissa Bartels, Recruitment Manager ( carissa.bartels@hsfkramer.com ) for a confidential discussion.

Team

Employment, Pensions & Incentives

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Melbourne

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.