Senior Associate - Employment & Workplace

at  Avant

About Avant
Avant is Australia’s leading medical defence organisation with a proud heritage of protecting Australian medical professionals for over 125 years.
Avant now represents 80,000 health practitioners and medical students across every state and territory, delivering market leading products and services to meet their professional, personal and practice needs. Building on this heritage, our vision is to be the most trusted professional partner in supporting doctors throughout their lives and careers.
As a mutual organisation, owned by members and run purely for their benefit, our members are at the centre of all we do. As well as providing products and services to our member, we play a broader community role by advocating for improvements in the healthcare system and in quality, safety and professionalism in medicine, through delivering education and research activities.
Avant Law is a growing commercial law firm providing legal services across a range of industries, with a specific focus on the medical and allied health sectors. As a part of the Avant Mutual Group of companies, Avant Law supports medical industry clients with the benefit of the depth of associated industry resources, knowledge and experience that comes from being a part of Australia’s leading doctor and medical defence organisation.
Our Employment & Workplace team is seeking a Senior Associate to join us on a permanent, full-time basis. The role may be based in Brisbane or Sydney. The role will report to Partner and Head of Employment & Workplace, Stephen Schoninger. Stephen has over 20 years’ experience practising exclusively in employment, industrial relations and discrimination laws, including at large national and global law firms, and a genuine interest in mentoring and developing the lawyers in his team.
Our Employment & Workplace lawyers work closely with our clients to provide pragmatic legal advice across all aspects of employment and workplace law. Our Employment & Workplace team provides legal services to businesses and individuals across industries including medical and allied health, professional services, insurance, utilities and media.

THE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE WILL INCLUDE:

• managing and supporting other lawyers to manage legal files under partner supervisionadvising employer and employee clients on a broad remit of employment and workplace law issues, including:
• employment contracts, contractor agreements, services and facilities agreements and workplace policies;
• performance, conduct, discipline and termination;
• restructuring and redundancy;
• sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination;
• workplace surveillance, privacy and record keeping; and
• compliance and risk management strategy;
• representing clients in workplace claims (including unfair dismissal, adverse action, discrimination, sexual harassment, stop bullying and breach of contract claims);
• the conduct of workplace investigations and delivery of workplace training;
• advising on and acting in restraint of trade proceedings.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:

• have a relevant law degree with strong academic results and hold or be eligible to hold a supervised practising certificate as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales or Queensland, depending on location, and the High Court of Australia;
• have a minimum of 6+ years demonstrated experience in employment law;
• have excellent written and verbal communication skills; and
• be a bright and enthusiastic team player, with high level time management skills and attention to detail.

Why work for Avant Law, Employment & Workplace?

• you will be joining a close-knit team of high-performing lawyers working in an open and collaborative environment;
• you will receive mentorship and guidance, with comprehensive training and development opportunities;
• an inclusive, hybrid and flexible work environment;
• excellent remuneration and benefits.

Please note: Avant Law, as a member of the Avant Mutual Group of companies, is a vaccinated employer. Prior to the commencement of your employment by Avant Law, you are required to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus or have a medical certificate stating that you cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccination for valid medical reasons.
Why work at Avant?
At Avant, our people are the centre of everything we do for our members. We offer a range of benefits and opportunities to enable you to make a difference, learn, and grow in your career.
We value our people by offering an inclusive workplace with a diverse range of benefits, flexible working options, career development, and internal mobility opportunities. Our flexible working arrangements are designed to enable genuine work-life balance.
Your development is our priority and we have a variety of learning and development programs that will support you in your career.
We offer support to our people via Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Health and Wellbeing programs, Tertiary Education Sponsorship and Support.
We have a diverse and connected work environment where your contribution and ideas will be valued and respected and make a real difference to the lives of others.
For further information, please contact our Careers team at careers@avant.org.au.
Please note: Avant Mutual is a vaccinated employer. Prior to the commencement of your employment by Avant, you are required to be fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus or have a medical certificate stating that you cannot receive a Covid-19 vaccination for valid medical reasons