Paralegal (1st or 2nd year law student)

About the role

A fantastic opportunity has arisen in our Newcastle office for a Paralegal to join one of our insurance teams on a casual basis. This role is ideally suited to a 1st or 2nd year law student looking to develop foundational legal skills, gain an understanding of how a matter progresses from initial instructions through to settlement or trial, and learn how a law firm operates.

Some of the day-to-day responsibilities of a Paralegal will include:

Opening new matters, and closing/archiving completed matters

Solicitor diary management

Telephone calls with clients, Courts/Tribunals, other law firms and third parties (i.e. medical practices, medico-legal companies etc.)

Arranging medical appointments

Creating medical schedules and schedules of authorities

Drafting and amending simple correspondence

Preparation and filing of court documents including subpoenas, tender bundles etc. and arranging service

Collating briefs to Counsel and medical experts in both hard copy and electronic formats

Electronic and hard copy filing, and setting up folders for electronic files

General administrative duties

About you

To be successful as a Paralegal, you will be a proactive and enthusiastic law student in your first or second year of study, with availability to work in the office 3 days per week.

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate

• Exceptional customer service skills for our clients
• Initiative and good judgement
• The ability to work well both independently and as part of a team
• Excellent organisation skills and proven attention to detail
• Outstanding written and verbal communication
• A genuine enthusiasm and passion for the law, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development

About us

We’re passionate about what we do and want you to be too.

We’re one of Australia’s leading law firms, recognised nationally for our legal expertise across insurance, commercial, workplace and government matters. Our teams work with major insurers, corporates, government agencies, SMEs and not for profit organisations across Australia.

With more than 800 people across Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney, we combined high quality work with collaborative and supportive culture.

We’re also proud to be recognised by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Best Lawyers and Doyle’s Guide and to have one of the highest percentages of female partners among Australia’s top 50 law firms.

Culture & benefits of working with us

As a national firm with the scale and reputation to attract great clients and high-quality work, every day is different. To support you, we offer a wide range of benefits, including:

Flexible working arrangements to help you balance your work and personal commitments

Health and wellness initiatives, including an Employee Assistance Program for you and your family, onsite Mental Health First Aiders, discounts on health insurance, and corporate discounts at 400+ leading fitness and wellbeing brands

Financial benefits including discounted conveyancing services, financial planning assistance, and our generous employee referral program

Paid parental leave and accreditation as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace

Continuous learning and development programs to ensure you are always being challenged, engaged, and encouraged to grow and further your career

Connection and community including office-based social events, sporting events, paid blood donation leave, and a long-standing commitment to pro bono work and community contribution

Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Employee Reference Groups (LGBTQIA+, Gender, Parents & Caregivers, Mature Workers, and Health & Wellbeing, and Reconciliation Action Plan Working Groups) ensuring that we continue to live our values and encouraging our people to be their authentic selves at work each day

Dress for your Work Day Policy because we trust our people to make choices which appropriately represent our firm

How to apply

If this opportunity sounds like the right fit for you, please submit your cover letter, CV, and academic transcript.

We welcome people of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position, including First Nations people, neurodiverse people and people with disability. If you have questions about the recruitment process or require any adjustments to participate, please let us know in your application.

We do not require recruitment agency assistance with this vacancy. Any applications submitted by recruitment agencies without having been briefed will not be considered a valid introduction.