About us
Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm. We provide the world's pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 4000 lawyers operating worldwide in Europe, Asia Pacific, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Americas and Central Asia.
Our national Pro Bono team is a legal practice team focused on providing legal assistance, law reform and policy work to our pro bono clients. These include NFP's, NGO's, foundations, community legal centres, and some individuals. We also partner with our commercial clients to deliver pro bono advice jointly and to assist our commercial clients to develop their own pro bono journey.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity for either an Associate or Senior Associate to join our successful national Pro Bono practice, based in Melbourne. The role provides the opportunity to manage many aspects of the day-to-day delivery of Pro Bono services across NRF's Pro Bono program in Australia. You will be the on-the-ground lead for pro bono in our Melbourne office, working with the national team.
You will be working with the Pro Bono Partner (Chris Owen), the lawyers in the central Pro Bono team and other stakeholders across the firm to implement and deliver NRFA's Pro Bono strategy, ensure the effective delivery of Pro Bono services nationally while committing to our Pro Bono targets. This will include:
* Sourcing key pro bono legal projects in the firm's strategic areas, including legal projects which:
* benefit the environment or increase the sustainable use of resources;
* protect human rights, at a national and international level;
* support First Nations peoples in Australia;
* use litigation to deliver wide-reaching positive social change.
* Liaising with our client base: we are particularly focussed on work for a range of NGOs/NfPs, some of whom are state based and others who operate nationally or internationally.
* Managing the placement of work across the firm's lawyers and troubleshooting issues arising from the delivery of that work.
* Leading on some legal projects in our focus areas.
* Maintaining and developing relationships with current and new pro bono clients.
* Working with our commercial clients to partner on pro bono projects.
* Communicating the successes of the pro bono practice, internally and externally.
* Taking a leading role in the internal and external reporting of our pro bono work, including to Government.
* Supervising the more junior members of the central pro bono team in the delivery of pro bono legal work and the administration of the practice.
* Overseeing the day-to-day administration of the pro bono team, including managing conflicts, legal and reputational risk, file opening and budget approvals.
* Assisting in training lawyers undertaking pro bono legal work.
* Involvement in placing and supervising graduates on external pro bono secondment.
* Showcasing the team's pro bono practice to future recruits.
* Fielding internal/external pro bono queries.
Requirements
The successful candidate will pride themselves on their ability to deliver the highest standard of legal services to clients while continuing to be accessible and responsive. A strategic thinker with the capability to manage competing deadlines paired with a genuine interest in both pro bono work and a good understanding of the drivers that apply to running a Pro Bono practice in a commercial law firm. You will also be able to demonstrate:
* Qualified Lawyer with a minimum of 3 years' post qualification experience.
* Some experience (current or historic) working in a commercial law firm environment.
* Experience in undertaking some pro bono work.
* Interest in our specialist areas of focus and the type of pro bono clients we work with.
* Desire to take a commercial approach to pro bono, including partnering with corporate clients in the delivery of joint pro bono projects.
* Ability to handle conversations with a variety of stakeholders in a law firm, including at partner level.
* Strong project management and organisational skills.
* Strong communication skills, with the ability to draft corporate communications.
* Desire to embrace new ways of working, including through innovative IT and AI solutions.
Norton Rose Fulbright values diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment where all employees can bring their whole selves to work. We embrace the opportunity to contribute to the communities in which we work which underpins our strong Pro Bono and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. We provide a range of opportunities in which our people can make a difference to their local and global communities including through Pro Bono legal work, charitable giving, volunteering and support for the environment.
We are proud that Norton Rose Fulbright in Australia has been recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as well as a silver employer for LGBTI Inclusion through the Australian Workplace Equality Index.
We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.
To apply online please click the 'Apply' button below. It is the policy of NRFA Group to provide workplace adjustments for qualified persons with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. If you need assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the application/interview process, please contact Scott Baker, Talent Engagement on
If you are trans or gender diverse and would like a confidential discussion before applying, please contact Yvette Borradale or Scott Baker
Please be aware in the course of routine work some of our lawyers and teams can be exposed to details of trauma. The firm has controls in place including educational and psychological support. Our talent team can provide further details.