About the job

• Fixed term contract for January - December 2026 due to parental leave
• Well suited to an early careers professional who is looking for their next step within professional services
• Join a newly transformed People team supporting the largest legal partnership in Australia
• Sydney or Melbourne-based

About us

HWLE is not your typical law firm. Our rapid rise to become the largest legal partnership in Australia shows that in our case, the differences are real. We deliver first class legal advice to our government and commercial clients in every state and territory across Australia. Firm wide, we have over 280 Partners and 1700 people.

The opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an Early Careers Advisor to join our People & Development team. Our Early Careers team is in its early stages, and we’re shaping something new, meaningful, and full of potential. This is your opportunity to be part of that story: to drive change, challenge the norm, and help define what excellence in early talent looks like at HWLE.

You will manage the full recruitment cycle of our Clerkship and Graduate programs nationally, including:

• Organise, lead and execute attraction and selection strategies for our high-volume graduate and clerkship program
• Provide an excellent candidate experience, every step of the way
• Cultivate relationships and engagement opportunities with state-based law institutions, faculty, and student societies
• Collaborate closely with Partners, leading discussions to align recruitment initiatives with business objectives - act as the main point of contact for key stakeholders.
• Support P&D in delivering a national, consistent onboarding and program experience
• In peak periods, the position will require after-hours work and domestic travel

To succeed in this role, ideally, you'll have:

• Demonstrated experience successfully managing end-to-end high-volume recruitment and selection in a corporate environment
• Confidence in presenting with effective public speaking skills.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills and ability to engage and influence
• Strong knowledge of the intern/clerk/graduate employment market
• Impressive planning, project management, organisation and time management skills
• Ability to multitask, prioritise, and work in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with recruitment software and applicant tracking systems
• Event management experience will be favourable

What we offer

• Ongoing development: Through regular check-ins, we will partner with you to set goals, celebrate progress, and keep your career moving forward.
• Location: Our cutting-edge offices are conveniently located in the heart of Sydney (Martin Place as of early 2026) or Melbourne (447 Collins Street in the Collins Arch building) amidst a fast-paced and collaborative legal community.
• Great culture and a huge networking platform: Be part of a firm known for its friendly and down-to-earth culture. We also have sports clubs, social clubs and monthly firmwide drinks.
• Impact: Join a firm consistently ranked at the forefront of the Australian legal market, where your work is recognised nationally.

Click for more info and to apply

Corporate Services | People & Culture | Melbourne

• Permanent, full-time position
• Hybrid and flexible working; WFH and from modern, open plan offices. We will provide you with WFH IT equipment plus reimbursement of up to $500 for additional equipment
• Reward and recognition, including competitive remuneration and career progression
• Learning and career development programs for all roles and levels
• Flexible leave options and up to 26 weeks paid parental leave
• Free daily breakfast, office drinks and social events
• Genuine commitment to health and wellbeing, pro bono and community, and diversity and inclusion across our firm

Learn more about what Hall & Wilcox can offer you: bit.ly/HWbenefits

About the role and team

We have an opportunity for an Early Careers Advisor to join our People & Culture team, based in our Melbourne office but will require you to travel regularly to our other offices across Australia.

This role will work in the Early Careers team managing the end-to-end recruitment process for Early Careers programs across all H&W offices, contribute to cyclical activities such as rotations and mentoring, and collaborate with Learning & Development on induction and transition programs. You will support the national Practical Legal Training and admission processes, oversee sponsorships and promotional events, and work with Business Development & Marketing to enhance our social media presence.

This role will also see you provide policy guidance to Law Clerks and Graduates, advise on employee relations matters, ensure compliance with employment legislation, and partner with the DEI team to foster an inclusive environment.

You will mentor the Early Careers Coordinator, build stakeholder relationships, support the 1st Year placement process, drive continuous improvement through feedback, explore tech solutions like AI to streamline processes, and stay informed on industry best practices to keep our programs competitive.

About you

You will ideally have the following skills and experience:

• ideally a minimum of three years experience as a People & Culture generalist or experience in an Early Careers role within a professional services environment;
• proven experience in end-to-end recruitment within a legal or professional services environment;
• strong interviewing skills;
• a strong client (internal stakeholder) service focus and commercial/business acumen;
• outstanding attention to detail;
• excellent organisational skills and experience in large volume recruitment, managing competing priorities and demands;
• excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to develop rapport and build strong relationships with stakeholders;
• the ability to think outside of the box and adopt new and creative search methodologies;
• a team player who enjoys working co-operatively as part of a collegiate team, and can also work autonomously; and
• strong ethics and integrity and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.