Planning & Environment Senior Associate

Colin Biggers & Paisley is seeking a Planning & Environment Senior Associate in Melbourne VIC. The role involves litigation in the Planning and Environment Court, drafting agreements, advising on planning law, and managing junior lawyers. Candidates should have 4+ PQE in planning and environment law, strong attention to detail, and project management skills. The firm values work-life balance, offers career development opportunities, and promotes diversity and inclusion.
About us:

At Colin Biggers & Paisley, we’re here to make a difference. We are a unique legal practice and we believe in what we do. This applies to the solutions we create for our clients, the contribution we make to our communities and the careers we build for our people.

We are lawyers of choice in the construction, property and insurance industries and maintain a strong presence in the areas of employment and safety, banking and finance, corporate and commercial and litigation and dispute resolution.

Our values of balance, respect, loyalty and integrity underpin everything we do. Our culture focuses on excellence without losing sight of work-life balance. We are committed to supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our people.

We continually invest in our people, including learning and development opportunities and offer a formal mentoring program. We also offer other benefits such as health and fitness perks, rewards and recognition, complimentary massages and professional memberships.

We don’t just recognise our role as a corporate citizen, we put words into actions. The Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation brings together our entire community offering and is comprised of three streams - pro bono legal services, volunteering and charitable contributions. To ensure maximum impact, the core strategy of our Foundation is to promote and protect the rights of women and children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

About the role:
• Conducting litigation in the Planning and Environment Court
• Drafting infrastructure agreements and statutory instruments such as local laws or planning schemes
• Providing advice in relation to all aspects of law relating to planning and environment and local government
• Advising proponents on the delivery of major projects
• Managing and developing the skills of junior lawyers
• Continual professional development in a leading Melbourne firm

About you:
• 4+ PQE with experience in planning and environment
• Have strong attention to detail
• Good project management skills and the ability to manage competing deadlines and deliver work on time
• Able to supervise and develop junior lawyers
• Previous exposure to business development and an ability to build strong client relationships
• Interested in establishing a long-term successful career with Colin Biggers & Paisley
• Ability to relate to people at all levels and effectively work in a team
• Practical and client focused problem solving skills
• A strong, plain language communication style

Join the team:

Our culture focuses on excellence without losing sight of work-life balance. We work hard for our clients but we also make sure we put our people first. Whether it's taking advantage of our discounted gym memberships across Australia, joining one of our all-star sports teams or enjoying a complimentary massage, Colin Biggers & Paisley offers a suite of unique employee benefits.

Our people are given every opportunity for both career progression and personal growth. We continually invest in our people and support and encourage them as they grow within the practice.

Inclusion and Diversity is a priority for us. “Diversity” to us means diversity in gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and ability, and “inclusion” for us means inclusion for all. We are committed to fostering a truly diverse workforce that is inclusive of everyone. Our aim is to be recognised as a leading provider of inclusion and diversity in the legal profession.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity.

We look forward to receiving your application.