About the Role We are currently partnering with a highly respected, long-established specialist family law practice in Melbourne’s inner-east to secure an exceptional Special Counsel or Director. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced family law practitioner to play a key strategic role in the firm's ongoing success, driving complex file strategy and mentoring a dedicated legal team.
Working alongside the firm's senior leadership, you will step into a sophisticated practice with a strong, high-volume referral pipeline. The firm has built an enviable legacy spanning over six decades by offering tailored, empathetic, and resolution-focused legal services across all aspects of family law. This position is designed for an ambitious senior leader looking for significant autonomy, true team leadership, and a clear, long-term leadership trajectory.
Key Responsibilities
Senior File Leadership: Oversee and manage a complex portfolio of family law matters, including high-net-worth matrimonial property settlements, complex corporate/trust structures, and sensitive parenting disputes.
Dispute Resolution & Advocacy: Formulate high-level litigation strategies and represent clients across the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA), while actively championing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) avenues such as mediation, arbitration, and collaborative practice.
Strategic Business Development: Drive practice growth through relationship building, leveraging personal and firm networks, and representing the practice within the broader legal community.
Practice Leadership & Mentorship: Provide direct technical guidance, supervision, and mentorship to junior associates, paralegals, and support staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
Client Relationship Management: Serve as a trusted primary advisor to high-net-worth clients, providing empathetic, commercial, and pragmatic counsel during high-stress life transitions.
About You
Experience: 8+ years of Post-Admission Experience (PQE) specializing in family law within an Australian private practice environment (Specialist Accreditation in Family Law will be highly regarded).
Technical Rigor: Expert knowledge of the Family Law Act, court rules, complex financial structures, and modern dispute resolution frameworks.
Leadership Capabilities: Proven track record in supervising staff, driving team performance, and managing complex workflow allocation.
Commercial Acumen: Strong business acumen with a history of maintaining strong client networks and achieving commercial billable outcomes.
Admission: Current Victorian Practising Certificate and registration on the High Court Roll.
The Firm & Culture With a history of delivering high-caliber legal services for more than 60 years, this practice stands out for putting clients at the very center of its approach. Rather than adopting a rigid, aggressive litigation stance, the team focuses on constructive, pragmatic, and cost-efficient resolutions tailored to each client's unique needs. The firm offers a warm, collegiate environment where professional excellence is balanced with genuine respect for lifestyle and work-life balance.
What’s on Offer
Senior Package: A highly lucrative executive salary package reflective of your senior standing, experience, and leadership contribution.
Career Trajectory: Unmatched partnership/directorship pathway within a stable, highly reputable specialist firm.
Strategic Autonomy: The freedom to run complex matters, shape practice strategy, and mentor a talented, supportive team.
Boutique Environment: Modern, accessible offices with a welcoming, collaborative team culture.
To Apply If you are an experienced Family Law Special Counsel or Director looking to take a defining leadership step within a trusted specialist practice, please reach out to us for a strictly confidential discussion.
