Current Opportunities

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.


Key Accountabilities:
  

• Manage the Office Services and Records Management function in the Melbourne office ensuring the team has the resources to meet the needs of the practice partners and staff;
• Work in collaboration with the National Office Services and Facilities Manager and other Office Services Managers on projects and strategic initiatives to benefit the practice;
• Lead and promote a positive internal service culture, ensuring a service delivery approach that is proactive in managing the operations of the Melbourne office and wider practice;
• Opportunities to enhance skills, management and leadership within the function and wider practice;
• Provide efficient and timely support services to all staff;
• Maintain excellent client services at all times both internally and externally;
• Maintain communication with all staff in a professional manner, both over the phone and in the office;
• Ensure the Office Services area and general office is neat, tidy and safe. This includes ensuring fire exit pathways and general access corridors are kept free from boxes, equipment and furniture at all times; 
• Responsible for all services which support the premises along with the National Office Services and Facilities Manager, including property management, building maintenance fixtures and fittings, equipment utilities, security services and relocation;
• Manage and maintain equipment and facilities in the Office Services room, including deliveries, couriers, incoming faxes, mail, photocopiers, and other related equipment;
• Ensure all online systems and documents which relate to Office Services are promptly maintained;
• Co-ordinate, organise and at times complete any maintenance facilities requests or occasional odd jobs required around the office This includes small office improvement projects designed to increase the number of offices and desks;
• Work with the team to ensure printing photocopying and scanning tasks are completed to the satisfaction of our clients. This includes where these tasks are outsourced to an external print and photocopying supplier; 
• Work with the team to ensure all office services job requests including but not limited to banking, GPO collections, hand deliveries, lodgement of files at various government registries and filing of court documents as required by our clients;
• Ensure the meeting rooms and seminar spaces are set up to the satisfaction of the organising or hosting CBP partners and the BDM team;
• Ensure the safe custody and records staff manage the records and safe custody processes accurately, and in a manner compliant with the practices policy documents.  This includes liaising with the practices external clients as required to help them locate documents in our safe custody area.  This communication should be managed in a risk averse and professional manner; 
• Working closely with Building Management to ensure cleaning, facilities, security and air-conditioning services are functioning to the satisfaction of CBP and visitors;
• The coordination of the practices compliance with fire and emergency response including ensuring the appropriate number of fire wardens and first aid officers; and
• Any other task which assists or supports the practice and is requested by the partners, management or clients of CBP from time to time.

  
Essential Competencies:
  

• 5+ years proven experience in an management position in an Office Services/Shared Services role within professional services;
• Ability to co-ordinate, manage, train and motivate a small team;
• Strong communication and written skills;
• Ability to work autonomously, under pressure and to tight timeframes;
• Strong time management skills;
• Ability to work flexibly and take initiative;
• Able to follow instructions accurately;
• The ability to create strong working relationships;
• Ability to be proactive and anticipate work requirements in order to enhance results and avoid problems;
• The capacity to work afterhours and on weekends from time to time when urgent projects require it or when its required to reduce disruption to the normal function of the practice;
• The ability to direct staff and to provide clear instructions that can be accurately followed;
• Demonstrates attention to detail and troubleshooting techniques; and
• Highly computer literate with intermediate level on Microsoft Office 2010 packages.

    

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:
  
This is an exciting opportunity for a Legal Assistant to work in an established property and development  practice. You will be an integral member of the team providing administrational and ad-hoc assistance.

• Scheduling appointments, to include diary management and travel arrangements
• Client liaison
• Preparing legal documents
• Opening and closing files
• Billing (Software Elite 3E)
• Filing (electronic and hard copy)
• Transcribing digital dictation

About you:

• 3 years' experience in a similar role
• Excellent customer service ethic with a focus on providing a high level of service
• Ability to work autonomously and within a team
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytic and problem solving skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong administration and organisation skills
• Sound knowledge and experience of Microsoft products
• Confidentiality, sensitivity and integrity across all aspects of the role
• Ability to work to deadlines

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. 

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:

• Liaise with legal and service teams to identify and review needs and opportunities and implement plans and processes to address 
• Create, maintain and review internal and externally supplied precedents and templates
• Identify and embed best practice
• Ensure precedents conform with legislative requirements, in consultation with legal staff, and the CBP style guide
• Assist with the development and review of knowledge policies
• Assist with the development and rollout of Knowledge initiatives including new technology
• Work closely with the Knowledge Assistant and teams to progress and review precedent audit and archiving processes
• Shared responsibility for the delivery of training on Knowledge resources and firm styles
• Shared responsibility for managing and updating online court registrations
• Shared responsibility to provide help desk support in relation to precedents, Word and Knowledge resources
• Shared responsibility to update the Knowledge team intranet pages and other pages as required
• General admin and ad-hoc tasks
• Manage workflows at the direction of the Knowledge Co-ordinator

Essential Competencies:

•    Technical MS Word proficiency is desirable but a willingness to learn will be highly regarded
• Confidence in learning, testing and applying new technology
• A high level of attention to detail
• Exceptional communication skills
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines and ability to work unsupervised
• Familiarity with SharePoint, although not essential
• Experience working in a mid or top tier law firm
• Team player committed to process improvement and innovation

  
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. 

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:
  
This is an exciting opportunity for a Solicitor to work in an established Insurance practice.

• Providing clients with legal advice
• Regularly reviewing applicable case law and legislative changes
• Conducting effective legal research and analysis to produce timely, commercial and legally accurate advice
• Managing a robust workload, including prioritising work and delivering services effectively
• Developing an understanding of client operations and strategy
• Managing prospective client relationships
• Continual professional development and managing MCLE requirements

About you:

• 1-2 years' PQE
• A desire to be an integral member of a strong and cohesive team who work together
• Ability to manage large volumes of documents
• Strong attention to detail
• Practical and client focused problem solving and research skills
• Previous exposure to Business Development and a natural ability to build strong client relationships
• Ability to manage client expectations and run matters autonomously
• 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
• A strong focus on turnaround time
• Commercial acumen
• 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. 

With extensive experience in contentious and non-contentious employment and industrial matters, our workplace relations team is highly regarded. Our industry experience includes the retail and service sectors, finance, professional services, healthcare, education, construction, engineering and manufacturing, with our clients ranging from small privately owned businesses to large companies with several thousand employees, being a mixture of professional, executive, managerial, trade, administrative staff and contractors.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Providing clients with legal advice
• Assist in managing matters, ensuring all deadlines are met
• Regularly reviewing applicable case law and legislative changes
• Conducting effective legal research and analysis to produce timely, commercial and legally accurate advice
• Managing a robust workload, including prioritising work and delivering services effectively
• Developing an understanding of client operations and strategy
• Managing prospective client relationships
• Mentoring and developing junior staff
• Continual professional development and managing CLE requirements

The successful candidate:

You will be supported in this close knit team, given training, mentoring and guidance from your peers and leader. You will need to be self-motivated, energetic and adaptable in this dynamic environment.

Ideal background and skills include:

• 2+ years PQE employment experience within a law firm environment 
• Previous exposure to Business Development and a natural ability to build strong client relationships
• Ability to manage client expectations and run matters autonomously
• 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
• A strong focus on turnaround time
• Commercial acumen
• Practical and client focused problem solving skills
• A strong, plain language communication style

About us:

At Colin Biggers & Paisley, our workplace culture focuses on excellence without losing sight of work/life balance.

We established the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation which brings together our entire community offering, underpinned by a central strategy of promoting and protecting the rights of women and children in Australia and abroad through pro bono legal services, volunteering and charitable contributions.

We offer an environment where our values of Balance, Respect, Loyalty and Integrity guide all of our actions. We continually invest in our people, providing training, learning and support, a formal mentoring program and promoting a social and connected environment. We also offer other benefits such as social and sporting functions, rewards and recognition, casual Fridays, massages and professional memberships.

Inclusion and Diversity is a priority at Colin Biggers & Paisley. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity.

Our paralegal programme
Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers is recruiting for paralegals for 2021, with the intent of selecting candidates for our two (2) year graduate programme commencing in 2022 or 2023. These much sought after positions, which provide flexible working arrangements consistent with university commitments, are only available to those candidates who meet our selection criteria and complete our selection process.
Our paralegal programme focusses on the development of the first of the following 3 aspects of professional expertise:

• Intellectual development – This relates to the development of an individual's critical thinking about the theoretical knowledge and scholarship which is required of legal practitioners.
• Expert practice development – This relates to the development of an individual's critical thinking about the practical reasoning which marks expert legal practitioners.
• Identity and purpose development – This relates to the development of an individual's attention and motivation about the attributes and perspectives, which form the character of legal practitioners and the ultimate ideal of the legal professional of pursuing justice according to the Rule of Law.

Our group's selection criteria
Ideal applicants are those who have a strong academic record, a critical and creative mind, are confident and resilient, are hardworking and organised, and enjoy the challenge of solving complex problems.

Our group's reputation
These are the following 10 reasons, as nominated by our lawyers, as to why they have chosen our group to practice law:

1. Colin Biggers & Paisley is a medium sized independent Australian law firm with over 150 staff in Brisbane, which specialises in the construction, property and insurance industries.
2. Our group is Queensland's leading Planning, Government, Infrastructure and Environment group, as recognised by our clients and our peers.
3. Our group is Queensland's largest and longest standing group of its type, with an established record of intellectual scholarship and skills and practical application.
4. Our group allows the individual to take part in shaping the economic and social growth of Queensland and its regions, and is able to make a real impact on the development of the cities, towns and rural fabric of Queensland.
5. Our group has seen strong growth each year for the last 30 years, and will continue to do so into the future, thereby offering a stable environment in which the individual can develop their legal practice over the long term.
6. Our group represents a rare opportunity for entry into a very desired practice area.
7. Our group allows the individual to develop theoretical knowledge and scholarship and practical reasoning in litigation, legal and policy drafting and legal advisory services.
8. Our group trains individuals in accord with an Operating Concept which describes the conceptual, philosophical and ethical frameworks by which we practice individually and collectively to actualise our group's credo to Lead, Simplify and Win with Integrity.
9. Our group operates as an East Coast Team of Teams, across the eastern seaboard.
10. Our group's lawyers are much sought after by our competitors as well as for in-house roles, with many of our former lawyers holding senior positions in both the private and public sectors.

Your application
If you are interested in such a role, we invite you to submit an application, which is to be accompanied by a letter that states your response to the selection criteria and your proposed working arrangements, and attaches a copy of your resume and academic transcript.

Our graduate programme
Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers offers a two (2) year graduate programme for lawyers who wish to pursue a career in legal practice in the rapidly growing areas of planning, government, infrastructure and environment law. These much sought after positions are only available to those candidates, who meet our selection criteria and complete our selection process.
Our graduate programme focusses on the development of the following 3 aspects of professional expertise:

• Intellectual development – This relates to the development of an individual's critical thinking about the theoretical knowledge and scholarship which is required of legal practitioners.
• Expert practice development – This relates to the development of an individual's critical thinking about the practical reasoning which marks expert legal practitioners.
• Identity and purpose development – This relates to the development of an individual's attention and motivation about the attributes and perspectives, which form the character of legal practitioners and the ultimate ideal of the legal profession of pursuing justice according to the Rule of Law.

Our group's selection criteria
Ideal applicants are those who have a strong academic record, a critical and creative mind, are confident and resilient, are hardworking and organised, and enjoy the challenge of solving complex problems.

Our group's selection process
Our group's selection process proceeds through 5 stages:
1     Application review – The application is reviewed by a partner of the group for compliance with the selection criteria.
2     Initial interview – If the candidate is selected to progress, the candidate is interviewed by a partner of the group during which a personality test is undertaken.
3     Second interview – If the candidate is selected to progress, the candidate is interviewed by another partner of the group and a second personality test is undertaken.
4     Legal research task – If the candidate is selected to progress, the candidate is given a legal research task to complete in a defined period which is intended to demonstrate their legal knowledge and scholarship and skills and practical application, and which is reviewed by a partner of the group who provides written feedback to the candidate.
5     Offer – If the candidate chooses to proceed, they will then receive an offer for their consideration and acceptance if considered appropriate by them.
The selection process is detailed, and those who undertake and complete the process, receive valuable insights into themselves and legal practice.

Our group's reputation
These are the following 10 reasons, as nominated by our lawyers, as to why they have chosen our group to practice law:

1. Colin Biggers & Paisley is a medium sized independent Australian law firm with over 150 staff in Brisbane, which specialises in the construction, property and insurance industries.
2. Our group is Queensland's leading Planning, Government, Infrastructure and Environment group, as recognised by our clients and our peers.
3. Our group is Queensland's largest and longest standing group of its type, with an established record of intellectual scholarship and skills and practical application.
4. Our group allows the individual to take part in shaping the economic and social growth of Queensland and its regions and is able to make a real impact on the development of the cities, towns and rural fabric of Queensland.
5. Our group has seen strong growth each year for the last 30 years, and will continue to do so into the future, thereby offering a stable environment in which the individual can develop their legal practice over the long term.
6. Our group represents a rare opportunity for entry into a very desired practice area.
7. Our group allows the individual to develop theoretical knowledge and scholarship and practical reasoning in litigation, legal and policy drafting and legal advisory services.
8. Our group trains individuals in accord with an Operating Concept which describes the conceptual, philosophical and ethical frameworks by which we practice individually and collectively to actualise our group's credo to Lead, Simplify and Win with Integrity.
9. Our group operates as an East Coast Team of Teams, across the eastern seaboard.
10. Our group's lawyers are much sought after by our competitors as well as for in-house roles, with many of our former lawyers holding senior positions in both the private and public sectors.

Your application
If you are interested in such a role, we invite you to submit an application, which is to be accompanied by a letter that states your response to the selection criteria and your proposed working arrangements, and attaches a copy of your resume and academic transcript.

Our firm
Colin Biggers & Paisley's purpose as a practice is to collectively build and secure the future of our clients, colleagues and community. We aim to be a high performing business and a preeminent trusted adviser of legal services in our chosen fields of expertise.
Our key driver is collaboration within, and across, our skillsets to serve our key industries. We understand that as individuals we are strong, but we are stronger when we are working together with a common purpose, vision and strategy.
What is different about Colin Biggers & Paisley? There is an enduring theme about our people and an emphasis on our values of loyalty, respect, balance and integrity. They underpin everything we do and what makes us unique in the market.


Your responsibilities
Key responsibilities for this role include:

• Assisting the Legal Operations Coordinator with the daily operations of the group including administrative and financial management
• Project managing files including, budget monitoring and drafting correspondence and client reports
• Assisting the Legal Operations Coordinator with the management of group tender arrangements including tracking critical dates and contract requirements
• Managing authors' calendars to ensure they attend meetings and appointments and updating InterAction (CRM database), where appropriate
• Answering phone calls promptly, taking messages and passing them on to the relevant person
• Using Colin Biggers & Paisley's document management system (iManage) to accurately save and retrieve all documents and emails on a daily basis in line with the filing procedure
• Undertaking filing on a daily basis of physical documents
• Booking travel/flights in accordance with Colin Biggers & Paisley's protocols
• Preparing bills, entering timesheets and attaching creditors' tax invoices to adhere to service standards and retainers
• Opening files and preparing cost agreements for new matters
• Reconciling expenses for authors on a weekly basis.

Your identity, knowledge and skills
You will be supported in this close knit group, and given training, mentoring and guidance from your peers and leader. You will need to be self-motivated and adaptable in this dynamic environment. Ideal background and skills include:

• A minimum of 3 years' experience working in a secretarial or administrative role within a professional services firm
• An ability to work autonomously and within a team
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Experience working with Elite3E or a similar Practice Management System
• An ability to organise and prioritise workloads, be flexible and work within tight timeframes
• An ability to work effectively with all members of the practice
• Respect and enhance Colin Biggers & Paisley's culture and align with Colin Biggers & Paisley's strategic goals
• An ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Our group
We are currently recruiting for a Legal Operations Assistant to join our Planning Government Infrastructure and Environment group in our Brisbane Office. Our Planning Government Infrastructure and Environment group is the trusted partner of public and private sector entities, for whom we are the legal and policy designers of strategic and tactical solutions to exceptionally challenging problems, in our chosen fields of planning, government, infrastructure and environment.

Our group's identity, knowledge and skills
Our Planning Government Infrastructure and Environment group functions in accordance with an Operating Concept which describes the conceptual, philosophical and ethical frameworks by which we individually and collectively practice as an East Coast Team of Teams to actualise our group's credo to Lead, Simplify and Win with Integrity.
Our Operating Concept requires the members of the Planning Government Infrastructure and Environment group to be:

• Trusted Partners who Partner by integrity, by ensuring our deliberations, judgements, choices, and actions are those of a practically reasonable person of integrity and character.
• Strategists who Lead by planning, by applying critical thinking and the technical process of the strategic plan loop to our clients' legal commissions.
• Designers who Simplify by design, by applying operational art and operational design to our decisions in respect of choices about the operational ways, to realise the strategic ends and the clients' objects.
• Tacticians who Win by manoeuvre, by applying tactical manoeuvre to our actions about the tactical means to execute the courses of action for the lines of effort we have designed to realise the strategic ends and the clients' objects.

If you have any questions please contact Julia Paino our Human Resources Consultant at julia.paino@cbp.com.au.