New Zealand Law Society - Associate - Employment

Associate - Employment

PQE: 4-8 years  

Hours: Full-Time     Location: Wānaka or Queenstown 

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Associate to join our growing employment team.  

About Us 

Todd Walker is one of Queenstown Lakes' leading all-service law firms. With offices in Queenstown and Wānaka, we have been recognised as being one of New Zealand's fastest-emerging legal firms. We have a specialist employment law team with a reputation for being experts in their field. 

We are a firm that takes on the large law jobs whilst retaining our small firm culture. Our purpose is to simplify the complicated for our clients, and we pride ourselves on having a reputation for understanding our clients and their goals to deliver astute legal advice. 

We place people as one of our core values and we work hard to provide a great outcome for our clients as well as a supportive place to work for our team.   

About the role 

You will be involved in all aspects of our employment practice, and you will become a trusted advisor to our clients as you assist them to successfully navigate workplace issues. 

Acting for both employers and employees, you can expect to regularly work on all employment and employment-related matters (contentious and non-contentious) including: 

  • Advising on business workplace strategy, restructuring and redundancies; 

  • Performance management, disciplinary matters, investigations and dismissals; 

  • Workplace compliance including the review of workplace policies and employment agreements; 

  • Dispute resolution including advising on personal grievances and restraints of trade; 

  • Appearances at mediations and before the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court. 

You will enjoy the support of working closely with the firm’s experienced employment team, with direct supervision from our employment law specialist Robbie Bryant, in an environment where you will be encouraged to build your experience. You will gain exposure to a varied and interesting workload, and you will enjoy building relationships with clients from across the firm’s practice. You will find you often work in tandem with our commercial and property teams to provide full-service support to clients. 

You will be someone who has a business development focus and enjoys fostering new client relationships as well as nurturing our existing client relationships. The employment team regularly present at workshops and seminars and you will be someone who enjoys being a part of this development of the team. 

What we are looking for in a candidate 

  • A New Zealand admitted solicitor with 4-8 years' PQE with relevant employment experience. Ideally you will have prior experience to be able to autonomously work on some files and have experience of handling employment matters through to mediation and the Employment Relations Authority, however, those with general litigation experience who have a genuine interest in specialising in employment law will be considered; 

  • The ability to manage other solicitors; 

  • Someone who is experienced in conducting file reviews, legal research and can provide high level strategic analysis of legal problems; 

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with a strength in building on existing client relationships and fostering new client relationships; 

  • A critical, pragmatic and commercially astute thinker who can work through complex employment issues; 

  • Someone who has a confident, pro-active and enthusiastic approach to their work; and 

  • A motivated worker with the ability to work collaboratively to deliver results. 

What we can offer 

You will get the opportunity to: 

  • Work as a valued part of a supportive team;  

  • Receive competitive remuneration including participation in our employee benefit package; 

  • Work in a firm that focuses on the continuing professional and personal development of its people; and 

  • Join a workplace with a fantastic culture for enjoying what we do. 

At Todd Walker, our staff are important to us. We are known as fantastic employers who support and nurture our staff.  

Please apply directly with a detailed cover letter and resume, to our Office Manager, Natasha Caithness at natasha.caithness@toddwalker.com or contact our Employment Senior Associate Robbie Bryant for a confidential discussion about the role on 021 940 386 or robbie.bryant@toddwalker.com.