Herbert Smith Freehills

Legal Assistant, M&A Takeovers

Melbourne Full time

The Opportunity

We are looking for a highly dependable and detail-oriented Legal Assistant to join our Mergers and Acquisition team as part of the Corporate practice group in our Melbourne office.

You will be supporting Partners Raji Azzam and Jason Jordan and a team of senior lawyers. If you love being the go-to person and enjoy a fast-paced legal environment, this role could be right for you.

🕘 Working hours: 9am – 5:15pm, Monday to Friday, minimum 3-4 days a week in the office.  

We value teamwork and collaboration. While our ideal candidate will primarily work in the office, we offer flexibility to work from home up to two days per week, depending on the needs of the practice group.

This role involves building strong relationships with a support team across a range of key clients, managing billing and reporting and handling diary and travel coordination. The ideal candidate will know when to check in and escalate issues appropriately, ensuring smooth operations and sound judgment.

What your day might look like

  • Managing matters, time entries, billing and cost reports with precision.

  • Organise meetings with a practical and considered approach.

  • Support and help manage business development initiatives and events.

  • Organising travel and reconciling expenses.

  • Coordinating internal and external meetings, proactively amending when priority matters arise.

  • Creating and managing documents using Microsoft Office and iManage.

  • Championing technology and AI adoption where appropriate.

  • Collaborating with legal assistants in other practice groups on joint matters.

  • Collaborating with and mentoring Administrative Assistants.

What you’ll bring

  • A positive and pro-active approach.

  • An ability to remain calm under pressure and deliver polished, high-quality work.

  • Experience in a professional services firm, supporting legal teams is a plus.

  • Exposure to invoicing and reporting.

  • Strong time management and the ability to juggle priorities with ease.

  • A passion for helping your team grow client relationships.

  • Experience with matter management and mentoring junior team members.

  • The ability to handle confidential matters with discretion.

  • Demonstrable professionalism and integrity in all interactions and responsibilities

Please note we are not able to consider law students for this role.

What you can expect from us

  • We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.

  • We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.

  • We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.

  • We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

  • For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click here.

  • Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Team

Corporate

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Melbourne

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.