Lawyers/Associates

Mahlab assists many lawyers to take the next step in their legal career.

Lawyers choose to work with us to secure their next position because of our market knowledge, our unrivalled network of contacts throughout Australia and overseas and the quality of the relationships we build with them.

We are committed to providing quality, impartial advice on what is the best move for each individual lawyer.  We will work with with you to understand your career goals and match you to the right opportunity. 

In this market, it is important to work with an agency that has a breath of roles and opportunities as well as strong networks and track record of successfully placing lawyers into Australian and overseas law firms.

Having a third party assist with salary and benefit negotiations is crucial to ensuring that you have the best offers made to you. Only a legal recruitment agency with the experience and knowledge that we have can guarantee you the best options.

Firms seek lawyers with experience in the full range of practice areas, as well as good academic results, excellent communication skills and strong technical ability.

If you would like to send us your CV, you can Register With Us. Alternatively, call us to learn more about current vacancies:

In Sydney T: 02 9241 1199 E: syd@mahlab.com.au

In Melbourne:T:03 9629 2111 E: melb@mahlab.com.au

About the Market

The hiring freeze in place at the start of 2009 – 2010 started to thaw in late 2009 as Australia emerged from the global financial crisis in a better state than expected. In the last half of the financial year, demand for mid level specialists increased, although junior lawyers who had not yet developed a marketable speciality still found the going tough.

This recruitment activity was led by the mid tier firms and more recently, the top tier firms. Practice areas that have experienced increased recruitment activity include resources law, corporate law (in particular, public mergers and acquisitions and private equity work), banking and finance, commercial law, IT/IP, employment, insurance and litigation as well as banking and finance. It is anticipated that scarcity of specialist lawyers will once again become a problem as the Australian and international economies strengthen.

In 2010 almost all lawyers received a salary review. Some firms made interim salary adjustments as well as conducting annual salary reviews. It is interesting to note that by 2010 lawyers certainly expected salary increases, although expectations varied wildly as to quantum.  Broad and varied salary increases have occurred this year due to some lawyers receiving more than one increase while others receiving none. The salary bands within law firms generally did not increase. There is a clear trend amongst law firms to remunerate strong performers by selectively offering bonuses while closely managing base salary increases. Employers continue to make clearer the link between the performance and value staff bring and remuneration.

For more a comprehensive analysis of salary, employment experience and job satisfaction view Survey.