Lawyer - Wills & Estate

Lawyer - Wills & Estate
We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a talented and driven Lawyer to join our Wills & Estates team. In this role, you will work across a diverse range of matters, including estate planning, probate, estate administration, and trusts-delivering high-quality legal advice and tailored support to our clients.

The ideal candidate will have at least two years of post-admission experience in Wills & Estates. You will possess excellent communication skills and the ability to explain complex legal concepts in a clear and approachable way. We are looking for someone who is collaborative, solutions-focused, and skilled at building trusted relationships with both clients and key stakeholders.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Drafting Wills (simple Wills and Testamentary Wills).
• Drafting Enduring Power of Attorney (For Victoria and NSW) and Appointments of Medical Treatment Decision Maker.
• Drafting detailed explanatory letters.
• Drafting applications for Probate and Letters of Administration.
• Advising executors on their roles and responsibilities and liaising with beneficiaries regarding entitlements under Will and estate.
• Advising clients in relation to claims against estates and working on court documents in relation to those claims.
• Instructing at mediation and court.
• Instructing and appearing at VCAT in relation to matters under the Guardianship List.
• Drafting costs agreements.
• Time recording and billing.
• Contributing to developing precedent templates.
• Contributing to the Learning and Development programs at Russell Kennedy, including creating and presenting CPD sessions for others at the firm.
• Contributing to business development initiatives aimed at expanding and enhancing the practice.

Skills/Knowledge

• Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to convey complex ideas or frameworks clearly.
• Commercially minded with a willingness to work on a diverse range of matters.
• Well-developed initiative, with a demonstrated ability to think critically and strategically.
• A self-starter, capable of working independently and appropriately seeking supervision.

Further Information
Any questions regarding the vacancy can be directed to Heidi Connell on (03) 9609 1517. For further information or to submit your application for this position please visit the careers page on our website. Please note any offer of employment made by Russell Kennedy Lawyers to the successful candidate will be subject to a police check. We are currently accepting applications from direct applicants only. No agency referrals will be accepted at this stage.

Our Firm and Culture
Russell Kennedy is a commercial law firm with more than 340 people in Melbourne and Sydney. We are committed to providing exceptional legal strategies and solutions to our clients, guided by market-leading expertise across our key sectors of focus.

As part of our team, you'll receive hands-on experience, quality mentoring and access to valuable learning opportunities. We encourage a professional and committed work ethic, while recognising the importance of an enjoyable working environment and balanced lifestyle. We believe we have a culture where individuals of all backgrounds and abilities feel included and confident in bringing their whole selves to work, and where your talents are fostered, empowering you to contribute to the success of the firm.

Russell Kennedy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is certified as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, as well as being certified as a gold employer in the Australian Workplace Equality Index for employers with 500 or less employees. We respect and celebrate the things that make each of us different. The firm supports and promotes a range of initiatives to create an environment that is characterised by equal access and respected participation of all groups and individuals. There is a particular focus and emphasis on gender equality, inclusion of First Nations peoples, accessibility for people with disability, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, and cultural diversity. Russell Kennedy is recognised by Australian Disability Network as a Disability Confident Recruiter employer.

Russell Kennedy is committed to attracting and retaining the best talent available. We acknowledge the importance of work-life balance, all current and prospective employees have access to flexible work options and workplace adjustments including alternate accessible formats, where required. If you require an adjustment during the recruitment process please contact Carla Viglino on 03 9609 6770.

Russell Kennedy Lawyers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we meet and work. Our offices are situated on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri and Gadigal peoples. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, to their emerging leaders and to the resilience, creativity and vitality of their cultures including their laws and systems of governance.