Inhouse Legal Counsel - Commercial / Corporate

We’re BDO, a global professional services firm connected to local markets. Our people work together to provide specialist expertise, helping businesses achieve their goals.

We inspire others, to go further. We create together, to reach higher. We build trust, to lead purposefully.

Whether you're building your future or starting your career with us, you won’t do it alone. From creating solutions for our clients to building careers for our people, we shape what matters, and that’s where you come in.

About the Role

Due to growth in our team, BDO’s in-house legal team is looking to recruit an experienced commercial/corporate lawyer to provide practical advice and work autonomously as well as part of the broader legal team.

Say goodbye to billable hours and timesheets and hello to work-life balance!

This is an exciting opportunity to work with an experienced legal team across a broad range of practice areas. This role will suit lawyers looking to maintain a broad commercial practice and who are interested in being a trusted legal adviser to the firm.

You may be based in any of our offices in Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney. This is a hybrid role with a mix of in-office and work from home days available.

How your impact will be felt

Working with the General Counsel, Head of Legal and the legal team, you will have experience in commercial and corporate law gained in private practice or an in-house environment, although prior in-house experience is not a pre-requisite to this role.

You will be provided the opportunity to develop your legal skills in a friendly and supportive environment and your responsibilities will include:

• Drafting and advising on various client and commercial contracts as well as BDO’s standard terms of trade; enhance your ability to negotiate and manage complex agreements;

• Researching and advising on legal issues and risk management strategies including in relation to privacy and other regulatory matters, employment law matters, and disputes & litigation (prior experience in these areas is not a prerequisite); deepen your understanding of various legal principles and enhance your ability to provide commercial advice;

• Updating the business on legal developments and providing training; enhance your ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical guidance;

• Supporting special projects and initiatives across the firm; enhance legal skills that have a tangible impact on the firm;

• Develop legal knowledge resources and streamline work processes in the legal team; enhance service delivery and impact of the legal function.

What you will bring

You enjoy working in a friendly, collaborative and high-performing team environment. You have commercial acumen and a strong work ethic, as well as the following:

• Bachelor of Laws and admitted to practice in an Australian State or Territory

• Minimum 2 years PQE

• Excellent commercial and corporate law experience

• An interest in contracts/commercial law, maintaining a broad practice and developing new skills

• Employment law, litigation and regulatory experience will be highly considered, although not essential

• Experience in applying those skills to achieve practical commercial solutions for the business, appropriately balancing legal risk with commercial objectives

• A mindset of innovation and change and the ability to develop ideas, challenging the status quo as appropriate, and consulting with others to produce viable commercial solutions

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively, gaining the trust and confidence of colleagues across different levels and locations to become a trusted advisor

• Agile and adaptable, able to manage competing priorities and capable of managing legal matters of all sizes and levels of complexity.

• A focus on self-development, including a commitment to developing your own technical knowledge and legal and professional skills.

Why BDO?

Working for BDO you will be part of a growing and market leading professional services firm.

Our national and global footprint provides our people with opportunities to work on interesting client engagements, across diverse industry sectors and services.

Our open and collaborative culture ensures access to Partners and professional mentors, to guide and accelerate your professional career, across a wide array of career pathways.

We provide our people with various health and wellbeing, social, financial, and professional development benefits to help realise what’s possible.

Participate in fitness challenges or take advantage of exclusive discounts to corporate health insurance, gym memberships and wellness facilities via our BWell program. Access benefits such as travel perks, retail discounts, employee referral rewards, study, and professional development support.

Our leave options cater to the unique needs of our people; and include enhanced family support, cultural and religious leave, and options to purchase additional leave. You can also give back and get involved in community initiatives via our BCaring program.

With a strong focus on learning and growth, we provide on the job training and formal development programs to help you succeed in your role and develop your skills and experience.

Our culture is underpinned by our core values (One, Bold, Human, Heart and Strive).

We are proud to be recognised as an Inclusive Employer for 2025-2026 by Diversity Council of Australia and a  2024-2025 Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).

BDO is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment practices. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview process, we encourage you to contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruitment@bdo.com.au