Careers
Makinson d'Apice

MAKINSON d’APICE LAWYERS

We have a culture in which everyone shares a common vision and has a part to play in making things happen.

Develop your career at Makinson d'Apice

Makinson d’Apice offers great opportunities to learn, grow, achieve excellence and develop your career. You will work alongside specialists who view success by the achievements and accomplishments of their team, and of the firm as a whole. 

Be assured, whatever your role at Makinson d’Apice, you can make a difference, you’ll be the kind of person that works to the highest standards, accepts responsibility and is accountable for your results. You will be a creative thinker capable of solving problems, yet also a pragmatist with a determination to get the job done.

Personable, supportive & flexible culture

Our culture is personable, supportive and flexible. Above all, Makinson d’Apice is a great place to work. 

Want to know more? Refer to our current positions below or contact hr@makdap.com.au directly to discuss your next career steps.

Commitment to diversity, inclusion and sustainability

Embracing environmental and social sustainability

Makinson d’Apice has a formal Environmental and Sustainability Policy, which is overseen by our dedicated Environmental Committee. The Policy seeks to ensure partners and employees at Makinson d’Apice recognise, value and encourage practises that are beneficial to the environment and reduce our firm’s carbon footprint. 

Our social sustainability initiatives are many and varied. Read more about our initiatives below and on the Pro Bono and CSR page. 

Makinson d’Apice is committed to diversity and inclusion

Makinson d’Apice is a friendly and collegiate firm of people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and faiths who share values of respect, professional excellence and putting clients’ interests first. We are committed to celebrating and supporting our diverse team members and providing sensitive and informed services to our diverse clientele. 

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is exemplified in the areas of disability, gender, ethnic and cultural inclusion. 

Working at Makdap - hear from our people

Caroline Blair

Caroline Blair
Special Counsel

I joined Makinson d’Apice in 2016 as an Associate in the firm’s Government Health team.  The support and mentoring I’ve received from Sarah and Lesley (Health Government partners) have helped me to grow, develop and challenge myself. Today, I’m still in the same team but my role is Special Counsel.

Steven Song
Special Counsel

I have worked in the Building & Construction and Litigation team since 2021. I enjoy working closely with our clients and advising on a variety of matters across building and construction, property (including strata and community titles), and environmental planning and commercial disputes. I get to take charge of my own work while always being supported by David and the wider team and enjoy achieving positive outcomes for our clients.

Ella Alexandar

Ella Alexander
Special Counsel

I have been managing Makinson d’Apice’s pro bono practice since 2018 and feel proud to work at a firm with a culture of kindness, respect, and service. The partners and staff are genuinely committed to providing high-quality legal services to disadvantaged members of the community, and the focus is on meaningful impact over self-promotion. It’s a workplace built on integrity and purpose.

Empowering employee benefits

Be rewarded

At Makinson d’Apice, we nurture and reward talent. We offer competitive, annually reviewed rewards packages plus additional rewards for significant contributions.  You can also earn thousands for successful referrals through our Employee Referral Program.

Grow and develop

We provide learning, training and development opportunities via workshops, online presentations and paid professional membership. We assist with post-graduate tuition fees and up to six days’ paid study leave per year.

Wellbeing

At Makinson d’Apice we support everyone to embrace a better day, in a way that suits their individual needs. Our Wellbeing Program encompasses all forms of physical and mental health related initiatives including our free 24/7 confidential counselling Employee Assistance Program for you and your family, flexible work arrangements, workplace adjustments, free annual flu vaccinations,  and opportunity to participate in sporting events such as City2Surf and our soccer team. 

law firm for charities and not for profits

Our Pro Bono and CSR Program

Join in and make a difference

At Makinson d’Apice you can make a difference by participating in our multi-award winning Pro Bono Program and various Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. We are committed to providing  access to justice for people experiencing disadvantage in communities across Australia.  We have exceeded the National Pro Bono Target for law firms for the past 4 years. 

Pro Bono

Our lawyers provide advice and representation in a wide variety of matters and volunteer at a number of community legal centres. We have a particular focus on assisting people with disabilities and their families, First Nations communities and people experiencing elder abuse. 

In addition, Makinson d’Apice has supported our Pro Bono Special Counsel, Ella Alexander, to co-found and co-chair the Disabled Australian Lawyers Association (DALA). DALA is an organisation which advocates for the greater inclusion and representation of disabled people in the legal profession through raising awareness, working with legal organisations to improve their disability inclusion initiatives and building a network of legal professionals with disabilities.

Embracing environmental and social sustainability

Makinson d’Apice has a formal Environmental and Sustainability Policy, which is overseen by our dedicated Environmental Committee. The Policy seeks to ensure partners and employees at Makinson d’Apice recognise, value and encourage practices that are beneficial to the environment and reduce our firm’s carbon footprint. 

Our social sustainability initiatives are many and varied. For example, a number of our lawyers volunteer on the boards of charities. One of our partners is a longstanding board member for a women’s domestic violence service. Another one of our lawyers volunteers with the board of a disability charity.  Our Estate Planning, Trusts, Probate and Estate Litigation team has assisted numerous charity organisations by preparing Wills for their members and contacts including The Salvation Army and The Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

Working with us - current opportunities

Makinson d’Apice is a mid-sized Sydney-based firm known for our personable and down-to-earth culture,  high-quality work and clients.  We are one of Australia’s oldest firms which has successfully evolved and adapted to meet the challenges of being a trusted legal adviser in a modern world. 

Working with us

Our size means we offer lawyers the best of both worlds: a truly friendly, supportive and flexible work environment, as well as direct access to partners and exposure to top-quality , complex and challenging work at an early career stage. 

At Makinson d’Apice we look for people who share our values of Excellence, Commitment, Accountability, Collaboration and Service. You will enjoy a friendly and client focused environment where each individual plays an essential role within the firm.

Apply now – current roles 

If any of the below roles sounds like you, please send your resume to our Talent Executive, Lucy Cullinan at lcullinan@makdap.com.au.

No agencies please, we are doing these roles ourselves and will reach out to our preferred suppliers if we need assistance.

Legal Secretary

The role of the Legal Secretary is to action and co-ordinate the efficient processing of new files, photocopying, scanning, answering phones, amending and preparing correspondence, making appointments, arranging meetings, diary management, billing and archiving closed matters.

The role will also require providing additional admin support to the wider litigation team on an ad hoc basis.

This is a part-time role working 3 to 4 days per week, you will work closely with another Legal Secretary to support a Personal Injury Team of 7 lawyers.

Please note that we are not seeking students for this role.

Key Responsibilities

This role will see you manage and be responsible for:

  • Providing timely and high level secretarial and administrative assistance.
  • Preparing and amending standard correspondence, briefs and court documents.
  • Extensive and timely diary management.
    Arranging cheques and payment of invoices.
  • Photocopying, scanning, data entry and filing.
  • Timely maintenance of electronic and paper filing.
  • Answering calls, making appointments, arranging couriers and attending to visiting clients.
  • Monthly billing.
  • File and document management; assistance with opening and closing files.
  • General legal administrative support for the team, as required.

Qualifications

  • 4 years + legal secretary OR relevant experience.
  • Minimum 70 wpm typing.
  • Intermediate to advanced level MS Office skills in particular Word and Excel.

Meet our people

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