5 Reasons to join Estate First Lawyers

1You have the support of an expert, industry recognised estate team.
We are one of the largest estate planning and estate administration teams in Australia. Our team includes 3 Qld Law Society accredited specialists (Succession) and we are recognised as industry leaders with our consistent rankings in Doyles Guide and Best Lawyers.

2Enjoy the support you have been looking for.
Work smarter not harder with our extensive precedents, strong support team and first class IT systems and procedures so you can achieve work/life balance.

3We have quality clients and sophisticated estate work.
You will not be drafting standard Wills day in and day out. You will be challenged and stimulated by the complexity of the work you will receive, based on your experience level. We offer sophisticated estate planning and administration advice and clever strategies.

4We work collaboratively together, in a culture of support and shared knowledge.
None of us have all the answers. But as a team with a number of senior lawyers you are never alone in trying to work out what to do .A great place to be mentored if you are a law student or junior lawyer.

5We are passionate about estate planning and estate administration as it’s all we do. There are no competing areas of law to distract us or take resources away from our core focus. You will love our weekly brainstorming sessions where we gather as a legal team to discuss all things estate related.

Rated By Our Clients.

Industry Recognition as Leading Estate Law Firm

Accreditations

  • Queensland Law Society
  • Doyles
  • Best Lawyers - Firm Logo

Memberships | Committees | Boards

  • Step
  • Tax Institute
  • Women in Super
  • Queensland Law Society

What our Team say about working at EFL

Our junior lawyers join us because they want to gain experience in Succession law and receive the one on one mentoring that is often missing in the large, busy City practices. Our senior lawyers enjoy the collaboration of having other experienced lawyers to run things by, as well as quality work and work/life balance. The support team feel included, valued and supported!

Here are some testimonies from our current and former team members.

Josh

Josh Philo

Senior Associate

“Staff have the genuine ability to progress at the pace and as high as they wish.”
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I have been working at Estate First Lawyers since 2011 (being a 3 years PAE lawyer at that stage). My background prior to joining the firm was in general commercial law at a mid-sized firm, incorporating some estate planning work. What attracted me to Estate First Lawyers from the outset was the ability to focus on an area of law that I loved but which was still broad enough to encompass some general commercial aspects.

Since starting at Estate first Lawyers, it has grown from strength to strength both in its processes and size. This has been driven by the team’s dedication to honing the systems, precedents and processes to enable lawyers to effectively use almost all of their time on what they are good at (namely practising law).

Being one of the long-standing members of staff, I have had the opportunity to see the firm grow and develop. This has not been by chance but rather has been a targeted endeavour to focus on getting good quality work, retaining good quality staff, and honing the systems, precedents and processes. As a result, I enjoy ‘top tier’ quality work, plenty of support (from the bottom to the top), manageable KPIs/budget and consequently a decent work/life balance.

Another unique feature of working at Estate First Lawyers has been the genuine dedication of the lawyers to a collaborative and team orientated culture. Staff have the genuine ability to progress at the pace and as high as they wish with a competitive salary and incentives along with ongoing training and education.

Chloe

Chloe Borger

Lawyer

“From day one the team invested in my learning.”
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I joined Estate First as a 2nd year PAE lawyer so that I could focus on estate law, having previously worked in a small general practice since being admitted. The firm has a positive and supportive environment that really values its people and their professional growth. From day one, the team has invested time and resources into my learning which has been invaluable to me as an early career lawyer.

I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside a team of highly skilled, expert lawyers who are passionate about what they do and are focused on providing the highest quality service and delivering exceptional results for their clients.

The firm has cultivated an environment that is engaging and motivating and being a part of the team here has not only enhanced my skills as a lawyer but has also made the experience incredibly rewarding and enjoyable.

As someone who has a passion for estate law, these have been some of the standout aspects of working at Estate First Lawyers and I feel confident that the firm has helped me develop a strong foundation for my legal career.

Tammy

Tammy Parsons

Senior Associate

“I now have the benefit of peers focussed on estate law.”
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Prior to joining EF in early 2023, my growth as a Wills and Estate Planning enthusiast developed largely through self-direction and without the benefit of additional peers focussed on this area of law, leaving me acting in a largely sole role within other firms. Arriving at Estate First Lawyers I have enjoyed being surrounded by those passionate about this area of the law and I have been able to consolidate my practical experience and knowledge working amongst these legal professionals focussed on providing solutions to complex situations. The extensive support team and focussed strategies provide a constant flow of client facing appointments already booked into my diary, enabling me to be hands-on in the advice division, whilst the process driven parts of the role are handled by our able and friendly support team, leaving me with the legal interpretation and complex drafting.

I take pleasure in the atmosphere of encouragement and support of all staff members no matter what their role in the firm, and the respectful and considerate interactions with each other which allow our team to all work well together. My experience over the last 20 years has shown me that the role of management and systems in any business is crucial and whilst the water may appear smooth on the surface, the mad scrabbling beneath the surface can be stressful and counter-productive. At Estate First the systems and management are clear, the workload is consistent and the ability to meet budget is simplified, whilst the processes allow effective use of time, all resulting in client-focussed outcomes.

vanessa

Vanessa Green

Paralegal

“A genuine sense of camaraderie permeates throughout the firm.”
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I have had the privilege of working as a Paralegal at Estate First Lawyers for the past two years, where I have been part of a dedicated team specializing in estate planning and estate administration. My time at EFL has been transformative, both personally and professionally.

Upon joining EFL, I was immediately struck by the depth of knowledge and expertise within the firm. Working under the guidance of lawyers, including Accredited Specialists, I’ve experienced substantial growth in my skills and understanding of estate law. The firm’s open-door policy fosters a culture of mentorship and continuous learning, providing invaluable opportunities for junior colleagues like myself to thrive. This commitment to mentorship has not only enhanced my capabilities in estate law but has also equipped me with the skills and confidence to embark on my career as a junior lawyer.

EFL places a high value on having well-established systems and is continuously building upon their comprehensive file of precedents. These resources enable us to streamline our workflow and operate efficiently without compromising on quality.

Beyond the professional realm, EFL nurtures a vibrant and inclusive team culture. From generous monthly team prizes, including cocktail events, Uber Eats vouchers, and cash prizes, to our annual staff Christmas parties, there’s a genuine sense of camaraderie that permeates throughout the firm.

Ann-Janssen

Why not have a confidential chat with our
Divisional Head, Ann Janssen?

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Our 5 Core Values

We have 5 core values that determine how we work with each other, and how we interact with our clients, colleagues and referral partners.

Professionalism

The EFL Professional Services team are competent, professionally skilled and highly experienced in the area of estate planning and estate administration law. They provide high quality, unbiased advice to their clients.
The EFL Administrative Services team are competent and resourceful in the area of Legal and Management support. They provide reliable and streamlined support services to the organisation.
EFL People are courteous and respectful toward clients, referrers, stakeholders and each other and strive for honest, considerate communications in all circumstances.
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Care

EFL People are empathetic and compassionate toward their clients, recognising the difficulties their clients potentially face in dealing with death and incapacity.
EFL People are considerate of these factors when developing tailored solutions for their clients.
EFL People are mindful of their actions and impact upon each other in daily interactions to ensure that EFL maintains a culture that is caring and supportive internally, as well as externally.
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Teamwork

EFL and its people are diverse and have individual strengths which add value to EFL’s core capabilities and service capacity.
EFL provides a business framework in which its people can develop high quality business outcomes by collaborating with each other, EFL’s clients and referrers.
EFL’s people are recognised and rewarded for sharing knowledge, time and energy in achieving business goals.
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Growth

EFL is an established and growing organisation. EFL will continue to expand its expertise and push boundaries.
EFL is committed to Continuous Improvement in its service offerings, people learning and development, business efficiency and effectiveness through feedback, creativity and celebration of success.
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Balance

EFL services are balanced, practical and commercially savvy, so that we deliver value for money for our clients.
EFL’s systems and structures are designed to enable its people to work smarter, not harder, so that they can actively balance their work and their relationships while still performing at a high level.
EFL’s culture is inclusive.
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Team Building Events at EFL

Estate First fosters an inclusive, team culture and a big part of this is our monthly team prize. If we reach our financial points target in a month, all team members, from junior admin members to senior lawyers, share in the team prize. These have included 6 paid ‘Uber Eats’ lunches, cash or Gold class movie prizes and group outings, such as our recent cocktail making class or Thai cooking class.

In addition we have a full team lunch on the first Tuesday of every month, and a fabulous Christmas party. Participation of course is optional especially to our most recent prize, which is the Storey Bridge climb!

Photos of just some our events below!

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