Are you committed to bringing your best to life every day? In 2025, MLC Life Insurance is embracing a new brand identity\: Acenda. Under this new brand, we’re taking our long-standing heritage into a new era, empowering a brighter future with security and confidence. Our values-driven business strives for high performance and growth as we look towards the future. As part of the global Nippon Life Group, we will enhance our capabilities and further strengthen our enduring commitment to putting customers at the heart of everything we do. And to support our partners to do the same. We believe that when people have the support, clarity, and confidence they need, they can do their best work and build a future they’re proud of. We encourage our people to take life on – inside and outside of work – to grow and make a real impact for our customers, partners, and each other. The role We are seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join our Risk Governance & Legal team. Reporting into our Head of Legal - Insurance Claims and Disputes, your role will involve providing legal support for a range of work streams at MLC Life Insurance as required, but with a particular focus on life insurance claims, including disputes about them. Your responsibilities will include: Providing efficient and effective legal support to Claims Consultants and members of the Claims Leadership Team, which appropriately considers the broader commercial environment in which MLC Life operates. (This will include issues of policy interpretation, sections 13, 20B, 21, 26, 27A, 29, 47, 54 and 56 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984, s 210 Life Insurance Act 1995 and Disability Discrimination legislation.) Managing a portfolio of litigated matters. Advising MLC Resolve (MLC’s complaints function) in relation to IDR and EDR disputes. Defending disputes on MLC’s behalf before external forums such as HREOC and the OIAC. Supporting the business respond to, and advising the business in relation to, Regulatory investigations and requests, including formal Notices issued to MLC Life Insurance. Providing legal support to product owners including in relation to new product development product maintenance and improvement, advice on product obligations, policy drafting and reinsurance treaties. Driving continuous improvement in workflow and cost efficiency, panel management, knowledge management and team capability in the MLC Life Insurance legal practice. About you The successful candidate will be a commercially focused lawyer with 8 years PQE in an Australian jurisdiction in life insurance law, specifically in relation to life insurance claims issues. You will also have: Prior experience in providing advice on life insurance claims issues and (preferably also) in responding to Regulatory Notices. Current and unrestricted Australian practicing certificate. Solid legal drafting skills. Demonstrated effectiveness at managing multiple stakeholders and competing demands. Strong problem solving and influencing skills. Bringing our best to life - why join us? We do work that makes a genuine difference to our customers, partners and community. We have a supportive, inclusive and flexible team culture, including hybrid working. We support your growth and development, and careers across our business units and teams that are as unique as our people. We reward and celebrate our successes, through our incentive and recognition programs. We offer tools, resources and benefits to support your wellbeing, including additional lifestyle leave. We connect and celebrate our diversity at work through our social committees and employee groups, and we contribute to our community with paid volunteer leave and through our Reconciliation Action Plan and sustainability commitments. We celebrate the diversity of our customers and community, and we embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into how we do business. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and identities. Should an applicant be the preferred candidate, background checks (including Federal Police Checks, Employment checks, ASIC banned and disqualified persons and Bankruptcy checks) will be completed prior to the candidate's employment being confirmed. The outcomes of the background checks do not automatically bar candidates, however they will be assessed against the inherent requirements of the position.
