Redefining the modern workplace

COULTER Legal

Coulter Legal is setting a new standard for workplace flexibility in the legal sector, demonstrating that a people-first approach can drive both employee satisfaction and business success.

With a team of nearly 90 people, the firm has embraced a flexible work model that supports diverse lifestyles, personal and carer responsibilities, and future career goals.

At the heart of Coulter Legal’s culture is the belief that work should adapt to life – not the other way around.

Unlike traditional legal environments, only two employees at the firm work a standard Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm schedule.

The rest of the team benefit from a wide range of flexible arrangements, including part-time roles, compressed working weeks, remote work, and the ability to work from the office location most convenient to them, be that Geelong, Melbourne, Torquay or Barwon Heads.

This flexibility is not limited to particular roles, instead extending across all levels of the business, including the leadership and executive teams.

Of the firm’s leadership team, 65 per cent are women, and seven leaders work part-time – proving that senior roles can be successfully held in non-traditional ways.

Coulter Legal actively encourages this model, demonstrating that flexibility and high performance are not mutually exclusive but instead work together to enable greater workforce participation and engagement.

Coulter Legal’s approach is cemented in the understanding that its people are its greatest asset.

Unlike industry sectors where a physical presence is essential to production, legal services rely on knowledge, expertise, and client relationships.

Coulter Legal has harnessed this by creating an environment where employees can deliver their best work in ways that suit their individual circumstances, even as they vary across the employee life cycle.

In 2022, Coulter Legal introduced a comprehensive and generous parental leave program that further supports flexibility and family life.

The policy includes 18 weeks of paid parental leave for all primary carers, regardless of gender, as well as leave provisions for pregnancy loss, fertility treatment, and postnatal appointments.

It has since expanded to include kinship care, foster care, and even grandparents leave – allowing employees to support their families without financial strain.

Since its launch, 17 employees have accessed the program, with several promoted to more senior roles during or immediately after their leave. This reflects Coulter Legal’s commitment to career development alongside personal wellbeing.

Coulter Legal’s flexible work culture has not only enhanced employee engagement but also positioned the firm as a leader in progressive workplace practices.

By reimagining how, when, and where work happens, the firm is creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centred legal workplace – one that others in the industry are beginning to look to for inspiration.

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