Richard Schontag

Director | Law Firms

Australia

Richard is a specialist in recruiting lawyers for permanent positions in all practice areas, up to and including senior associates. Born and raised in South Africa, he moved to Australia in 2001 and graduated from ACU National in 2007 with a bachelor of business majoring in marketing. Having previously worked in-house at a law firm, Richard has a good understanding of our clients and their needs. He enjoys building relationships and helping clients achieve their business objectives by finding unique talent. He listens to his candidates and supports them with advice, moving them into the most suitable role.

  • Law firm

Lawyer – Construction (1/2 PQE)

The firm Our client, a leading Australian firm, is looking to add a junior construction lawyer to its Construction, Infrastructure and Projects group. You can have either front-end or back-end experience. They are a large national commercial law firm with offices across Australia. They are comprised of more than 500 employees and partners, and provide […]
  • Posted Posted 2 days ago
  • Law firm

UK Employment Lawyers – Australia Opportunity

This opportunity is for UK employment lawyers who are curious about a move to Australia. Our client is a well-regarded, national law firm with one of the most highly regarded employment practices in Australia. They are Chambers ranked and noted for their high-quality employment law practice with expertise advising public sector clients on enterprise bargaining […]
  • Posted Posted 3 days ago
  • Law firm

Contract Lawyer/ Document Reviewer

We are helping a top tier Australian law firm find lawyers who are immediately available and looking for work*. * If you’re an overseas lawyer with plans to travel to Australia on a working holiday visa, please let us know as you will be considered for future projects. You’ll work exclusively on document review projects […]
  • Posted Posted 1 week ago
  • Law firm

Associate/Senior Associate – Construction Litigation

The firm This top tier and global law firm is known for their progressive approach to the law. Their construction litigation practice is going through significant growth, and they are looking for junior and senior lawyers to join their team. Team overview Dispute resolution is a strategic area of focus for the firm globally. Their […]
  • Posted Posted 1 week ago
  • Law firm

Contract Lawyer/ Document Reviewer

We are helping a top tier international firm find lawyers who are immediately available and looking for work. You’ll work exclusively on document review projects supporting their Litigation team on large scale litigation matters. The initial project is 3-6 months but this is likely to be extended given their pipeline of work. Ringtail or Relativity […]
  • Posted Posted 3 weeks ago
  • Law firm

Contract Lawyer/ Document Reviewer

We are helping a top tier international firm find lawyers who are immediately available and looking for work. You’ll work exclusively on document review projects supporting their Litigation team on large scale litigation matters. The initial project is 3-6 months but this is likely to be extended given their pipeline of work. Ringtail or Relativity […]
  • Posted Posted 4 weeks ago
  • Law firm

Lawyer/ Senior Associate – Corporate

Role Our client, a progressive mid-tier firm, is looking for an experienced corporate lawyer to join their team in Sydney. This is a fantastic hands-on corporate & commercial role, with significant learning, development and progression opportunities, and the opportunity to work with interesting clients. They are developing a reputation as a leading firm for middle […]
  • Posted Posted 1 month ago
  • Law firm

Associate – Commercial

Role Our client, a national law firm, is looking to add an Associate to its commercial team. In this role, you will be working across a range of areas of commercial and corporate law including, contract drafting, not for profit, corporate governance and structuring, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property and information technology. This opportunity would […]
  • Posted Posted 2 months ago
  • Law firm

Commercial Litigation – Senior Associate

Role Our client, a leading and established boutique litigation firm, is seeking an experienced litigator to join their fast growing team in Sydney. They assist clients in a wide range of commercial disputes, including but not limited to contract disputes, shareholder disputes and intellectual property disputes. Their lawyers have a deep understanding of the laws […]
  • Posted Posted 2 months ago
  • Law firm

Contract Lawyer/ Document Reviewer – Sydney

We are helping a top tier international firm find lawyers who are immediately available and looking for work. You’ll work exclusively on document review projects supporting their Litigation team on large scale litigation matters. The initial project is 3 months but this is likely to be extended given their pipeline of work. Enjoy a collegiate […]
  • Posted Posted 3 months ago

richard’s Insights

  • CV and interview tips

How to structure your Associate Lawyer CV

  • Posted March 20, 2023
Did you know, on average, people spend just 75 seconds reading your CV? This means you have just over a minute to sell yourself and your strengths to the reader. This is easier said than done. Three-quarters of CVs are rejected due to bad grammar, spelling, or poor visual layout. So what makes a successful […]
  • Australia

The 30 under 30 Legal Awards – Stand out from the crowd

  • Posted February 15, 2023
If you’re a lawyer under 30 years old working at a top law firm, you’ve likely spent the last few years honing your skills and becoming a top-notch lawyer. You excelled in law school, secured a coveted summer clerkship, and are now billing thousands of hours each year. You’ve probably set your sights on advancing […]
  • International relocation

Make the move to Australia – legal market update

  • Posted February 14, 2023
As we start 2023, a new level of positive optimism has emerged. As we move towards the end of summer in Australia, a level of positive optimism about the economy has returned in Australia. Despite inflationary challenges, the majority of leaders are confident in their own companies. A recent JPMorgan business leaders survey showed that, […]
  • Moving jobs

Living and working in Australia: a guide for South African lawyers

  • Posted November 15, 2021
Are you an overseas qualified lawyer looking for a career move to Australia? For more than 18 months Australia has had its international borders closed to South Africa and the world. That is all about change, with the border set to open soon. Whether you are seeking to move to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, […]
  • Moving jobs

Living and working in Australia: a guide for UK lawyers

  • Posted November 15, 2021
Are you an overseas qualified lawyer looking for a career more to Australia? After being closed for more than 600 days, Australia’s international borders are finally set to reopen to UK lawyers. This is a day our law firms’ clients have been waiting for, the Australia economy has bounced back speculatively in 2021, with demand […]
  • Industry leaders

Interviews: Dispute Resolution and Litigation Award finalists – 30 Under 30 Law Awards

  • Posted May 12, 2020
Taylor Root is proud to be the principal partner in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Law Awards. Richard Schontag, Associate Director at Taylor Root, had the opportunity to speak to this year’s finalists in the Dispute Resolution & Litigation category. This award recognises a lawyer who has demonstrated skill and expertise in acting across a […]
  • Remote working

How to conduct a successful video conference call

  • Posted April 12, 2020
Remote working tools like video conferencing are no longer a futuristic novelty—they are now a reality for many businesses and paramount to business continuity. In normal circumstances, video conferencing can save travel time and increase productivity, thus it has been increasingly changing the business world significantly. However now, the impact of the technology will be […]
  • DEI

Interviews: Be prepared, take control, and leave a lasting impression

  • Posted September 13, 2019
“There’s no reason to be nervous. You’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you.” I hear myself saying this a lot to people, but it’s an important mental shift to make ahead of an interview. It prevents you going in with a passive mind set, and it will make you take control and be prepared. […]