Navigating legal frameworks, risk management, and regulatory compliance is critical for global companies expanding into Australia. Whether you’re entering the fintech space, operating a multinational business, or launching a new tech venture, hiring local legal and compliance professionals is essential to manage liabilities and ensure alignment with national and industry-specific laws.

However, establishing a legal entity in Australia just to hire a few key professionals can be both time-consuming and expensive. For this reason, many companies are now using an Employer of Record (EOR) to hire legal and compliance talent quickly, compliantly, and cost-effectively.

In this guide, we explore how an EOR company can help international organizations hire the right legal experts in Australia, manage risk, and stay compliant with ease.

Why Hire Legal and Compliance Professionals in Australia?

Australia has a highly developed regulatory framework across sectors such as banking, healthcare, technology, energy, and telecommunications. The legal environment is enforced through government bodies like ASIC, APRA, and the ACCC, with strict penalties for non-compliance.

Hiring skilled legal and compliance professionals in Australia enables foreign companies to:

• Understand and apply Australian contract law, privacy regulations (like the Privacy Act), and employment law
  
• Navigate corporate governance requirements
  
• Conduct internal audits and risk assessments
  
• Ensure licensing and industry compliance
  
• Prevent fraud and meet international reporting standards
  

These professionals are instrumental in protecting your brand, mitigating legal exposure, and supporting ethical operations in the Australian market.

Roles You Can Hire Using an EOR in Australia

The Australian talent pool includes a variety of legal and compliance roles that are critical for international operations, such as:

• In-house Legal Counsel
  
• Regulatory Compliance Officers
  
• Risk and Governance Managers
  
• Data Privacy Officers
  
• AML/KYC Analysts
  
• Legal Researchers
  
• Corporate Secretaries
  

Through a trusted Employer of Record, you can hire remote employees in these roles without needing to register a company in Australia.

What Is an Employer of Record (EOR)?

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party service provider that acts as the legal employer for your Australian hires. While you manage their day-to-day responsibilities, the EOR company handles employment contracts, payroll, tax filings, and benefits administration.

This allows international businesses to quickly access local talent while staying compliant with local labor laws and avoiding the cost and complexity of setting up a local entity.

Benefits of Using an EOR for Legal Hiring in Australia

1. Compliance with Local Employment Laws

Australia has strong labor protections under the Fair Work Act. An EOR company ensures your employees receive lawful contracts, proper leave entitlements, and mandatory benefits—like superannuation and workers’ compensation.

2. Faster Hiring Timeline

Instead of waiting months to establish a subsidiary, you can hire legal and compliance professionals in just a few weeks using an EOR.

3. Cost-Effective Setup

Avoid legal fees, local office leases, and long-term overheads by working with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) model.

4. International Payroll Services

With an EOR, all aspects of payroll outsourcing are covered, including tax deductions, superannuation contributions, and salary disbursements in Australian dollars.

5. Risk Mitigation

Legal hires are crucial—but they also require airtight compliance. An EOR helps reduce exposure to penalties, wrongful terminations, and incorrect classification of contractors or employees.

Hiring Process for Legal Roles via EOR

Here’s a step-by-step guide to hiring legal and compliance talent in Australia using an Employer of Record:

Step 1: Select an EOR Partner

Choose one of the top EOR providers with in-country experience in handling legal-sector roles.

Step 2: Source Your Candidate

You recruit and interview the candidate (or use the EOR’s sourcing support). Once selected, you notify the EOR company.

Step 3: Contract and Onboarding

The EOR drafts and signs a compliant employment agreement in accordance with Australian law. They handle tax registration and superannuation setup.

Step 4: Start Work and Monthly Payroll

Your employee begins work under your management. The EOR company handles payroll, pays benefits, and manages time-off tracking.

Key Compliance Requirements in Australia

When hiring in Australia, employers must adhere to these statutory requirements:

• Standard Work Hours: 38 hours/week + reasonable overtime
  
• Annual Leave: 20 paid vacation days per year
  
• Sick/Carer’s Leave: 10 days per year
  
• Public Holidays: Varies by state
  
• Superannuation: Mandatory employer contribution of 11% (as of July 2025)
  
• Termination: Requires notice periods and potential redundancy payouts
  

An experienced EOR company ensures all employment terms and benefits comply with local standards.

Comparing EOR vs Setting Up a Local Entity

Unless you plan to build a large in-house team, working with an EOR is the more agile, low-risk solution for legal hiring.

Using an EOR to Hire Remote Legal Experts

Many legal and compliance professionals in Australia can work remotely, especially for research, policy development, documentation, and compliance audits. By using global employment solutions, companies can maintain a distributed team while respecting local laws and payroll regulations.

You can also tap into specialized legal skills like contract drafting for Australia’s free trade agreements (FTAs), data privacy law (aligned with GDPR), and sector-specific compliance.

Why Global Companies Choose Team Apac

At Team Apac, we help international businesses enter the Australian market with confidence by offering the best Employer of Record services. Our team handles everything—from employment contracts to payroll outsourcing, tax reporting, and benefits administration—while you focus on finding and managing the right legal talent.

Whether you’re hiring a compliance officer, in-house counsel, or data privacy specialist, we make it easy to build a compliant and effective team in Australia without the burden of entity setup.Let Team Apac, a leading EOR company, guide your expansion into Australia with our proven expertise in international payroll services, HR compliance, and remote hiring support.