15/03/2010. The Australia Law Students’ Association (ALSA) welcomes the improved standards for pre-admission graduate lawyers, but has concerns for future law students looking to work in the legal industry.
The Legal Services Award 2010, which came into effect on 1 January 2010, drastically changes the requirements for work hours, remuneration and study leave for pre-admission graduates. This award will apply nationally, except for unincorporated firms in WA and will represent a substantial increase in the cost of employing law graduates for employers.
While this improvement in national standards is commendable for the industry, ALSA has concerns regarding the long term implications of the Award, and whether it will esult in better working conditions for law graduates, but fewer graduate positions being offered.
In Australia, there has been a constant increase in the number of law schools and law graduates, reflecting a high demand for a legal education. With approximately 50% of aw graduates choosing to enter the private practice of law, (according to a survey conducted in 1998) the law graduate recruitment market is already very competitive, specially in the current economic climate. These new standards may discourage graduate recruitment.
The cost of maintaining these new standards may have a detrimental impact on small, boutique, regional and rural law firms. ALSA’s Vice President (Education), Fiona Cunningham stated “rural, regional and remote firms are in need of incentives, not obstacles, in order to entice graduates into taking up employment in these areas. The lackof access to legal services in rural, regional and remote areas may be further accentuated by the inability to employ graduate lawyers”.
ALSA does not, however, consider that the effects of the Award will be ‘disastrous’, as speculated in a recent article in Lawyer’s Weekly entitled ‘Disaster for graduate recruitment under new award’. ALSA’s President, Jonathan Augustus, responded stating “It is important not to overreact and simply paint an increase in remuneration for law graduates as ‘not good for anyone’. Like many stakeholders, ALSA will keep an eye on the long-term
effects of such changes, however the objective of reducing potential exploitation of law graduates is one ALSA commends”.
The new changes legislate that graduates will be subject to a minimum wage, which is 25% more than the current NSW standard and will be entitled to overtime for every hour worked past a 38 hour limit. They will also be entitled to four days of paid study leave for each subject in their practical legal training courses as well as attendance at lectures.
ALSA, as a peak representative body, acts as a national delegate for law students’ iinterests. ALSA hopes that these changes mark improved standards for graduates without detrimentally affecting graduate recruitment policies in the future.
Media Contact:
Fiona Cunningham
Vice-President Education
Australia Law Students’ Association
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
0431483027
