Career Opportunities for Law Graduates

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Career Opportunities for Law Graduates

Graduating with a law degree is a ticket to an exciting and often varied career, and opens up both legal and non-legal career pathways. In addition to the well-trodden path of a graduate position at a corporate law firm, law graduates may find themselves practicing as lawyers in government, community law, in-house in companies or international courts, to name a few of the options on the table. Students may just as easily find themselves using their legal training in non-legal careers - as politicians and public servants, in non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in business or even publishing.

Law Student Societies (LSSs) across Australia publish careers guides to give their members ideas for potential careers, information about the various opportunities available to them, application tips and a few anecdotes to give you the view from the inside.

ALSA has compiled a short list of LSS publications and lesser known career paths for law graduates to give you some idea of where your LLB or JD ticket might take you.

This page will be updated periodically. If you have any suggestions for additions (or corrections), please contact Heath McCallum.

LSS Publications

· Queensland: University of Queensland Law Society careers guide is available here.

· South Australia: University of South Australia Law Students' Association/Flinder Law Students' Association careers guide is available here.

· New South Wales: Sydney University Law Society careers guide is available here.

· Western Australia: coming soon.

· Victoria: Melbourne University Law Students’ Society careers guide is available here.

Non-Corporate Law Firm Careers

Careers in metropolitan corporate law firms are generally very well publicised and understood among law students, despite being only one of the many opportunities available to law students. ALSA has compiled a list of career options beyond these firms in an effort to make information about these career options just as accessible to law graduates. Even if you are interested in a career in a metropolitan corporate law firm, your LLB or JD can land you jobs in many more places than a top tier firm and it is worth considering some of the other options before submitting your clerkship application.

Go Regional

The WA Country Lawyers Program is a collaboration between government, the Law Society of WA, Legal Aid WA and a number of community legal centres ('CLCs') in WA. The program employs new law graduates for a period of 4 years. The first year is spent working at a Legal Aid office in Perth. After successful completion of this year, the graduate secures a 3 year employment contract and undertakes three 12-month rotations at different regional CLCs, regional Legal Aid WA offices, the Aboriginal Legal Service and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services. For more information, see the link below:

http://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/LAServices/aspx/default.aspx?Page=Employment%5CCountryLawyers.xml

Both NSW and Qld Legal Aid have established a Regional Solicitors Program. Under these programs, Legal Aid funds 75% of the salary of a graduate solicitor to work in a private firm in a regional area and undertake legal aid work (75% of the work undertaken by the graduate will be legal aid work). More information on the NSW program is available at http://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=672 and the Qld program at http://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/Regional+solicitor+program/Regional+Solicitor+Program.htm

The National Association of Community Legal Centres is currently running a pilot to promote greater PLT placements in rural, regional and remotes areas. Information on this pilot is available at: http://www.lawgraduatesrrrclc.com.au/

Federal Government

Attorney General’s Department: If maintaining and improving Australia’s system of law and justice and its national security and emergency management system interests you, consider the Attorney-General’s summer internship or graduate program at: http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/About_the_DepartmentEmployment.

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) as well as State Law Reform Commissions offer graduate opportunities which give graduates the opportunity to be involved in researching and formulating recommendations for law reform: http://www.alrc.gov.au/work/index.htm.

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) manages Australia’s international aid and are looking for bright young graduates to help them: http://www1.ausaid.gov.au/recruit/ See also opportunities for Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development: http://www.ayad.com.au/aspx/home.aspx

The Australian Federal Police fights local, national and transnational crime, and as an AFP officer you may find yourself fighting e-crime at a desk or on a peacekeeping post in the region: http://www.afp.gov.au/recruitment.html.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions offers further opportunities to investigate and prosecute Commonweath offences (State opportunities should be available on the State job sites): http://www.cdpp.gov.au/Careers/

Defence Materials Organisation (DMO) offers a competitive grad program and a number of post-qualification roles all around the country: http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/Careers/careers.cfm

Defence Jobs offer a range of post-qualification careers with attractive remuneration and a stable work environment, if you are still studying at university, they may even pay for you to be there through their undergraduate scholarship program, you can also work part time as a reservist: http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/Careers/careers.cfm

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) offers a graduate program as well as post-qualification programs which can take you around the world: http://www.dfat.gov.au/jobs/index.html

Australian Securities and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) collect and identify information for the protection of Australia: http://www.asio.gov.au/Careers/content/Categories.aspx

Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) help protect our national interests overseas through intelligence collection and analysis: http://www.asis.gov.au/careers.html

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) help keep Australian skies safe by working with the body that regulates all air services in Australia: http://www.casa.gov.au/jobs/index.htm

Australian Transportation and Safety Bureau (ATSB) help investigate transportation incidents and write reports for investigative bodies: http://www.atsb.gov.au/about_atsb/employment.aspx

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will put your taxation law studies to good use: http://www.ato.gov.au/corporate/content.asp?doc=/content/65989.htm

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) sits on the other side of big corporate law firms in regulating corporate behaviour: http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/asic.nsf/byheadline/Available+positions+by+title?openDocument.

Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) work for the law firm dedicated solely to the government! AGS offers jobs in several capital cities and is the ideal job for those interested in constitutional or competition law: http://www.ags.gov.au/careers/index.htm

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) help regulate business to stop unfair trading: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/21515

The Australian National Audit Office keeps the Government accountable, and you can assist by checking up on its financial performance and auditing it: http://www.anao.gov.au/director/employment.cfm.

The Australian Human Rights Commission protects the vulnerable by investigating alleged breaches of human rights and anti-discrimination legislation: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/jobs/index.html.

State Government

Work in Victoria? http://www.careers.vic.gov.au/

Fancy a job in Queensland? http://www.jobs.qld.gov.au/

New South Wales public service: http://jobs.nsw.gov.au/

Apply in South Australia: http://www.vacancies.sa.gov.au/asp/public/Home.aspx

Apply here for the Northern Territory Public Service: http://notes.nt.gov.au/dcis/RMS.nsf/NTGEmploymentHome?OpenForm

Apply here for the Tasmanian Public Service: http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/

Apply here for the Western Australia Public Service: http://www.jobs.wa.gov.au/

Work alongside the Federal Government with the Australian Capital Territory Public Service: http://www.jobs.act.gov.au/

The Legal Aid Sector

Legal Aid Commissions provide free legal advice to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Their main areas of practice are crime, family and civil law. Most Legal Aid Commissions run a graduate program and have other opportunities available.To find your nearest Legal Aid Office, go to: http://www.nla.aust.net.au/

Legal Publishing

LexisNexis Australia: http://www.lexisnexis.com.au/careers/professional-candidates/default.aspx

CCH Australia: http://www.cch.com.au/au/careers/default.aspx

Thompson Reuters: http://www.thomsonreuters.com.au/about-us/careers.asp

International

International Court of Justice (ICJ) if public international law and international relations are your passion, join the ultimate arbiter of the law of nations in the Hague: http://www.icj-cij.org/registry/index.php?p1=2&p2=5&p3=3

United Nations (UN) If you chose to study law in order to save the world, working at the UN can help you fulfill that dream: https://jobs.un.org/Galaxy/Release3/vacancy/vacancy.aspx?lang=1200

World Trade Organisation (WTO) for a fascinating intersection of politics, law, economics and commerce, look no further than the WTO:

Internships: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/intern_e.htm

Jobs: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/vacan_e.htm

International Labour Organisation (ILO) fight to improve labour conditions around the world, from Perth to Phnom Pen:

Internships: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/pers/vacancy/intern.htm

Jobs: http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Job_opportunities/lang--en/index.htm

International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Regulate global air travel http://www.icao.int/icao/en/va/vacancies.htm

World Bank offers loans, advice, and an array of customized resources to more than 100 developing countries. Check out their recruitment page here.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) the organisation for the humanist, archaeologist, educator and so much more: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11707&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

Work for a union: http://www.labor.net.au/positions/

Greenpeace: http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/about/jobs

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society take direct action to help protect our marine environment: http://www.seashepherd.org/who-we-are/employment.html

Fred Hollows Foundation restore sight to people in some of the most remote areas of the world: http://www.hollows.org.au/Get_Involved/

Red Cross become part of one of the most respected humanitarian organisations in the world: http://www.redcross.org.au/careers_default.htm

Médecins Sans Frontières you do not need to be a doctor or nurse in order to deliver essential medical care to sick and impoverished people: http://www.msf.org.au/join-our-team.html

Australian Companies

BHP Billiton: http://jobs.bhpbilliton.com/

Westpac: http://www.westpac.com.au/internet/publish.nsf/Content/WC+Home+Page

Commonwealth Bank of Australia: http://www.commbank.com.au/about-us/careers/default.aspx

Telstra: http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/careers/index.cfm

NAB: http://www.nab.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/nab/nab/home/About_Us/1

Woolworths Limited: http://www.wowcareers.com.au/wowcareers/corporate/home/

ANZ: http://www.anz.com/about-us/careers/

Wesfarmers Limited: http://www.whoshiring.com.au/company/wesfarmers-limited-jobs/

Westfield Group: http://westfield.com/corporate/careers/

Qantas: http://www.qantas.com.au/info/about/employment/index

AMP: http://careers.amp.com.au/jobSearch.asp?stp=AW&sLanguage=en