Student resources

Working as a solicitor at a law firm has long been the traditional starting point for many law graduates.

Law firms come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are incorporated but the majority retain a partnership model. More recently, a new breed of law firm – collectively called NewLaw – has entered the legal landscape. 

Law firms include:

• general practices (both city and suburban), which undertake a mix of legal work such as property, wills and estates, tax, family and criminal law 
• specialist boutique firms that offer specialist legal services in a specific field, such as construction, information technology, family, criminal and employment/industrial relations law
• larger city commercial firms (both national and international) which offer legal services across a range of practice areas, such as banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, local government and environmental law, intellectual property, information technology, competition law, dispute resolution, construction, or infrastructure
• NewLaw – the start-ups of the legal profession. These are often niche businesses blending technology with process-driven solutions and pricing strategies. NewLaw firms range from secondment models, legal process outsourcers, online lawyer registries or quoting services and tech-driven businesses, through to full-service law firms that prioritise flexible arrangements and innovative pricing. LegalVision’s white paper – “Transforming the Legal Landscape: The NewLaw Philosophy, opens in a new window” provides an interesting introduction to NewLaw and some of the key trends driving innovation in the legal industry, including the use of technology and alternative methods for the delivery of legal services.

UNSW Law Society Private Law Careers Guide, opens in a new window  

A successful career in private practice generally commences with a graduate/junior lawyer role progressing to associate after two years, then senior associate, culminating in promotion to partnership or a directorship with the firm over time.

The experience gained in private practice can also serve as a valuable stepping-stone to a career as in-house counsel, at the Bar or in a range of senior commercial, strategic and management roles.

Most larger corporations have a dedicated legal team to advise the business and management on the various legal matters affecting the company. In-house legal teams are growing steadily in size and influence and are found in most sectors – from banks and financial institutions to construction, pharmaceutical, resources and media companies. The importance of the in-house legal function is reflected in the fact that the legal team increasingly also shoulders responsibility for the company secretarial, corporate governance and risk and compliance functions. In-house legal roles are a valuable stepping-stone to senior management, commercial and strategic roles. 

Lawyers working in government and public policy areas are at the forefront of law reform and public administration.

The following publications are a great place to start researching your public law career. They contain a wealth of information, advice and profiles of lawyers working in a wide range of jobs in public law and government.

• 2021 UNSW Law Society Public Interest Careers Guide, opens in a new window

The NSW Government Graduate Program is a wonderful opportunity to see and learn first-hand how government works. Participants will receive 18 months of work experience across a range of government agencies such as the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Department of Justice or the Department of Planning and Environment and Treasury. An offer of ongoing employment will be made on successful completion of the program.

For further details, visit NSW Government Graduate Program, opens in a new window.

To learn more about working for the NSW Government, see how to apply for a job in the NSW Public Service, opens in a new window.

Public interest law aims to assist those groups in our society who are vulnerable and unable to represent themselves – for example, socially disadvantaged citizens, women, children and the elderly, people with physical disabilities and mental health issues, Indigenous people, refugees, asylum seekers, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, people in detention and prisoners. Public interest law also aims to represent those parts of our society that cannot speak for themselves, such as animals and the environment. 

Public interest lawyers work in a range of organisations, both national and international. A non-exhaustive list of these organisations includes community legal centres, non-legal community organisations, government (at all levels, including the United Nations), the Bar and the judiciary (including both national and international courts and tribunals), non-government organisations (NGOs), not-for-profits, universities, the diplomatic service, the military and emergency services, security organisations, the media, international trade organisations and monetary funds.

Lawyers in private practice can also work in the public interest space, particularly if they are providing their services pro bono, that is for free, or at a significantly reduced fee. 

The breadth of legal experience gained in public interest law is wide-ranging and may include criminal, human rights and humanitarian, environmental, Indigenous, immigration/refugee, employment, health, tenancy, administrative, property and commercial law. 

It may also include advocacy in a more general sense, such as policy, politics, lobbying, making submissions to government, education, journalism and social media, research, community and aid work, negotiation, security and diplomacy. 

Lawyers who work in rural, regional and remote areas may also find themselves practising in the public interest sphere due to the smaller community size and relatively larger proportion of Indigenous people. 

Gaining as much experience as possible in public interest law, for example as a volunteer or intern, is key to starting a career in the field. Due to the nature of public interest law, many roles in this area are initially unpaid, however, there are some (often highly contested) opportunities that are paid or provide a travel or meal allowance. 

Internships

UNSW Law & Justice offers students a range of internships, opens in a new window and clinics, opens in a new window in public interest organisations for course credit.

Careers guides

Check out the National Pro Bono Resource Centre and Australian Law Students Association’s Social Justice Opportunities: A Career Guide for Law Students and New Lawyers, opens in a new window and Social Justice Work Opportunities, opens in a new window across Australia.

Job websites

• Ethical Jobs, opens in a new window
• Social Justice Opportunities, opens in a new window
• UNSW MyLaw Jobs Board, opens in a new window
• Federal government jobs – Australian Public Service, opens in a new window
• NSW government jobs, opens in a new window
• Community legal centre volunteers , opens in a new window

International

• UN Jobs, opens in a new window
• DevNetJobs, opens in a new window (you need to be a member)
• ReliefWeb, opens in a new window

Read a Guide to Becoming a Barrister in New South Wales, opens in a new window and The NSW Bar Association, opens in a new window. 

To become a barrister, you must:

1. Be admitted as a lawyer in an Australian jurisdiction 

Before you can apply for a NSW barrister’s practising certificate, you must be admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW or another Australian state or territory under a corresponding law.

You can go straight to the Bar after university, but it's recommended you work for at least 18 months first. This is so you can make connections and see whether litigating at the Bar is the path you want to follow. 

2. Pass the NSW Bar examination

The NSW Bar Exam, opens in a new window is offered twice a year, and as of 2021, in three subjects related specifically to advocacy: legal ethics for barristers, aspects of evidence, and practice and procedure for barristers. These are examined in one integrated NSW Bar Examination. 

Afterwards, the Bar Practice Course must be undertaken within 15 months of passing the examination.

3. Undertake the Bar Practice Course 

The Bar Practice Course, opens in a new window is very intensive, involving advocacy training, mock applications (before real judges) and seminars. There is homework and some sessions take place on the weekend. A reader (lawyers undertaking the Bar Practice Course) has no right to appear in court without being led by another barrister until the course is completed. 

4. Complete the reading program

The lawyer is issued with an initial practising certificate with reader conditions. The period of reading is often referred to as a ‘reading year’, starting when the practising certificate with reader conditions is issued and continuing for a minimum of 12 months. During that time, the reader remains under the supervision of at least one experienced barrister, who is called a tutor. 

It is advisable to apply for a reader’s position at a Barristers’ Chambers and to do this before signing up for the Bar examination. The Bar Association website, opens in a new window has dates and application details. 

5. Hold professional indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity insurance is a statutory requirement for all barristers in New South Wales. Find out more about professional indemnity insurance, opens in a new window.

Role of a Judge’s associate or tipstaff  

A judge's associate or tipstaff assists the judge in conducting legal research and preparing judgments. They also perform a range of court-related duties in Chambers and in-court duties during proceedings. The appointment is generally a 1–2-year contract. It is also worth noting that some courts and tribunals offer research positions.

For more information about these roles, including when and where to apply, see Federal Court, opens in a new window; Supreme Court, opens in a new window; District Court, opens in a new window.

What are the benefits?

An associate/tipstaff position at any level offers an exclusive opportunity to watch and learn about the country’s most complex legal issues from the finest lawyers and to witness advocacy in action. 

Prerequisites

Appointments to such roles are highly sought after. For instance, the High Court of Australia generally requires students to have graduated with First Class Honours. Prerequisites, however, will vary by Court and we recommend that you read, understand and consider the selection criteria to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements of the associate or tipstaff role for the Court.

A Law degree at UNSW equips you with more than just legal skills. Many of our graduates pursue interesting and rewarding careers in banking, consulting, professional services or media/journalism, among other fields. 

Management consulting

Management consulting is a client-service-based industry assisting businesses to develop and deconstruct their strategy, management and operations. Consultants are usually employed to improve an organisation’s performance by analysing commercial problems and providing solutions. Consulting firms can service both private sector clients as well as public sector organisations. They provide the opportunity to work for a variety of clients on different projects spanning industries as well as geographic locations. Working in management consulting also provides you with a breadth of commercial understanding and management skills, which are highly transferrable into the business world. 

Professional services firms

Professional services firms support businesses of all sizes across a variety of industries. They can provide specialist advice and ensure regulatory compliance for clients ranging from accounting/auditing, strategic advice and tax support to legal services.  

Investment banking

Investment bankers offer clients strategic advice and financial solutions concerning areas such as mergers, acquisitions, asset management, financing and risk management transactions. They are often involved in advising company executives about IPOs, purchasing of companies, debt or equity raising and restructuring over a vast range of industries.  

Media

Media law regulates the production and use of media, including broadcast media – radio and television – as well as film, digital and print. The practice of media law can involve a wide range of regulations and issues. For example, multimedia lawyers might work in software licensing and sale regulations, while broadcast media lawyers might work in technology, innovation, commercial and intellectual property law.

Academia

Most academic positions require a minimum of a postgraduate qualification, and you'll find the analytical and problem-solving skills gained from a Juris Doctor (JD), Masters or PhD program helpful in these roles. Law graduates with an interest in academic or research roles often begin by taking on tutoring or short-term research projects and you may find opportunities to join UNSW Law & Justice, as well as other higher education institutions. 

Many government agencies have intelligence units that undertake a range of activities from active surveillance to policy and research, such as the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, Australian Signals Directorate, the Australian Government Department of Defence and Centrelink.

There are many opportunities available, including investigation of criminal activity, analysis of intelligence, liaison with domestic and international agencies, operational planning and policy. Liaison with other organisations, both in Australia and internationally, is commonplace. Most agencies have graduate programs to fast-track candidates with relevant degrees. Your criminal justice degree puts you ahead of the pack for this career pathway. 

Working in intelligence and investigations, you'll be trained on compliance issues regarding legislation and policy. As a graduate with a criminal justice degree, you're well placed to work in this field and with experience will have numerous avenues to move laterally across agencies and upwards, including moving into specialised fields such as cyber-crime, organised crime (financial, terrorism, human trafficking, drug) and being involved in cross-border investigations.

Learn more about intelligence and investigations., opens in a new window

Put your knowledge of the criminal justice system and the impacts of policies on individuals and certain vulnerable cohorts in your community to use through a career in corrections. There are a range of job opportunities within this sector, including working in prisons, community corrections, and government and community agencies that support offenders pre- and post-release. Roles include frontline workers who case manage/support offenders, as well as policy and program officers. 

As a graduate with a criminology degree, you're perfectly placed to assess the needs of individuals balanced against those of the community and the justice system. Government-funded initiatives and community organisations support offenders at various stages of interaction with the criminal justice system, as well as their families and victims of crime.  

Learn more about prisons and corrections, opens in a new window.

There are multiple avenues open to students with a degree in criminal justice working in law enforcement. While the entry point may be the same for students without completing university study, after the initial training, university graduates progress much faster and have more options open to them, for example moving into policy, forensics or intelligence. Your studies will continue to assist quicker progression throughout your ongoing career. 

Law enforcement includes careers in police, customs, intelligence, Sheriff’s Office NSW, debt recovery agencies and investigations (across various government and private industries including health, Centrelink and education). 

Roles within agencies are not confined to traditional duties of law enforcement but include assessment officers, border force officers, military police, security officer/assessment, security investigator, strategic advisor, criminal investigator and community safety officer. 

Most government agencies have in-house investigation teams, for example the Education Department NSW employs officers to investigate private education providers, involving office and field officers as well as forensic accountants, interviewers and policy officers. Similarly, Centrelink has roles that include surveillance, policy analyst, case manager, investigator and more. 

Learn more about law enforcement and investigations., opens in a new window

Graduates with a degree in criminal justice are uniquely placed to work with government, statutory authorities and private agencies to draft policy and design programs that identify and manage risk to individuals and agencies, and that also support those cohorts. 

Working in policy can be extremely rewarding as change is effected on a broader scale. Skills required include lateral thinking and business acumen, whether the body is government or community-based. Consideration of the anticipated change or effects is equally important alongside the unanticipated. For example, the creation of ‘like’ button on Facebook was intended to be positive and fun but had the unintended consequence of exacerbating mental health among some teenagers who equated ‘likes’ with personal confidence. So too, all public policy changes create ripple effects throughout other services and the public perception of agencies. Therefore, lateral and critical thinking are as important as writing skills when it comes to policy. 

Working in policy commonly offers more job security and set work hours as these types of roles are predominantly in public bodies or with government. They also offer flexible work hours and conditions and have generous leave allowances.  

Learn more about policy, programs and research., opens in a new window

If you're interested in community services, your criminology degree will open many career pathways. Providing support and education to vulnerable cohorts can prevent and/or minimise harm. Jobs are available in a range of government bodies and through government-funded initiatives, as well as community agencies, health facilities, youth programs and faith-based organisations. While most community agencies require counselling qualifications, they also employ coordinators and program officers to design and deliver support initiatives, as well as research and policy officers. 

Examples of criminology job titles: case manager (generalist or specialised, for example youth or drug and alcohol clients often have interactions with the criminal justice system), support officer, family/youth/homelessness support or program officer, justice conference coordinator, engagement worker.

Learn more about community services and advocacy, opens in a new window. 

Courts and tribunals do not just employ legal staff. There are multiple roles available for graduates interested in working within these settings, such as case managers, court support, social work positions, referral and assessment officers. 

Examples of criminology job titles: case manager, assessment and referral officer, court support, domestic violence/family support officer/manager, tipstaff coordinator (these manage law students/permanent staff working as associates for the Judge), administration officers in the registry, and many more roles. Intake is usually through iWork for NSW or court websites. 

Learn more about courts and tribunals, opens in a new window. 

The clerkship process begins with an online application. This usually involves uploading your CV and cover letter. You may also be required to answer a few written questions and/or complete a personality/psychometric test. A number of firms have adopted the ‘Rare Contextual Recruitment System’ (CRS) which factors in demographic, geographic and educational data to get a fuller profile of applicants. There is also the option to set out any hardship or mitigating factors which you feel are relevant to your application.

Most firms report that they read all applications that come through and only then proceed with the elimination process. Even if your WAM is below a Distinction, students averaging a solid Credit are encouraged to apply. Generally, large firms will prioritise students with a WAM of 72/73+. 

Have your CV ready to go. It should be a maximum of two pages, contain no spelling mistakes and have consistent formatting. Provide referees (do not state ‘available on request’).

Each cover letter must be tailored to the firm in question and show some original research of that firm. Original research does not mean simply rehashing something on the firm’s website. Ideally, you'll showcase your research via an interesting example of work the firm has undertaken or is involved in, or is insightful of their work culture. The cover letter should also reflect your interest in joining their firm and undertaking the type of work one would expect in a commercial law firm.

Tip: Commercial law is broader than mergers and acquisitions, and includes areas such as intellectual property, litigation, banking and finance and construction.

Each application will take from between one to three hours – it is a lengthy and quite arduous process. Strategise your time to prepare applications.  

Increase your odds by applying to as many firms as possible, including researching firms that are not participating in the Legal Vitae program, such as large medium-size firms. Students report applying on average to 10–12 firms for clerkships. Check out the list of firms on MyLaw Resources, Clerkship, opens in a new window. 

There are three broad categories of questions: 

• Those about you: talk about your achievements, activities listed on your CV and why you're interested in this career and their firm particularly.
• Behavioural questions: think of the qualities you might be expected to demonstrate as a lawyer, then think of the times in your life when you were challenged to demonstrate these attributes.
• Technical/commercial questions: employers will often try to ascertain your commerciality, your understanding of the legal industry and business generally. 

See MyLaw Student Resources, opens in a new window for more interview tips, including sample behavioural questions and about psychometric testing.