Other pathways
Explore internships, paralegal pathways, placements and other ways into legal practice.
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2 open now · 1 closing within 14 days
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10 programs
- Applications open:
- 12 October 2026
- Applications close:
- 8 November 2026
The Mallesons Insight Program is for pre-penultimate year law students. Students graduating in 2028 apply for the 2027 program. It…
More about this program
The Mallesons Insight Program is for pre-penultimate year law students. Students graduating in 2028 apply for the 2027 program. It begins with a virtual panel in March 2027, followed by in-person sessions in each location. It runs in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Applications opened on 12 October 2026 and close on 8 November 2026. Each office has a separate application link.
- Eligibility
- Pre-penultimate year students. Students graduating in 2028 apply for the 2027 program.
- Runs
- 2027 Insight Program; virtual panel in March 2027
- Recorded cycle
- 2026/27
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Applications open:
- 16 October 2026
- Applications close:
- 30 April 2027
The Hall & Wilcox First Nations Pathway Program is for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander law students who are Australian…
More about this program
The Hall & Wilcox First Nations Pathway Program is for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander law students who are Australian permanent residents. No prior experience is needed. The program offers two paid internships each year. Each internship runs for four weeks, starting in November or June. The firm has not published the rate of pay. Places are offered nationally. Applications opened on 16 October 2026 and close on 30 April 2027 for four-week internships in November 2026 or June 2027.
- Eligibility
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander law students who are Australian permanent residents. No prior experience needed.
- Runs
- Four-week internships November 2026 or June 2027
- Pay
- Paid. Amount not published
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Applications open:
- March 2027 (published)
- Applications close:
- April 2027 (estimated)
Allens Dive In is an introductory program for pre-penultimate law students. It is open to students in the second or…
More about this program
Allens Dive In is an introductory program for pre-penultimate law students. It is open to students in the second or third year of an undergraduate law degree, or the first year of a JD. It runs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Applications open in March for a program held in May. The next program is in May 2027. Allens has not published exact dates for 2027.
- Eligibility
- Pre-penultimate law students: second or third year undergraduate law, or first year JD.
- Runs
- Dive In held May 2027
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Applications open:
- April 2027 (published)
- Applications close:
- April–May 2027 (estimated)
The Clayton Utz Career Launch Program is an unpaid learning and networking program. It is for pre-penultimate LLB or JD…
More about this program
The Clayton Utz Career Launch Program is an unpaid learning and networking program. It is for pre-penultimate LLB or JD students at an Australian university. It runs in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. The program starts with kick-off events around May and ends with a wrap-up around October or November. The 2026 round took applications from 16 March to 10 April 2026. Applications for 2027 are expected to open in April 2027.
- Eligibility
- Pre-penultimate LLB or JD students at an Australian university.
- Runs
- 2027 Career Launch program
- Pay
- Unpaid
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Applications open:
- October 2026 (published)
- Applications close:
- November 2026 (estimated)
The Clayton Utz First Nations Traineeship is a six-month paid traineeship. It is for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students…
More about this program
The Clayton Utz First Nations Traineeship is a six-month paid traineeship. It is for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students who are accepted by their community. Applicants must be in the pre-penultimate year of a relevant degree at an Australian university. Trainees must be available one to three days a week. It runs in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Applications for 2027 open in October 2026. Exact dates and pay are not published.
- Eligibility
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students accepted by their community, in the pre-penultimate year of a relevant degree at an Australian university, available one to three days a week.
- Runs
- 2027 First Nations traineeship
- Pay
- Paid. Amount not published
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Applications open:
- February 2027 (estimated)
- Applications close:
- March 2027 (estimated)
Gilbert + Tobin runs a First Nations Legal Cadetship Program for First Nations law students. Cadets receive employment and mentoring…
More about this program
Gilbert + Tobin runs a First Nations Legal Cadetship Program for First Nations law students. Cadets receive employment and mentoring alongside their studies. The firm says the program has supported more than 64 students since 2011. The length of the cadetship has not been published. Application dates are not published on the firm's website, and no cadetship is currently listed on its job portal. The program is listed for Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, though the firm has not confirmed the offices.
- Eligibility
- First Nations law students.
- Runs
- Potential 2027 cadetship vacancy; recurring annual intake not established
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Applications open:
- Applications accepted throughout the year
- Applications close:
- Application dates not yet announced
Jones Day runs a paralegal program in its Perth and Brisbane offices for law students. The firm offers the paralegal…
More about this program
Jones Day runs a paralegal program in its Perth and Brisbane offices for law students. The firm offers the paralegal role in place of a clerkship. Recruitment is rolling and advertised through local universities. Applicants apply by email to PerthRecruiting@jonesday.com or Brisbanerecruiting@jonesday.com. Participants work as paralegals while they study. The firm does not publish the length of the role or application dates.
- Eligibility
- Law students.
- Runs
- Available during 2027, subject to vacancies or placement capacity
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Applications open:
- September 2027 (estimated)
- Applications close:
- October 2027 (estimated)
The Mills Oakley First Nations Internship Program is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students. The internship runs for…
More about this program
The Mills Oakley First Nations Internship Program is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students. The internship runs for three weeks. The firm has not published program dates or a recruitment timetable. It has not stated which offices host interns, so the program is listed nationally. Participants can join the firm's Graduate Program after completing their degree. The firm has not published whether the internship is paid.
- Eligibility
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students
- Runs
- Potential summer 2027/28 First Nations internship; intake not announced
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Applications open:
- July–August 2027 (estimated)
- Applications close:
- August 2027 (estimated)
The State Solicitor's Office in Western Australia runs a Professional Assistant Program. It combines study and work for high achieving…
More about this program
The State Solicitor's Office in Western Australia runs a Professional Assistant Program. It combines study and work for high achieving law students entering their final year. Participants hold fixed term, full time Level 3 roles over two years. Recruitment usually takes place in July or August, with starts in late January or early February. The office has not published exact dates. The office also runs vacation clerkships and a law graduate program.
- Eligibility
- High-achieving law students entering their final year of study.
- Runs
- Only if 2027 is a recruiting year; possible January/February 2028 start
- Pay
- Paid. Level 3 (figure not published)
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
Wotton + Kearney Pathways Program
Paralegal pathway · SA, QLD, ACT, TAS, VIC, WA, NSW
- Applications open:
- September 2026 (published)
- Applications close:
- Application dates not yet announced
Wotton + Kearney runs a Pathways Program in place of a clerkship program. Participants start on 8 February 2027 as…
More about this program
Wotton + Kearney runs a Pathways Program in place of a clerkship program. Participants start on 8 February 2027 as part time paralegals while finishing their law degree. They move into the graduate program, with practical legal training, from 8 February 2028. Applicants must be in their final year of law in 2027 and available two to three full days a week. They must be Australian citizens or permanent residents. Applications opened in September, and the firm says it accepts applications at any time.
- Eligibility
- Australian citizen or permanent resident. Final year of law in 2027 and on track to graduate that year. Priestley 11 complete by early 2028. Available two to three full days a week. Not in another paralegal, clerkship or vacation program.
- Runs
- 2027 Pathways paralegal start 8 February 2027; graduate transition 8 February 2028
Checked 29 October 2026 · Source