Legal Stream Graduate Program (Jan 2025)

Being a graduate in the Workplace Relations Legal Division presented opportunities to work on several interesting, important, and diverse projects. The division is stacked with excellent lawyers and mentors who advanced my development as a young lawyer while supporting me to maintain a healthy work-life balance. I highly recommend applying for this role! – Tom, Workplace Relations Legal Graduate (2022)

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) offer a specialist graduate career pathway for talented and motivated law graduates. Applications are now open and we want to hear from you.

Our legal graduates will: 

• have the opportunity to work on a broad range of legal work in an Australian Government department and gain exposure to Australian Government policies and programs;
• have access to a specific legal blended learning program offering a combination of structured training and on the job experience.

The department supports its legal graduates, who are not already admitted, to complete a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and gain admission as a Legal Practitioner. This may also include financial assistance. 

Who we are Looking For

We offer career opportunities for highly talented and motivated law graduates. We are looking for graduates who have:

• completed a Bachelor of Laws from an Australian university or will have completed a Bachelor of Laws from an Australian university by the commencement of the graduate program.  
• a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) or who are eligible and committed to completing the qualification and gaining admission as a Legal Practitioner. The department supports its legal graduates to complete their GDLP and gain admission if they have not already done so.
• a strong academic record.

Additionally, graduates should:

• have excellent legal and analytical capabilities
• have outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• have personal drive and enthusiasm
• show initiative and flexibility
• possess leadership qualities.

Additionally, all graduates in the Graduate Program will undertake a formal learning and development program. will undertake a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration. This additional tertiary qualification offers all graduates a strong foundational understanding of working in the APS and in a policy agency.

What our legal graduates do

The department’s in-house legal practice offers a wide range of services. Our lawyers provide legal advice across the range of the department’s responsibilities (including in relation to the development of legislation and the conduct of litigation). 

Legal graduates would have the opportunity to rotate through various legal teams in the Legal and Assurance Division and the Workplace Relations Legal Division. Legal graduates are involved in the full range of work undertaken by our legal teams. Areas include government and administrative law, corporate and commercial law, intellectual property, litigation (including some advocacy work), social security, information law, workplace relations law, workers’ compensation and work health and safety law, and legislation development (including drafting of legislative instruments).

The Legal Division values mentorship and has a very supportive workplace culture. This was one of the reasons why I was attracted to this role. Rotating through different teams is a great opportunity for a young lawyer to be exposed to varied work and discover the type of legal work that interests them. Additionally, the Division also encourages young lawyers to take on various learning and development opportunities, externally and within the department. This positive environment cultivates skilled and forward-thinking young government lawyers. – Shira, Legal Graduate, Legal and Assurance Division (2022)

The DEWR Graduate program offers:

• relocation assistance to move to Canberra
• permanent ongoing employment in the Australian Public Service,
• career progression from APS Level 3.1 to APS Level 5.1 on successful completion of the program
• support from a buddy/alumni
• an Employee Assistance Program for wellbeing and career support,
• dedicated buddy and supervisor
• a dedicated Graduate Sponsor passionate about seeing you thrive

Positions are primarily located in Canberra.

Who can pre-register/apply?

The program starts in February each year.

To be eligible to pre-register/apply, applicants must:

• Be an Australian citizen or will be by 1 October 2024
• Must have completed your university degree within the last five years or be in your final year of study and have completed all your course requirements before commencing our program
• Be prepared to obtain and maintain baseline security clearance

If you secure a place in our 2024 Graduate Program, you will need to provide evidence of your Australian citizenship and be willing to undergo a National Police Check and health checks as required. The department will guide you through the process of obtaining your baseline security clearance as part of your onboarding process.

How to pre-register/apply

We work collaboratively with other APS agencies to recruit talented individuals through other specialty graduate and entry-level programs. These speciality graduate programs are co-ordinated centrally by AGGP.

Visit the APS Jobs Career Pathways website to find out more or apply. Make sure you nominate the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations as your preferred agency for your chance to join us! 

Our work makes a difference in the lives of all Australians, and we want you to be part of it.