Internships and job opportunities

The ALS (Aboriginal Legal Service) Wollongong Criminal Law team is looking for volunteers to join our team. This is an opportunity for students to gain practical experience in criminal law by assisting with preparing cases, research and attending Court.

We are seeking expressions of interest from law students who can commit to at least one day per week for a minimum 6 month period. If you are interested, please send an expression of interest including your availability and a copy of your resume to ALS.Wollongong@alsnswact.org.au.

The Cameron O’Brien Memorial Bursary was established by the St George & Sutherland Law Society in the memory of Cameron O’Brien, a Commerce/Law Student from the Sutherland Shire in his 4th year of study at UOW when he died tragically in 2012.

Applications are invited from students who are:

• Residents of the St George/Sutherland area or former residents who attended primary or high school in the St George/Sutherland area.
• Enrolled at the University of Wollongong in their 4th year of study in a combined LLB degree program or the LLB program.

This year the committee will select two successful applicants for the following two bursaries:
1.            Cameron O’Brien Memorial Bursary of $3,000
2.            Highly Commended Bursary of $1,000

The successful applicants will be determined on academic merit and personal circumstances. The successful recipient of the Cameron O’Brien Memorial bursary will also be eligible for up to 10 days work experience at law firms in the St George Sutherland area, together with invitations to Regional Law Society dinner meetings and other functions.

APPLICATIONS close on 8 May 2024

Download Application details (PDF)

The UOW Law Community Outreach and Service Learning (COSL) program matches students with community organisations and other groups needing assistance, reflecting UOW Law’s commitment to community engagement and access to justice. Students gain valuable experience and a useful addition to their CV’s and professional network while making a worthwhile contribution to the local community. UOW’s key partners in COSL are Volunteering Illawarra, the Illawarra Legal Centre and the Wollongong office of NSW Legal Aid.

All volunteer opportunities will be posted below.

Grifoni Legal are a boutique firm based in Jannali with a busy practice in commercial litigation, debt recovery, bankruptcy, corporate insolvency and dispute resolution. They are looking to take on a Junior Lawyer and/or Paralegal for a full-time role or part-time role, with an immediate start.

About Grifoni Legal

The role/s involve: 

• Invoice and retainer management
• Matter creation and maintenance using Smokeball online legal practice management software
• Drafting correspondence and liaising with clients and solicitors of other parties
• Drafting, collating and filing of court documents
• Preparation of briefs to Counsel
• Interviewing witnesses, taking witness statements and drafting affidavits
• Court attendance
• Legal research

Students in their final two years of study, students who graduate this year or recent graduates with an interest in practising in the above areas of law are invited to apply.

Applicants should send a short expression of interest letter, CV and enrolment record to: Mr Anthony Grifoni – anthony@grifonilegal.com.au

Brander Smith McKnight is a well established, generalist law firm based in Sutherland. They are happy to accommodate a student on an unpaid internship for the purpose of LLB 3397/397. The firm is happy to negotiate attendance around study commitments but remember that to qualify for LLB 3397/397, attendance must be at least 2 days a week, within the one LIP session and must be approved by the Law School before you commence as dates cannot be counted retrospectively.

Interested students should contact danasmith@bsmlaw.com.au and send a CV, expression of interest and enrolment record.

If approved by the firm, please then contact law-internships@uow.edu.au and advise of the arrangement to start the approval process.

Coutts Lawyers and Conveyancers are an Award-Winning firm with offices in Narellan, Camden, Campbelltown, Parramatta, Hunter Valley, Tahmoor and Wollongong. This Autumn session, they are able to offer a small number of students unpaid internship opportunities around their studies to gain valuable experience and for the purpose of LLB 397/3397 Legal Internship.

The firm is happy to negotiate attendance around study commitments but remember that to qualify for LLB 397/3397, attendance must be at least 2 days/week and the arrangement must be approved by the Law School  before you commence as days cannot be counted retrospectively. If approved by Coutts, contact  law-internships@uow.edu.au  and advise of the arrangement to start the approval process.

Interested students should send an expression of interest/cover letter, CV and copy of enrolment record to Karena Nicholls : karena@couttslegal.com.au

Haille Paine are a long-established firm in Bowral with a busy practice primarily in property, estates and estate planning matters.

The firm is happy to take on a student for work experience around the student’s study programs. This experience would meet the requirements of LLB 3397 Legal Internship (provided it is at least 2 days/week and the experience is registered/approved in advance) and could also be utilized for PLT purposes.

Interested students should send CV and EOI to Mr David Allen: david@haillepaine.com.au 

Kells is seeking a law student to join its commercial law team, based in our Wollongong office on a 2 to 3 day per week basis.

If you have excellent communication skills, a positive attitude and good work ethic, we’d love to hear from you!  Your key responsibilities will include:

• Providing research and administrative support to a small team of lawyers
• Preparing legal documents and correspondence
• Communicating with clients

Legal experience (particularly in commercial law and/or conveyancing) will be looked on favourably, but is not essential.

Please send through your resume to Jessica Tate at recruitment@kells.com.au quoting position number “WOL-154”. 

This is an excellent opportunity for a law graduate to join the commercial and civil litigation team at Brander Smith McKnight Lawyers. With offices in Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong and Sutherland, the position is based in head office in Sutherland. The position offers an extremely interesting and wide range of matters with clients ranging from small business to major corporations with complex legal issues. The company will provide exceptional mentoring, learning and career progression in a friendly, cooperative team environment with modern office facilities and secure onsite parking.

The successful applicant must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to work well in a team and autonomously.

Please apply in writing with resume and academic record to danasmith@bsmlaw.com.au. 

Are you intending to enrol in LLB397/3397/3396 Legal Internship or LLB3304/LLB3904 Judges, Associates and the District Court and undertaking your internships or placement in a rural, regional or remote area in 2023 or 2024? If so, you may be eligible for the Rural, Regional and Remote Professional Experience Support Grant to help pay some of the costs associated with your internship/placement experience such as accommodation, food, transport.

There are 8 x $2000 grants available for the 4 week internship for eligible LLB 397/3397/3396 students and 4 x $1000 grants available for the 2 week placement for eligible LLB3304/LLB3904 students. Students are required to provide a statement addressing the Grant Selection Criteria, a copy of their academic record, and brief cover letter and resume.

For more information for LLB 397/3397/3396 students please contact law-internships@uow.edu.au

For LLB3304/LLB3904 students please contact your Subject Coordinator, Professor Julia Quilter via julia_quilter@uow.edu.au 

Stacks Goudkamp is a leading personal injury law firm in the Sydney CBD.

They are seeking a paralegal to provide support to Karina Goodall, Practice Group Leader, on a casual basis in our Sydney CBD office. 

The position would be suitable for a first or second year law student looking to gain experience in a law firm who is available at least three days per week. 

The primary tasks of the position will include: 

• Preparing briefs
• Summarising medical reports
• Summarising expert liability reports
• Reviewing documents produced under subpoena
• Preparing statements
• Drafting schedules of damages
• Creating documents in our document management system
• General office duties

Full training will be provided however basic computer skills are essential. This is a paid position. 

If you are interested in this position, please email your resume with covering letter to:

Karina Goodall
Practice Group Leader | Director
karina@stacksgoudkamp.com.au

The Hon Justice Nixon is currently accepting applications for the position of Tipstaff at the Supreme Court of New South Wales. A Tipstaff fulfils the same role as an Associate in the Federal Court and the High Court. Their duties include legal research, proof reading and assisting with the preparation of judgments and generally assisting the Judge in the discharge of his Honour’s duties both in and out of Court. The appointment is for one year from mid-January, 2025 to late December, 2025.

Applicants should have strong academic results. As his Honour sits in the Equity Division, the position would be of particular interest to excellent students or graduates who have an interest in and aptitude for the broad range of matters which fall within the equity jurisdiction, including commercial law, property law and succession. It is desirable that applicants possess the following skills: 

• Ability to conduct legal research, including familiarity with legal databases, and to present the results of that research;
• Ability to write clearly;
• Attention to the detail required for the editing of judgments;
• Interpersonal skills, including judgment, tact, discretion and diplomacy, as Tipstaves may be in regular contact with members of the legal profession and other persons engaged or interested in the business of the Court, often on sensitive issues;
• Ability to plan and organise work and use time effectively; and
• Ability to work independently and, if necessary, under time pressures. 

Applications close at 11:59pm on 28 April, 2024. Applicants should send their application to his Honour’s Associate, Giselle Laszok at chambers.nixonj@courts.nsw.gov.au comprising:

• A cover letter addressed to Justice Nixon;
• A curriculum vitae;
• A work sample (this could be a legal essay or a problem question completed during your studies);
• An academic transcript; and
• The names and contact details of up to two referees. 

Are you interested in helping vulnerable migrants, refugees and asylum seekers? Are you curious about what it is like to work in a community legal centre?

IARC is a Community Legal Centre that works with vulnerable migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. We provide free legal advice and assistance in matters such as protection visas, family visas and visa cancellation. IARC is also involved in policy and law reform and community development, education and advocacy.

Working as a volunteer legal assistant at IARC is an opportunity to build your skills in assisting vulnerable clients, working with interpreters, communicating with the public and file maintenance. Your primary role will be to provide administrative and paralegal assistance to IARC solicitors. You will be responsible for responding to initial enquiries from clients, scheduling appointments, providing legal information and referrals and other administrative tasks. Depending on your experience and interest, you may also become involved in assisting with research, project work and working with clients.

IARC’s office is in Sydney’s CBD. All volunteer legal assistants must commit to working one day per week (normal office hours 9am to 5 pm) for at least six months. Training and supervision is provided.

Selection criteria

We are looking for people who: 

1. have completed at least two years of a law degree or combined law degree; 
2. have previous volunteer experience and/or administrative/paralegal experience;
3. have good oral and written communication skills;
4. are willing to help where needed, take initiative, problem solve, and are able to juggle competing demands.

This is an unpaid position. Please include your preferred day, when you are available to start, and let us know if you speak a second language.

How to apply 

Apply by forwarding your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria above to Sabina Wynn, Director, at iarcvolunteer@iarc.asn.au or call 02 82340709 to discuss.

There is no closing date for applications and applications will be assessed as they come in. Applicants may be asked to attend an interview.

If you do not address the Selection Criteria, we cannot consider your application. Due to the high volume of applications, only those selected for interviews will be contacted about their application.

UOW's Careers & Employability (formerly Careers Central) has a jobboard. Employers advertise their jobs direct to UOW students. The team there also collates relevant jobs from across the many job seeking sites. In addition to the School of Law’s job & work experience opportunities, check out the latest available positions at UOW Job Board.

Students can also career tools as CareerHub Plus which is an online library specifically designed to improve student, graduate and alumni employability. Explore an extensive range of interactive tools, videos, eLearning and written resources and find a job or work experience.

For more information visit Career resources.