First Nations Social Justice Graduate Program

The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre (The Shopfront) and the Justice and Equity Centre (JEC), formerly the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) have partnered to provide this unique opportunity to lay the foundations for your legal career.

The Shopfront provides free legal advice and assistance for homeless and disadvantaged young people aged 25 years and younger. It is a pro bono project of Herbert Smith Freehills, in partnership with Mission Australia and The Salvation Army.

The Justice and Equity Centre is a leading social justice law and policy centre. We build a fairer, stronger society by helping to change laws, policies and practices that cause injustice and inequality.

Structured 2-year program for law graduates
Financial support and paid Practical Legal Training
Sydney, CBD location, with some flexible/remote work supported
Identified position for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
The program runs for a total of two years, in two phases. It can be tailored to suit the requirements of the different GDLP course structures on offer. In phase one you will be supported to achieve admission as a lawyer in NSW, while working part time in a paralegal role at The Shopfront and the JEC. In phase two you will be employed full time as a solicitor, providing individual casework assistance to clients of The Shopfront (primarily focused on criminal law), and then working at the JEC on strategic litigation and policy responses to issues arising in that casework.

Suitable candidates will be able to demonstrate your commitment to social and criminal justice and have completed, or are completing in 2024/early 2025, an LLB or JD law degree in Australia, with capacity to:

Manage competing demands and deliver high-quality results on time
Undertake detailed legal research with meticulous writing skills
Achieve outcomes individually and within a team
Engage in a way that promotes fairness and equity
This position is intended as a special measure for the purposes of s 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and the subject of an exemption granted under s 126 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

If you’d like to gain hands on legal experience, professional mentoring and training to provide the foundations for a successful career in the law, please send your resume along with a covering letter and responses to the selection criteria included in the position description (see ‘knowledge, skills and experience’).

Inquiries should be directed to jobs@jec.org.au

Details

Qualifications

Suitable candidates will be able to demonstrate your commitment to social and criminal justice and have completed, or are completing in 2024/early 2025, an LLB or JD law degree in Australia.

Essential Criteria

- Manage competing demands and deliver high-quality results on time
- Undertake detailed legal research with meticulous writing skills
- Achieve outcomes individually and within a team
- Engage in a way that promotes fairness and equity

Other Information

- Structured 2-year program for law graduates
- Financial support and paid Practical Legal Training
- Sydney, CBD location, with some flexible/remote work supported
- Identified position for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

How to Apply

Please send your application to jobs@jec.org.au, including First Nations Social Justice Graduate Program in the subject field. Please note the application close date is 15 November 2024, and anticipated commencement for this role is early June 2025.

Justice and Equity Centre

The Shopfront provides free legal advice and assistance for homeless and disadvantaged young people aged 25 years and younger. It is a pro bono project of Herbert Smith Freehills, in partnership with Mission Australia and The Salvation Army.

The Justice and Equity Centre is a leading social justice law and policy centre. We build a fairer, stronger society by helping to change laws, policies and practices that cause injustice and inequality.