The Regional Solicitor Program is open to law graduates who have completed or are about to start a professional legal education and training course that satisfies the practical training requirements for admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
The program offers recent legal practice graduates the opportunity to work as a solicitor in a regional law firm.
The program is facilitated by Legal Aid Queensland and participating private law firms located throughout regional Queensland.
The employment contract will be between you, the regional law firm and Legal Aid Queensland for a period of two years. After this period it will be up to both you and your firm whether you stay on for a further period.
If accepted into the program Legal Aid Queensland will pay your practical legal training course fee and 75 percent of your wage. The other 25 percent will be met by your placement regional law firm.
Your primary focus will be on handling your firm's legal aid cases under the supervision and guidance of your placement firm. Your work will span a broad cross-section of law from family, civil to criminal.
Expect variety. You could find yourself working on cases that cover issues such as domestic violence, child protection, criminal compensation, human rights and anti-discrimination, residence, stalking and grievous bodily harm. One week you could be instructing solicitor in a case before the District Court and the next acting as duty lawyer at the local Magistrate's Court.
This is an opportunity to create a solid foundation for your legal career, which encompasses extensive and invaluable experience.