Start your legal career with purpose at Legal Aid Queensland. As a graduate lawyer, you’ll be part of a team dedicated to making a real difference in people’s lives. Join an organisation that values, respects, and supports its people, while offering rewarding opportunities to grow and develop.
You'll get to do varied work that will give you the right mix of skills and experience to build a successful legal career, while supporting some of our most disadvantaged Queenslanders.
What you will do
As a graduate lawyer you’ll be mentored by senior lawyers and work in a supportive environment. You’ll quickly find yourself taking responsibility for various tasks, from attending client meetings and taking notes, to preparing briefs and applications, and supporting more experienced practitioners during their court appearances.
Before long you’ll learn to take charge of a file load, deal directly with clients, and appear in court on their behalf.
Why choose this program?
Through our graduate lawyer program you’ll:
- do interesting work and gain invaluable experience
- work with great people and learn from some of the best in the sector
- make a genuine difference while having a work-life balance.
If you want to have work-life balance, career development, a supportive community, and to help some really vulnerable clients, this is the place to be.
Program structure
Our graduate lawyer program usually commences early in the year, with graduates appointed on a 2-year contract.
Graduates nominate their preferred area of law as either criminal or family law.
On starting the program, they complete a 6-month period in the complementary practice area of law to enhance skills and then spend the remaining 18 months of the program in their preferred area of law.
Who is eligible?
Graduates are eligible to apply if they:
- have successfully completed their law degree
- have completed or expect to complete PLT and be admitted soon after the program commences
- have not practised as a legal practitioner for more than 6 months at the time of application.
If you’re still studying, you might consider one of our entry level administrative positions that doesn’t require a formal qualification.
First Nations opportunities
We aim to offer half the graduate positions to applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
How to apply
Applications for our 2026 graduate lawyer program have now closed.
Our current vacancies, including graduate roles are advertised on SmartJobs. You can also follow us on social media for updates.
Benefits that matter
Work/life balance
We offer a 36.25-hour full time work week, time in lieu and accrued time off options, flexible work hours, and work from home options.
Regional & remote incentives
Staff in our regional offices receive an extra annual leave, locality allowances, relocation assistance and paid travel for professional development.
Leave entitlements
Staff have access to a wide variety of leave entitlements - generous family leave, an extra paid leave day over the Christmas closure period, domestic and family violence leave, option to purchase extra leave, study leave & career break options.
Financial benefits
Enjoy 17.5% annual leave loading, practising certificates costs reimbursed, novated leasing options, study assistance and generous salary packaging of up to $30,000 FBT which reduces your taxable income and increases your take home pay.
Diversity and inclusion
Enjoy a diverse and inclusive workplace committed to cultural integrity and psychological safety where all employees feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities; with an active First Nations network, an Inclusion and Diversity network, access to culturally capable external providers, and an annual First Nations conference.
Health and wellbeing
Staff are supported with free confidential counselling sessions for themselves and their immediate family, the fitness passport program, free flu and other vaccinations, corporate health insurance rates and more.
Rewards and recognition
We celebrate our staff with annual awards including length of service awards, team awards, individual service awards and CEO awards plus corporate events throughout the year.
Professional development
Maintain your skills with in-house CPD events, annual conferences, mentoring and leadership programs, annual conferences for legal and support staff and access to the in-house research library.