Law clerk and graduate development program
Learn from our experts
If you are a university student seeking law clerk jobs in Brisbane, our clerkship and graduate development program is designed for you. We give you the experience, resources and networks you need to launch your legal career.
Our support is tailored to you, with fully paid PLT courses, access to team members of all levels, exposure to diverse practice areas, study leave and legal mentors who want to see you succeed.
Career progression is a journey we take together, and it means different things to different people. Your career development expectations are important to us, so we hold regular formal and informal development meetings to keep your progress on track.
Our team-based culture allows each individual to contribute to the success of our clients and the success of our firm. Let’s strive for excellence together.
Subscribe to the CGW Student Newsletter to stay in the loop on student events, clerkships, and more.
Graduate Development Program (long clerkship)
Law clerk jobs in Brisbane
Our Graduate Development Program provides law students with the opportunity to gain practical experience and mentorship during the final two years of their degree.
Working a minimum of two days per week from our Brisbane office, you will spend the first 6 to 12 months as a research law clerk followed by rotations through the firm’s practice workgroups for approximately 12 months.
Learn more about this unique career opportunity below.
Key Dates: 2024 intake
Applications open: 5 August 2024
Applications close: 25 August 2024
First interviews: 26 August to 13 September 2024
Second interviews: 9 September to 27 September 2024
Offers: October 2024
Commencement: 18 November 2024
Meet Rocco Russo, the lead partner of our award-winning litigation and dispute resolution team
In this video, Rocco explains what makes our Graduate Development Program unique. He discusses the program’s structure, the qualities we look for in candidates, and how our program will set you up for success.
Watch this video for application tips!
Research law clerk: 6 to 12 months
- Exposed to a variety of work across our key practice areas
- Direct mentorship with award-winning lawyers of every level
- Attend professional development day
- Generative AI training and tools
- Preferences for workgroup rotations
- Generous team benefits
Workgroup law clerk: 12 months
- Ongoing coaching and mentoring
- Opportunity to gain graduate position
- Standard is to complete three rotations
- Gain skills in an area of your interest
- Subject to ongoing high performance, we provide our law clerks with a graduate position and ultimately a lawyer role. Learn more about our Graduate Program below
Hear what our clerks have to say
Meet Graduate Development Program alumni – Sophia, Michael, Hannah Sacha, Ellie and Tom – as they recount their stories of launching their careers with us. They provide insights into their career highlights, the workplace culture at CGW, and the advantages of our graduate development program and how it has effectively equipped them for real-world legal practice.
Graduate Program
Subject to ongoing high performance, we provide our law clerks with a graduate position and ultimately a lawyer role. Although most of our graduate roles are
filled internally, we occasionally hire externally based on business needs.
Keep an eye on our Careers Centre for opportunities.
Subscribe to the CGW Student Newsletter to stay in the loop on student events, clerkships, and more.
Graduate: 6 to 12 months
- Complete PLT supported by CGW
- Direct access to team members of all levels
- Hands-on experience while working in your area of law
Lawyer
- Admission to the legal industry
- Opportunities to progress in existing team or in other practice groups
Work experience
For those interested in pursuing a legal career, we recognise the importance of gaining first-hand experience. That’s why we offer a number of work experience opportunities to high school and university students each year during mid-semester and Christmas breaks.
High school students interested in undertaking work experience at Cooper Grace Ward should apply through the Careers Centre or have their school make contact with our People and Culture team.
University students interested in undertaking work experience at Cooper Grace Ward should apply via the Careers Centre.
Due to the high demand for work experience and the limited number of placements available, unfortunately we cannot assist all applicants.
