Outside private practice
In any given year, over half of the law graduates around the country will enter private practice when they graduate. Yet demand for law graduates is also very strong in government departments, as well as in large publicly-listed companies, not-for-profit organisations, and many others. These organisations offer intending solicitors a different type of environment that might be more suitable than a firm, depending on the individual. Here is a run-down of the options for law graduates outside private practice.
Public sector law
Corporate sector
Community law
Other options in the legal sphere
Courts and commissions
Academia
Public sector law
The public sector offers many different but equally interesting roles for lawyers. There are departments in which the law — whether enforcing it or monitoring and drafting legislation — is the core business.
These include the Offices of Public Prosecutions and Attorney General’s departments in each state and territory. But lawyers are needed in just about any government department to advise on administrative law matters, workplace and human resources matters, and to provide advice to the executive or department heads.
Corporate sector
After a few years in a large firm, many graduates opt for a move ‘in-house’ to a large company. Just about every large organisation you can think of will have a legal department. the in-house counsel adds value to the corporation by gaining expertise in the corporation's area of business and providing legal advice accordingly. The counsel also assists in the corporation's management of risk. Many corporate lawyers work for organisations such as banks, insurance companies and investment firms.
Community law
Community legal centres are non-profit, independent organisations that provide free legal services to their local communities. There are nearly 200 community legal centres around Australia. Some provide specialist services but many deal with the full gamut of legal matters that can arise for their clients. Community legal centres deal mainly with family law problems, credit and debt, criminal charges, consumer issues and tenancy and housing. Community lawyers provide clients with various services including advice, referral, and negotiation and representation when required.
Other options in the legal sphere
Some graduates do not want to practise as solicitors at all. Many want a more radical alternative than just the different scenery offered by employment in the public or non-profit sectors. Luckily, they will not need to look far for an alternative career path.
Courts and commissions
There are many positions that adapt all the knowledge and skills learned during a law degree but in different kinds of settings. Of course, there is that other band of legal practitioners, barristers, who work independently. Then there are officers of the court, including judge’s associates, who
perform various duties in support of the judiciary at all levels. On the other hand, legal researchers work for law reform commissions or for the many other associations and bodies that represent the legal profession.
Academia
For many students, law has as much appeal as an intellectual exercise as a profession. It is for this reason that The Good Universities Guide 2009 edition figures show that nearly a quarter of university law graduates go on to further study following their degrees. Some complete one extra year (honours) to give themselves an edge in the competitive job market, but others choose to continue with a masters and even a PhD on the track to a career in teaching and research.