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MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY

DIVERSE CAREERS GUIDE

2026

Table of Contents 4

Foreward

Non-Traditional Pathways

Diverse Career Pathways

Diverse Legal Career FAQs

College of Law

Aboriginal Legal Service

Australian Government‌ Sector

Refugee Advice and Casework Service

The Law Society of New South Wales

SW Police Force‌ Accelerated Prosecutor Recruit Program (APRP)

Tipstaff/Judges Associate

Justice Action

Proudly Sponsored by

Welcome Welcome to the MULS Diverse Careers Guide. A law degree opens far more doors than most students realise. For some, the path leads to commercial practice. For others, it leads to community legal centres, government, policy, the courts, or other careers that sit outside the traditional pathway. Every pathway is different and discovering the right one begins with being exposed to the range of possibilities. As part of my term as President, I have endeavoured to allow MULS to create more opportunities for students to explore these diverse pathways and gain a better understanding of where a law degree

Aditi Pal

can take them. A big part of this is creating opportunities to go

President

beyond simply hearing about different careers and instead engage directly with the people and organisations working in them. This year, MULS is proud to introduce our inaugural Public Interest Careers Fair, bringing together more than six organisations working across public interest and other diverse areas of the legal profession. The Public Interest Careers Fair provides an opportunity to meet organisations, ask questions and hear directly about the work they do and the pathways available within their fields. Alongside the Careers Fair, we have developed this Diverse Careers Guide to provide an introduction to the work, the opportunities and the different ways you might begin building a career through these diverse pathways. I would like to thank Kaylen La Brooy and Hayden Lee for their hard work and assistance in developing these initiatives. We hope this guide provides a useful starting point for exploring some of the many pathways available to you and wish you all the best for the your career journey ahead. Kind regards, Aditi

Welcome No one path defines a successful legal career. ‌Behind the image of‌ courtroom advocacy lies a profession as diverse as the people it welcomes;‌ spanning corporate boardrooms, desks drafting government policy, human‌ rights organisations, in-house legal teams, academia, and countless roles‌ that have never set foot in a courtroom or commercial firm. Your law‌ degree is a passport to many destinations, and this guide exists to help you‌ see just how far you can go. My name is Kaylen La Brooy, and I'm currently in my third year of a Bachelor‌ of Laws/Psychology. Putting this guide together has been a reminder of just‌ how much the legal profession has changed and will continue to change.‌

Kaylen La Brooy

Its a reminder of how much space there is for a legal career to‌

Vice-President

accomodate different strengths, interests, and ways of thinking.

(Publications) If there's one piece of advice I'd offer to fellow law students, it's this: don't let the loudest, most visible career paths conceal those less seen. Those that may suit you better. It's easy to feel like commercial law or litigation are the ‘best’ options for you purely because they're the most discussed. However, some of the most fulfilling careers are built by those who combined their legal training with another passion, whether it be psychology, technology, policy, advocacy or more, to carve out something entirely their own. Be curious, talk to people working in areas you know nothing about, and allow yourself to explore before you commit. We hope this guide encourages you to do exactly that.

Beyond the clerkship, there are countless pathways available, whether that be in government and the public sector, community legal centres, not-for-profit organisations, or in-house counsel. The opportunities to use your law degree are vast, and the Macquarie University Law Society is committed to showcasing the many different avenues available to you. We hope that throughout this guide, you will discover that there is no single path to a fulfilling legal career. While no career journey can ever be set in stone, we encourage students to immerse themselves in the various organisations featured in this guide and explore the meaningful work they undertake. By learning about the diverse opportunities available,

Hayden Lee Secretary

we hope you will feel inspired to consider the many ways in which you can use your law degree to make a meaningful contribution.

NON TRADITIONAL PATHWAYS In Australia, many law students will begin with a clerkship or a graduate program at a law firm. Eventually, graduate lawyers may progress towards partnership or senior legal counsel positions. However, the legal profession extends far beyond this. Non-traditional pathways are increasingly gaining traction as the profession diversifies. These non-traditional pathways may include working in for non-for-profits, governmental jobs, legal aid roles or in entrepreneurship. Additionally, some may enter the profession later in life through postgraduate degrees, bringing diverse experiences from other professions. These non-traditional paths reflect an ever evolving legal landscape, where transferrable skills developed in a law degree are highly valued. Ultimately, while traditional pathways are a well established pathway beyond your study, non-traditional careers in Australia are expanding, offering greater career mobility, innovation, and alignment with individual interests and values.

Why choose a non-traditional pathway?

Many people choose non-traditional pathways as it provides greater alignment with personal interests or values that may not be constrained to your ‘traditional’ graduate role. For others, work-life balance is another motivator. Traditional legal roles often demand long hours and higher stress. Non-traditional paths may offer different workloads or more flexible arrangements that may appeal to those prioritising different lifestyles.

What are some sectors where legal expertise is in demand outside of traditional practice?

Community Legal Centres & Legal Aid

Non-for-profit & Social Justice Organisations

In-House/ Corporate Counsel

Government & Public Sector

Academia & Research

Entrepreneurship & Legal Tech

Judicial Associateships

And more!

DIVERSE CAREER PATHWAYS A law degree opens a diverse range of pathways. Below is a snapshot of where a legal qualification could take you. No single path is more "legitimate" than another: each practice area comes with its own culture, pace, and reward!

In-House/ Corporate Counsel

Government & Public Sector

Community Legal Centres & Legal Aid

Legal support internal to a business, often integrated with supply chain, compliance, or strategy teams. Entry points may include internships with in-house teams, graduate rotation programs or lateral transfers from private practice.

Policy development, legislative drafting, regulatory work, and prosecution. Entry points may include graduate programs (state and federal), internships and direct applications to departments or agencies.

Frontline legal assistance for those who can't usually access it: family, criminal, tenancy, and civil law. Entry points may include volunteering as a paralegal or student, PLT placements or direct graduate roles.

Judicial Associateships

Non-for-profit & Social Justice Organisaitons

Working directly for a judge through research, drafting, and assisting with court procedure. Entry points may include applications typically made in the final year of study or shortly after admission.

Legal work for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Diverse Women in Law, Pride in Law, and similar bodies combining legal skill with advocacy. Entry points may include internships, volunteer work, membership and mentoring programs.

Academia & Research Teaching, legal research, and policy scholarship. Entry points may include honours/PhD academic experiece, research assistant roles or tutoring.

Entrepreneurship & Legal Tech Building businesses or tools that intersect with law often in emerging fields like AI governance, fintech, or environmental compliance. Entry into this sector may depend on your range of legal knowledge and an unmet market need.

And More! Many students may not consider the diverse range of options beyond their law degree, given they may not be the ones showcased most heavily on campus. You could take your legal career in many different directions!

Community Legal Centres

Academia

Judicial Associateships

Government

Judicial Associateships

Tech Law

In-House

FAQ’S (Diverse Legal Careers) Do I need a clerkship to have a good legal career? Clerkships are one entry point among many; well-established one, but not required. Plenty of successful legal careers are built through paralegal roles, community legal centre placements, government graduate programs, or direct applications after PLT. What matters more than the entry point is finding work that keeps you engaged early. This is what will carry you through the years that follow.

How do I find opportunities outside of private practice? Begin with organisations relevant to your area of interest. Community legal centres, Aboriginal Legal Service, government departments, or in-house legal teams may hire students and graduates, without advertising the same way as firms that offer structured clerkship programs. Following the relevant professional body for an area you're curious about is often the best way to see your options.

What if I don't know what area of law I want to practice yet? That's completely okay!, It's not something you're expected to know immediately. Volunteering, internships, and shadowing are low commitment options to test out an area before committing to a pathway. Speaking with those already in a particular field (even if briefly by email) is often more helpful than reading an online summary of a role/area of law.

Are there downsides to a non-traditional path? Sometimes people may feel isolated if most of their peers are heading towards a similar clerkship/graduate role goal that thy may not wish to pursue. A non-traditional pathway may also offer its own style of mentorship than what is generally provided in a formal graduate program. Building your own support network through student societies, mentoring programs, or affinity groups are great way to connect yourself with like minded people.

What skills matter most, regardless of path? Across every sector, many qualities come up again and again: adaptability, a genuine interest in the people or issues you're working on, and a willingness to continue learning once formal study ends. Grades are important for getting a foot in the door, however the way that you handle ambiguity and setbacks may often matter more from there.

The following pages showcase some of our supporters and the organisations that offer diverse pathways for your legal career. MULS thanks its supporters who have helped contribute to this guide!

FINDING PURPOSE

By Ruth Beran, National Career Strategist

For many law graduates making your next career move may be difficult not because of a lack of choice, but because you have too many choices. A law degree opens the door to a wide range of career options and that is even before you consider the opportunities outside of traditional law. So how do you decide what to do when you don’t have a clue?

FIRST, TALK TO PEOPLE Talk to your family and friends and ask them what they think you are good at and what legal specialties and career options they would suggest for you. But don’t stop there. They may know you well but they may also have a vested interest in you following a certain career path.

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS Next, write a list of areas of law or careers that you are considering. Then research those areas by speaking to people in the field. Conduct informational interviews where you connect with professionals, have a real or virtual coffee, and ask them about their careers. Ask them questions like: • How did they get to where they are? • What do they love about their job? What don’t they like about their job? • What skills do they use regularly in their role? • Would they recommend that you work in their area of expertise: why or why not? • What advice would they give to someone who wasn’t sure that this was the career they wanted to follow?

LOOK OVER YOUR TRANSCRIPT One way to determine which area of law you may want to practice in is to reflect over your studies at the College of Law and University and ask yourself which subjects you enjoyed or got good grades in. These can be law or other subjects, then ask: • What skills were you using? • Why did you enjoy or do well in these subjects? • Would you like to specialise in this area? Why? Why not?

WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS? Try looking at your bookshelf, browsing your audio books or podcast library and considering your non-fiction areas of interest. What topics are you naturally drawn to? The same is true of your hobbies. What do you like doing in your spare time? Matching your interests with your career could be a great way to find a career that you love.

BROWSE JOBS ONLINE Another way to determine what career options interest you is to browse a job site like SEEK.com to try and find your dream job. Starting with legal roles, browse through the jobs from all over the country - don’t worry about location focus more on the opportunities. Look at the job titles and role descriptions. Don’t just focus on entry level roles, go all the way to the top. Look at the job specification:

• Do the tasks in that role appeal to you? If not, keep looking.

MEANING

• Would you like to work in this role in the future, even if it is many years down the track? You can work out how to get there later!

The next step to consider is:

Remember to save the jobs that are of interest, you can use them later for career planning. Also consider the organisation and ask yourself if you’d like to work there. For the ones that appeal, ask if there are common themes. • Are you attracted to top-tier, mid-tier or boutique law firms, government, in-house roles or New Law firms? • What is it about the organisation that attracts you? It may be as simple as the location or something much less tangible, like work/life balance. If you don’t find anything that appeals in the legal section, go broader. For example, starting with the classifications like Community Services & Development or Education & Training, ask yourself:

• What gives me meaning? • What types of projects bring into focus the parts of myself that I like the most? Earning money may be one type of meaning, but your answers may be more complex, for example: helping people, or pushing the boundaries of knowledge, or advocating for a certain cause. Meaning is a very personal concept and is particular to you.

INTERSECTION OF FLOW AND MEANING Take a look at the two lists you have made, one list of your flow activities and the other of what gives you meaning and see where they overlap. This is the sweet spot, the next step to finding a career that excites you at that intersection of flow and meaning.

• Does this category interest me? • Which categories definitely don’t appeal? Then delve deeper into actual roles and ask again:

Flow

• What appeals about the job or the organisation.

Meaning

Try this process a few times as your dream job may not be advertised on the day you are looking. Once you have found some common themes, try creating your future dream job and then start planning a way to get yourself there. Think about what skills and experience you may need, and how you can attain them. How will your next role get you closer to your dream job?

FLOW One way to determine what you enjoy in your career is to keep a flow journal. Flow is when you are “in the zone”, where time just seems to disappear, you lose yourself in your work or other activities and suddenly the day is gone. Keep a task diary for a couple of weeks (both at work and outside of work) and keep note of when you are in flow. • What tasks were you doing? • Did it surprise you that you were in flow or not at a particular time? Another way to find your flow activities is to ask yourself: • When have I been compelled to learn? • What topics have I researched in my own time? • When have I worked on a project that I felt swept away and taken on more tasks to become more deeply involved? These are your flow activities.

collaw.edu.au

VOLUNTEER Volunteering is a great way to “try before you buy” and determine if a career path interests you. It can also give you valuable skills and experience for your CV which you can use to get a job in that industry later.

STUDY Doing further study also allows you to explore potential career options. The College of Law offers a range of study options if you would like to continue your legal education. You can also do short courses or microcredentials at many institutions, so you can dip your toe in the water and then decide if you want to learn more.

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS Ultimately, doing is the best way to learn. Some of the activities above may lead you to an instant “ahah” moment, if not you may need to do some more practical exploring. Working out your future career path is often best done by simply going out there and trying it out! Remember that careers are no longer linear and taking a diversion to try something new could end up being the best career decision you ever make.

Make a difference. Work at the ALS.

The Aboriginal Legal Service provides vital legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across NSW and the ACT.

Do you want to: Advocate for social justice? Drive meaningful change? Kick-start your legal career with purpose?

www.alsnswact.org.au/jobs

Join the team and enjoy: Competitive salary Generous salary packaging options to minimise your tax liability Flexible work arrangements Career growth within the organisation

Apply today:

alsnswact.org.au/jobs

AGS is the Australian Government’s central legal service provider and part of the Attorney-General’s Department.

Our practice areas

As a recognised centre of excellence and expertise in areas of law of importance to the Commonwealth, AGS provides expert legal services to Commonwealth agencies across areas of law that are critical to government. Our lawyers work on some of the most significant, complex, systemic and precedential legal matters affecting the Australian Government, navigating emerging challenges and delivering solutions that achieve the best outcomes for Australia.

The Office of General Counsel provides specialist expertise in constitutional and public law, statutory interpretation and the development, implementation and administration of legislation. In addition to providing constitutional advice, the Office of General Counsel represents the Commonwealth in constitutional litigation and coordinates the conduct of other matters involving constitutional or national security issues.

AGS is unique. AGS is dedicated to the national interest and is a trusted advisor to the Australian Government.

AGS is innovative. Drawing on an exceptional depth of experience and expertise, we assist the Australian Government in the development and implementation of solutions to legal issues that have national importance.

Office of General Counsel

Dispute Resolution The Dispute Resolution practice area provides specialist expertise in resolving and managing disputes across a broad range of legal matters. It supports agencies in enforcing the law, protecting sensitive information from disclosure, defending government decisions and managing claims made against the Commonwealth. It is regularly involved in the largest and most sensitive matters affecting the Australian Government.

Commercial

AGS is diverse. With offices in every Australian capital city and more than 800 staff, including over 570 lawyers, AGS advises on more than 40 different areas of law relevant to government.

The Commercial practice area provides specialist advice to help implement many of the Australian Government’s largest and most complex projects and transactions. Its work spans nationally significant energy, infrastructure, technology and intellectual property projects, as well as complex procurement, contracting and probity matters that support Australian Government priorities and national interests.

Early career pathways There are multiple pathways for commencing a career at AGS including: • the AGS Graduate Program • as a law clerk • through junior lawyer roles (APS 4-6).

AGS Graduate Program The AGS Graduate Program offers an exceptional opportunity to launch your career in government law while experiencing the breadth of AGS’s practice. As a graduate, you will rotate across each of AGS’s 3 practice areas and undertake a placement with a Commonwealth agency client, as well as a short pro bono placement with a community legal centre. The Graduate Program provides diverse, hands-on experience and assists early career lawyers to develop strong legal and professional skills, through mentoring, structured support and broad professional development opportunities. On successful completion, you will have the opportunity to nominate your preferred practice area for permanent placement, making the program an outstanding pathway to a rewarding career in Australian government law.

Law clerk positions AGS offers law clerk opportunities to 2nd, 3rd and 4th year law students across all 3 of our practice areas. Working up to 3 days per week around university commitments, law clerks contribute to meaningful legal work, from document review, preparing court documents and briefs to counsel, legal research and general clerical tasks, to supporting major government initiatives.

Junior lawyer roles Our junior lawyer roles (APS 4-6) across AGS’s 3 practice areas are open to admitted lawyers looking to develop a career in government law. Working alongside experienced practitioners, you will contribute to a broad range of government matters while developing your legal and professional skills. With guidance from experienced mentors, you’ll develop your expertise, take on increasing responsibility as your experience grows and make a meaningful contribution to government outcomes.

How to apply You can apply for the AGS Graduate Program through the Legal Practice sub-stream of the Australian Government Graduate Program’s Legal Stream at content.apsjobs.gov.au/career-pathways/graduateprograms/legal-stream. Applications for the Graduate Program typically open in March for commencement in February of the following year. You can register to receive notifications through the website. Law clerk and junior lawyer opportunities are advertised at www.ags.gov.au/careers/vacancies. You can create a Job Alert Profile and set up alerts to be notified when relevant roles become available. Junior lawyer vacancies are also promoted on APS Jobs, Seek and LinkedIn.

www.ags.gov.au

Our Mission We are a team of human rights lawyers on a mission to achieve justice and dignity for and with refugees through dedicated legal services and advocacy.

Who We Are

What We Do Applying for protection in Australia is a complex and arduous process. RACS lawyers provide trauma-informed legal support for people of all nationalities, religions and gender identities, and we advocate for fairer and more humane asylum policies.

The Refugee Advice and Casework Service is a nonprofit providing essential legal support and advocacy for people who have fled persecution to find certainty and safety in Australia.

Find us @ racsaustralia

Join us RACS wouldn’t exist without volunteers. Whether you are responding to first-time callers or delivering good news to years-long clients, volunteers provide invaluable support to our legal team. In return, you receive practical on-the-ground legal training, which equips you with the skills and knowledge to excel not just at RACS, but in your future career.

racsaustralia racsaustralia racs.org.au

Macquarie Alumni at RACS Ahmad, Juris Doctor 2018 It’s been incredible to work at RACS where the organisation’s values align so well with my own. I started as a volunteer while still at university, and was drawn to the work, the culture and the opportunity to assist people who are vulnerable and need our help. It is now 9 years later and I am still at RACS, now in a leadership position, and hoping that I continue to bring those same values and culture to volunteers today and inspire them in the same way I was inspired.

RACS Supervising Senior Solicitor

Sophie, LLB/B. Security Studies 2025 I’ve always been passionate about how the law can be used to help people in humanitarian crises. Volunteering at RACS, you’re trusted with real legal work, interacting with clients and writing submissions, which is both invaluable for my professional skills and personally rewarding. I’ve been so grateful for the opportunity to work within such a supportive environment and will carry these skills with me as I enter legal practice.

Practical Legal Training (PLT) at RACS

Alex, LLB/B. Social Science 2026 As someone new to the migration field, I found RACS to be a supportive and welcoming environment that eased my transition. The team that I was placed within at RACS supported my growth and development over the period and allowed me to refine my legal skills. I valued the chance to work closely with RACS lawyers and gain practical experience assisting individuals and families from diverse backgrounds. I also appreciated the opportunity to engage with both the legal and policy aspects of migration law.

Practical Legal Training (PLT) at RACS

Start your journey with us By joining the Law Society of NSW as a student member, you become part of a community of over 37, 500 members whose wellbeing and success are our priorities. Our purpose is to help you grow into the best lawyer you can be by providing you with professional development and engagement opportunities to support you as you transition from student to professional.

As a student member, you can enjoy 5

Our online Law Student Portal featuring upcoming events, programs and a wealth of helpful information and resources to give you a head start in your career

Exclusive and early access to a range of professional, networking, and social events including:

•

The Law Students Careers Summit

•

Pathways in Law Series

•

Graduate and Clerkship Recruitment Programs

•

Ready for Practice Skills Series

Access to our range of career, study and wellbeing resources and publications including: •

Student Connect e-newsletter

•

LSJ Online

•

Thriving in Law Guides

Wellbeing support and information including our 24/7 confidential phone line and Staying Well in the Law webinar series

Mentoring opportunities through our award-winning student and solicitor

mentoring programs

How to apply If you are currently studying or have recently completed a course in law, sign up for complimentary student membership today. Scan here or visit lawsociety.com.au/student-membership

Accelerated Prosecutor Recruit Program (APRP) From classroom to courtroom –fast-track your advocacy career

Email: APRP@police.nsw.gov.au

Accelerated Prosecutor Recruit Program (APRP) The APRP offers law graduates and admitted lawyers a direct pathway into the NSW Police Force as future Police Prosecutors, who handle 95% of all criminal cases in NSW. Why join? • Develop exceptional advocacy skills. • Progress your legal career with strong training and advancement. • Weekday shifts and generous leave entitlements — 40hr work weeks and 6+ weeks/year in leave • Highest pay scale in the NSW Police Force (from 1 July 2026: Prosecutor Year 1 — $115,472). • Join a proud alumni network of lawyers, barristers, magistrates, and government professionals. How to apply Email your CV, academic transcript, and law degree to APRP@police.nsw.gov.au. Attend an interview with a panel of police prosecutors (if shortlisted). Apply to join the NSWPF through the recruitment portal, nominating APRP as your pathway. Your pathway • Complete NSW Police Academy training. • Work one year in general duties as a probationary constable. • Transfer to Police Prosecutions Command to begin the Prosecutor Education Program. Who can apply? • Law graduates or admitted lawyers. • Students who have completed all Priestley 11 subjects and have no more than two electives remaining may apply with a letter from their Law School Dean confirming eligibility. Interested? We accept applications year-round. For all applications and enquiries: APRP@police.nsw.gov.au. Or visit https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/recruitment/careers_and_salary/accelerated_prosecutor_recruit_pr ogram

TIPSTAFF/ASSOCIATE

2026

WORKING AT THE COURTS AS A TIPSTAFF/ASSOCIATE Q WHAT DOES THE ROLE OF A TIPSTAFF/ASSOCIATE LOOK LIKE? Each Tipstaff/Associate role is unique. It is wholly dependent on which Judge you work for. Generally, Judges in the District Court, Federal Court, Federal Circuit and Family Court, and the High Court have an Associate, whereas Judges in the Supreme Court, Land and Environment Court and Industrial Relations Commission have a Tipstaff. Although the title is different, the roles are similar. Your main responsibility is to assist your Judge in chambers and in the courtroom. In chambers, this often involves conducting legal research, proofreading judgments, preparing materials for hearings, liaising with the parties, and anything else requested by your Judge. In the courtroom, you are responsible for maintaining the efficient running of proceedings. This can include setting up the Judge’s bench, swearing in witnesses, handing documents from the Bar table to the Bench, operating the AVL, and taking notes for your Judge.

Text Simeon Levine, Tipstaff to the Hon. Justice Fagan, Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW (2025-26) Text

What inspired you to become a Tipstaff/Associate as opposed to a traditional graduate role or something similar?

What do you wish you knew before becoming a Tipstaff/Associate?

Going for an Associateship or Tipstaff position presented an

Having never worked within a courtroom setting, I wish

opportunity for me to get a front-row seat to what litigation

I was prepared for the daily leaving curve in

is actually like once it reaches the courtroom. While working

understanding how things work in proceedings and the

at a law firm can often reveal how proceedings begin and

role of everyone involved. Each Judge’s caseload can

are prepared for trial, working at the courts exposes

be uniquely different, but their staff are generally

graduates to the trial process and how matters run once

expected to be able to adapt to the various types of

proceedings are on foot. Associates and Tipstaves observe

matters they preside over.

barristers’ interactions with Judges and gain an insight into the otherwise opaque inner workings of judicial chambers,

It takes some time to adjust to court procedure, and

all of which provides valuable and transferable knowledge

learning through gradual exposure quickly becomes a

for those who return to law firms or go on to practise at the

staple, though it wouldn’t hurt to look over your CCP

Bar.

notes for a recap.

Michelle Rademeyer, Associate to the Hon. Justice

Sami Shamsi, Tipstaff to the Hon. Justice Schmidt,

Halley, Judge of the Federal Court of Australia (2025-

Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW (2025-

26)

present)

PAGE 25

TIPSTAFF/ASSOCIATE

What has surprised you about becoming a Tipstaff/Associate?

Once you start working in chambers the first thing you become aware of is the ceremony, decorum and hierarchy in the workplace. You see it in everything from the wording of your employment contract, the architecture of your workplace and the way that Judges are addressed. It can make for a slightly intimidating experience with the prospect of mistakes particularly daunting. This can be made particularly worse if your Judge has been newly appointed and is still in the process of figuring out what processes work for them and what doesn't. Over time you'll get more comfortable, efficient and get along with your Judge - particularly if there are other staff in the Court that you can go to for advice often and frequently. Marcelo González Danke, Associate and Tipstaff to the Hon. Peter Kite and the Hon. Geoffrey Bellew AM, Acting Judges of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (2025-present)

How is the transition from studying to working as a Tipstaff/Associate?

I found the most significant shift in terms of the transition from studying to working in the Courts is the way your work is structured. Being an Associate/Tipstaff requires you to be

2026

-tency. Chambers work means treating every citation, pinpoint, date, party name and quotation as something to be verified rather than assumed. Temperament is also vital. In choosing their next Tipstaff/Associate, Judges are choosing someone they'll spend most of every working day with for a year, so professional judgment and a certain ease in dealing with people count for a lot more than students assume. The position involves discretion, organisation, and composure. You hold confidential information constantly and you're the Judge's buffer with the profession. Who you are matters equally as much as what you can do. As for building these at law school, mooting and legal writing competitions are the obvious path. However, less glamorous options; paralegal or clerking work, gives procedural literacy and exposure to real clients, real issues and real consequences if an error occurs. Bryton Johnson, Associate to the Hon. Justice Altobelli AM, Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (2024-26)

How do I apply for a Tipstaff/Associate position?

prepared and proactive to both the needs of the Court and the needs of the Judge that you work under. Juggling these

Each Court, and often each Judge, runs their

two things will be a never-ending process and will require

application process differently. Sometimes roles will be

adept listening and knowledge of how your particular Court

advertised publicly, but in some Courts, such as the

and Judge works best. This will come with time and

Supreme Court, you often have to inquire directly with

experience.

chambers via email. The best advice is to reach out to someone (LinkedIn is a great starting point!) who has

Tendai Gezimati, Associate to His Honour Judge

worked in the Court you are interested in and ask them

Fitzsimmons SC, Judge of the District Court of NSW

how to go about applying. These positions are often

(2026-present)

offered at least 12-18 months in advance, so it’s

What skills are necessary for those wishing to become a Tipstaff/Associate? How would you recommend developing these skills as a law student?

Attention to detail is the skill most often named and least often understood by applicants. It is a habit of consis-

PAGE 26

important to plan ahead so you don’t miss out!

Justice Action Internship Opportunity About Us Justice Action is a community based social justice non-profit organisation. It works nationally and internationally in the areas of mental health, criminal justice and human rights. It defends human rights in the hardest places where organisations who are funded don't enter. Justice Action funds itself independently through the social enterprise Breakout Media Communications. Justice Action is also part of the Community Justice Coalition, engaging with decision-makers at the highest level to target abuses of authority against the most vulnerable individuals and establish policy changes to reduce recidivism in Australia.

Internships Interns at Justice Action have the opportunity to work on many projects and increase their awareness of issues in the criminal justice system by representing people in custody. Interns are supervised by a coordinator, undertaking work across different projects depending on the current needs of the organisation and any recent developments occurring in the corrections field. These projects span from policy work to lobbying for prisoner rights, contributing to media releases, website maintenance, distribution of digital and written correspondence, and working on high profile criminal cases. This is an exciting opportunity for students to develop their research, writing, and communication skills by being engaged in: Liaison with politicians, other NGOs, government departments and the media nationally and internationally. Preparation of submissions and reports to Parliament, conferences, and other stakeholders. Advocacy of prison reform initiatives in areas such as domestic violence, youth justice, education, technology in prison, and mental health. Preparation of tribunal and court cases. And much more. We are looking for students with an interest in: Criminology and criminal justice Social Science Psychology Communication and journalism Law and legal studies Politics and policy work You do not need to be studying in any of these fields to be considered. We are interested in people who are reliable, work well independently and in a team, and are motivated to make changes in the community for the better.

Chart your course. Prepared by: Kaylen La Brooy‌ Editor: Oliver Bunting With special thanks to: Aditi Pal Hayden Lee