2022 Graduate Program - Legal Practice (Australian Government Solicitor) Stream

Legal Practice Stream (Australian Government Solicitor)

Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) is the Australian Government's central legal practice and part of the Attorney-General's Department. AGS helps Commonwealth clients to manage legal issues, navigate new challenges and find solutions which deliver the best outcomes for Australia. We are a self-funded legal practice and compete for our work.

Who we are

AGS IS UNIQUE. AGS is dedicated to the national interest and is a trusted adviser to 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.

AGS IS DIVERSE. With offices in every capital city and a team of 650 staff, including 370 lawyers, we work in more than 40 different areas of law related to government.

Work with the top legal minds

Working with AGS provides the perfect pathway to a dynamic career in Australian law.

The graduate program is a 12-month development opportunity with rotations across our 3 practice areas where you will get the opportunity to work with many of Australia's best government lawyers, including our 5 in-house Queen's Counsel.

You will get the opportunity to work with an in-house legal team within a Commonwealth agency and also with a community legal centre/charitable organisation as part of our pro bono program. You will be mentored and will have access to a variety of learning and development activities, including the opportunity to complete your practical legal training to be admitted to practice.

AGS delivers services through three national legal practices:

• Commercial (corporate and commercial law)
• Dispute Resolution (dispute resolution and litigation)
• Office of General Counsel (OGC) (government and administrative law).

The practices work together on complex matters that require expertise across several areas of law:

• Public law (Administrative law; FOI, privacy and public interest disclosure; human rights and discrimination; debt recovery)
• Legislative development
• Statutory interpretation
• Corporate and commercial law (general contract law; procurement and tendering; governance and probity; financial services and consumer credit; insurance; IP; media; ICT; insolvency and bankruptcy)
• Property and environment (general property; transactional property; construction and infrastructure; environment)
• Litigation specialisation, including large-scale and sensitive litigation
• Taxation
• Competition and consumer law
• Workplace, industrial relations and compensation (Employment and IR; workers' compensation; WH&S; compensation, damages and PI)
• Tied work (Constitutional law; Cabinet work; national security; Public International law).

How we make a meaningful contribution to the wider community

AGS understands that while everyone needs help from time-to-time, not everyone can afford quality legal representation. We have an extensive pro bono program, and won the 2019 Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Pro Bono Award.

Our graduates take part in our pro bono program, which has helped many clients both nationally and internationally.

Helping you be the best lawyer you can be

We are a supportive organisation that embraces diversity in all forms. We understand that work is only part of your life and while our workplace can be demanding at times, we also provide access to a range of flexible working options, generous leave entitlements and wellbeing benefits to support your diverse needs throughout your career.

To be eligible for the Legal Practice stream you must:

• have completed a minimum of a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor and be eligible to enrol in a practical legal training course that leads to admission in Australia, be eligible to be admitted in Australia, or be admitted to practice in Australia.
• have completed your qualifications within the four year period between December 2017 to December 2021.
• have achieved a distinction average or above at the time of applying, for the relevant qualifications (law degree) completed in the last four years.

More About Us:

The Attorney-General's Department (AGD) delivers programs and policies to maintain and improve Australia's law and justice framework, and to facilitate jobs growth through policies that promote fair, productive, flexible and safe workplaces. Through the Australian Government Solicitor, we provide legal services to the Commonwealth, including legal advice and representation. We are the central policy and coordinating element of the Attorney-General's Portfolio, structured into five groups:

• Australian Government Solicitor
• Enabling Services
• Integrity and International
• Industrial Relations
• Legal Services and Families

We value different views, experiences and backgrounds and want to reflect the diversity of the Australian community in our workforce. We recognise that diversity will help develop our staff, our culture, and our business in fulfilling our mission of achieving a just and secure society.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for engaged and highly capable graduates who:

• have strong academic results
• think critically and are curious
• respond positively to change and feedback, demonstrating flexibility and resilience
• build relationships with clients, stakeholders and peers
• research to find solutions to challenges and apply creativity
• bring and share diverse perspectives
• apply sound judgment
• communicate and engage professionally with people.

In return, you will be supported to become a well-rounded policy and program officer, practising economist or a legal professional with sound skills, knowledge and experience in an area of law.

Our graduate program offers the chance to experience a range of challenging and exciting opportunities to help develop your career in one of our streams:

• policy and program
• legal practice (Australian Government Solicitor)
• economics
• industrial relations legal

We also run Affirmative Measures bulk recruitment processes for the following streams:

• Affirmative Measures Indigenous:
  • Policy and Program
  • Legal Practice (Australian Government Solicitor)
• Affirmative Measures Disability:
  • Policy and Program