Law Graduate Scheme

The Federation commenced its Community Legal Centre Law Graduate Scheme in 2010. The program provides an opportunity for law graduates to start their legal career in Victorian community legal centres.

The Scheme sponsors fees for the successful candidate’s practical legal training, and then offers a 12 month contract with three placements in Victorian CLCs, one of which is a rural and regional CLC (with housing assistance).  Toward the end of the 12 month period, the Federation works with the graduate to identify ongoing employment opportunities within CLCs.

You can read about life as a CLC Law Graduate lawyer in our Community Law Newsletter.

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The CLC Law Graduate Scheme is funded through grants from the Legal Services Board and Victoria Legal Aid, and supported by the pro-bono services of Blake Dawson.

 

How to apply

Applications for the 2014 CLC Law Graduate Program will open in mid-late June 2013.  Please keep an eye out on this webpage for further details closer to the time.

For enquiries, please contact administration@fclc.org.au

 

Why work in a CLC?

Community legal centres provide opportunities to be involved in a range of justice work including legal advice and representation, community legal education and policy and law reform work aimed at developing a fairer legal system that better responds to the needs of the disadvantaged.

As well as a broad range of stimulating and challenging work, community legal centre positions can offer flexible work hours, regular professional development opportunities and generous charity tax benefits through salary packaging (essentially making part of your salary tax free).

Work in community legal centres requires dedication, innovation, resourcefulness, a commitment to excellence, great communication skills and a passion for social justice.

 

Lawyers have an obligation to those who need them most
Professor Abbe Smith

“A law degree is a remarkable thing, a powerful thing,” visiting US Fulbright Senior Scholar Professor Abbe Smith told a recent University of Melbourne Law School awards night audience. “It may feel to some that, especially in the Western world, there are too many lawyers. Right-wing radio commentators in the USA often complain about this. I have a different perspective. I believe there are too few lawyers – too few where they are needed most.”

 

Letter to a law student interested in social justice
William P. Quigley

“'The first thing I lost in law school was the reason that I came.' What a simple and powerful indictment of legal education and of our legal profession. It is also a caution to those of us who want to practice social justice lawyering. Many come to law school because they want in some way to help the elderly, children, people with disabilities, undernourished people around the world, victims of genocide, or victims of racism, economic injustice, religious persecution or gender discrimination.

Unfortunately, the experience of law school and the legal profession often dilute the commitment to social justice lawyering."

 

 

On Being a Happy, Healthy and Ethical Member of an Unhappy, Unhealthy and Unethical Profession
Patrick J. Schlitz

"Dear Law Student:
I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the profession that you are about to enter is one of the most unhappy and unhealthy on the face of the earth—and, in the view of many, one of the most unethical. The good news is that you can join this profession and still be happy, healthy, and ethical. I am writing to tell you how."