Clayton Utz
2025 First Nations Traineeship (Legal) (Mar 2025)
Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane
Opportunity expired
Opportunity details
- Apprenticeship or Traineeship
- AUD 36,000 - 40,000 / Year
- The above salary banding is a guide and will differ depending on work arrangements.
- 1-8 vacancies
- Apply by 9 Jan 2025
- Start date 9 Mar 2025 - 23 Mar 2025
First Nations Traineeship – let your journey begin with us.
As an employer in the legal services industry, we believe that diversity is as important as the work we do. We recognise that First Nations people are underrepresented in the legal industry, and we are dedicated to changing that. We want to create a workplace where aspiring First Nations lawyers feel a true sense of belonging and are fully supported in their ambitions.
We’ve been working to build cultural capability across our firm, and while it’s an ongoing journey, we are committed to creating a culturally safe environment. Our goal is to remove barriers and meet the cultural needs of our people, ensuring that everyone feels respected and valued.
Our First Nations Traineeship program is designed for law students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. It’s an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience at one of Australia’s leading law firms and take your first steps toward a successful legal career.
Supporting your journey
We know how important it is to feel supported as you start your career. That’s why we’ve put together a dedicated team to guide you:
- A First Nations Adviser who understands your background and will help you navigate your career with confidence.
- A dedicated mentor who will offer guidance and support, help you feel confident as you and set and reach your personal and professional goals.
- A support person who will be with you every step of the way, ensuring you feel comfortable, encouraged, and empowered.
What can you expect?
This traineeship provides a structured and valuable development experience, offering you the chance to:
- Gain real-world experience working within Australia’s top legal practice groups.
- Contribute to important client matters, including opportunities to work on Pro Bono cases.
- Access to training and development programs, to support your growth.
- Contribute to community initiatives through our Community Connect program, where you’ll engage in meaningful volunteering experiences.
- A chance to grow your network through social events, sports, and a range of fun and exciting activities.
- Receive valuable insights and tips to help you confidently take the next steps toward becoming a successful graduate lawyer, including guidance on the clerkship and graduate application process
Is the First Nations Traineeship for you?
We encourage you to apply if you:
- Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and are accepted as such by your community.
- Are enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor at an Australian university.
- Are available to work 1–3 days per week (flexible hours, and you will be paid for your work).
- Have a positive attitude, a genuine curiosity, and a willingness to learn.
We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different, especially when it comes to family, study, and financial commitments. That’s why we’re committed to being flexible and working with you to ensure you get the most out of your time with us.
Ready to take the next step?
If you're passionate about pursuing a legal career and want to be part of a supportive, culturally rich environment, we encourage you to apply for the First Nations Traineeship at Clayton Utz. We look forward to welcoming you and supporting you in achieving your ambitions.
Consultant Contact Details
Alicia Pasquini.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Do you require any support or reasonable adjustments to complete your application? If so, please contact us via email.
Hiring criteria
- No experience required
- Australian Citizen +more
- Law, Legal Studies & Justice +more
- Bachelor or higher
Reviews
I have been working on some big matters and have generally been working on tasks for those matters. Additionally I have been picking up work around that and have gotten experience in making chronologies, summarising medical documents and drafting an advice or brief to counsel.
This is extremely team dependent. Personally I am tasked with the negotiation, drafting and project management of various 'deals' - i.e. the legal aspects of an acquisition or financing which requires contracts to be entered into. At the more junior level (i.e. when you just start) you are typically expected to do banal checks of documents until you prove you have the attention to detail required to: (i) learn what the documents do; and (ii) therefore apply the risk tolerance of your respective client to the words in those documents. This is like learning a new language.
As a graduate I am given the opportunity to get involved in lots of really interesting, high profile matters. I am treated like a lawyer in the team and I am given meaningful work like drafting key legal documents, attending team meetings to contribute to the strategy and conduct of matters, managing the preparation of briefs to counsel, reviewing documents and conducting legal research.
About the employer
Clayton Utz
3.8
1,000 - 50,000 employees
Law
Proudly Australian. Globally connected. As one of Australia's leading law firms, Clayton Utz gives confident, innovative and incisive legal advice.
Pros and cons of working at Clayton Utz
Pros
The best there is. You know where you stand with people here. If you come into the firm eager to learn and apply yourself to the work, everyone will invest in you.
As a graduate, I am given the opportunity to get involved in lots of really interesting, high-profile matters.
The partners really care about the people in their team and I have felt supported and accepted throughout my experience at the firm.
The support system at the firm helps with this quite a lot. People are able to maintain a great work-life balance as long as they communicate well.
Diversity is a strong factor at Clayton Utz. It is embraced throughout the firm, and everyone is welcoming of differing backgrounds and opinions.
Cons
The hours can be (very) long during busy periods and there can be limited flexibility during those times.
Remuneration could be better.
They could improve the office snacks.
The work demands.
They provide so much training, almost too much.