The ODPP Summer Clerkship is an 8 week program offering law students in their final years an opportunity to gain practical legal experience within a legal environment.
Each year placements are offered to high achieving law students with good interpersonal skills, relevant work experience and excellent references.
What you will learn
Students will have the opportunity to:
- experience a criminal legal practice organisation
- improve skills in drafting and undertaking legal research
- observe file and case management practices
- assist in client matters (under supervision)
- review and prepare summaries of court proceedings.
Successful students will receive a salary as a third year adult, ASO1 for the duration of the program – currently $50,454 per annum.
Upcoming opportunities
The Summer Clerkship Program usually starts in late November to mid-December.
Dates for the 2022-23 program are announced in the second-half of the year.
| Summer clerkship dates | Closing date for applications |
|---|---|
21 November 2022 to 27 January 2023 (Unpaid leave / Christmas break 19 to 30 December 2022) | CLOSED |
The clerkships finish in time for students to attend the first practical legal training program offered by the Law Society.
Only students in their final years of tertiary law studies are eligible for this program.
Applications
You must write a short summary outlining why you are interested in completing your placement with the ODPP as well as your academic and personal achievements and relevant legal work experience.
Your application should showcase your interpersonal skills, ambition and passion for the law.
You must also attach:
- an up-to-date curriculum vitae
- copy of your academic transcript
- contact details of two current referees.
When applying for a clerkship, students must be aware that they will be exposed either directly or indirectly to confidential, sensitive, confronting or distressing material including photographs, written descriptions and other evidentiary material.