So you love mooting and advocacy, and can’t wait to practice law. What happens when you graduate from Murdoch?

In order to practice as a lawyer in Western Australia you need to complete your Articles of Clerkship. An article is undertaken when you have completed your studies and are eligible to graduate from a law school. This takes one year to complete, after which you are required to practice on a restricted basis (called a Restricted Practitioner) for a further twelve months. Most law students choose to complete their Articles year at a law firm; however this is not the only option available. Students can also complete this year at corporations with in-house legal departments or through various public sector opportunities (Crown Solicitor, State Solicitor’s Office, DPP, or Legal Aid).

Another option graduating students have is to partially complete their Articles requirements through employment as either a judge’s associate or a barrister’s assistant. Graduates can gain invaluable experience working as a judge’s associate or barrister’s assistant. You should note, however, that even though these positions are usually for twelve months, they will only count towards six months of the Articles year. After this, graduates can then choose to complete their remaining six months of accreditation at a private law firm, government department or corporate in-house legal department.

It is usual practice to secure a position for Articles of Clerkship at a law firm (or the equivalent) first, and once you have this all sorted out look then at securing a position as either a judge’s associate or barrister’s assistant. This is because applications for articles in WA are accepted in June/July every year and offers are made in September. However positions as judge’s associates or barrister’s assistants usually become available later in the year (Nov/Dec) or even the following year (Jan/Feb). Accepting an offer of articles at a firm doesn’t stop you from applying for a position as a judge’s associate or barrister’s assistant. Firms recognise how great it is to employ someone who has this extra experience, so most firms have no problem with you deferring your articles for 12 months. It is exactly the same as someone who accepts articles and then chooses to take 12 months off to travel before they start work.

However, just because it is usual practice to secure an offer of Articles first, this doesn’t mean it is the only way things can be done. Should you miss out on securing Articles, don’t hold back in applying for these positions. There are no rules giving preference for these positions to applicants who have already secured an offer of Articles.

Barrister’s Assistant

So what does being a barrister’s assistant involve, you ask. A barrister’s assistant spends a lot of time in court, with their principal duties being to research and prepare for trial. For those who are interested in litigation or are dreaming of a career at the Bar, these positions provide invaluable experience and an amazing insight into the world of advocacy.

So how do you apply for such an incredible job? Don’t send applications to individual barristers unless you know of a barrister personally who may be interested in employing an assistant. Instead it is best to send your application to the Chairperson of the Pupillage and Articled Clerk Committee who will then arrange for applications to be distributed among barristers looking for assistants.

Judge’s Associate

Another option is to be a judge’s associate at the Supreme, District or Federal Courts. As a judge’s associate you will assist the judge in all their duties for the Court. The associate is the person who you will see in court sitting in front of the judge and handing the judge all the relevant documentation. Just being in court and listening to cases on a daily basis is an amazing experience, however, being an associate involves so much more than this. You will be required to arrange listings and court sittings, maintain court records, arraign accused, empanel juries, administer oaths, liaise with the judiciary, lawyers and the public, research cases and proof judgements. For more information on the role of an associate, please also read the Moot Court Bench article entitled ‘Being a Judge’s Associate’.

How to Apply

If being a barrister’s assistant or judge’s associate sounds appealing, more information on applying for such positions can be found on the individual websites of the various courts and also on the Murdoch Student Law Society website. Take a look at the following:

• Supreme Court of Western Australia

http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au

• District Court of Western Australia

http://www.districtcourt.wa.gov.au

• Federal Court of Australia

http://www.fedcourt.gov.au

• High Court of Australia

http://www.hcourt.gov.au

Murdoch Student Law Society – Vacation Clerkship Database

http://www.msls.asn.au/index2.php?section=Careers&sub=Vacation_Clerkship_Database

Further, for more in-depth information on being a judge’s associate – such as what sort of grades you need to apply to be an associate at the High Court, or how much you get paid, or how to apply for an inter-state position – check out the ‘Australian Judge’s Associates Handbook 2004’ . It can be downloaded free from the Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) website:

http://www.alsa.asn.au/

Not in your final year?

If you’re not in your final year, but these roles sound like something you might be interested in, the courts have a vacation clerkship programme where you spend a few weeks working alongside a judge and assisting the judge’s associate. What better way to find out what it’s like being a judge’s associate or observing the court room dramas and top barristers battling it out! For more information on this, refer to the MSLS website listed above.

It’s Time to Apply!