STUDENT PROGRAMS
CLERKSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS
The AALN partners with government and legal organisations to deliver paid, legal work experience for AALN members.
Victoria Legal Aid Clerkship | APPLICATIONS OPEN
The AALN is proud to partner with Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) to run a clerkship program for African Australian law students. The clerkship program started in 2019 and aims to provide a practical and meaningful experience to AALN members to support their career development and provide opportunities to gain valuable skills, knowledge and a network within the justice sector. AALN President, Amani Green, stated:
"The joint VLA and AALN clerkship program represents an opportunity for exceptionally talented students and recent graduates to gain invaluable professional experience, and it has been a pleasure to co-design the program with VLA. Their dedication to this program, and support for the AALN more broadly, is indicative of a genuine commitment to valuing diversity and combating institutional racism. We look forward to continuing to work with VLA, and deepening our partnership over the coming years."
Applications are open for the African Australian Legal Clerkship Program for 2023. Options are also available in corporate services for those interested in non-legal pathways. Please visit http://bitly.ws/BNZo to apply!
Applications close Sunday 16 April at 11:59PM.
NAAJA Internship | *APPLICATIONS CLOSED*
The AALN is thrilled to announce an internship opportunity at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA). NAAJA provides criminal and civil law services to Aboriginal people and their families in the Northern Territory. NAAJA is also a leader in law and justice for the rights of Aboriginal people and enjoys constructive relationships with stakeholders. This is a fantastic opportunity for one AALN member to immerse themselves in a practical and impactful internship.
Internship Overview
NAAJA is offering this internship to one AALN member looking to gain experience in the Criminal and Civil Teams. In the criminal section, the intern will be exposed to a busy practice and will work with dedicated and experiences lawyers across a diverse range of matters including in the Local Court, Supreme Court and with bush Courts. Working with the civil section will expose the intern to a wide variety of work including housing, statutory compensation schemes, child protection, welfare rights, police and healthcare complaints and adult guardianship.
Eligibility
The internship is available to all AALN members based anywhere in Australia. Preference in the selection process will be given to those in the advanced stages of their law degree and recent graduates.
Internship Dates and Duration
The internship will be held during the semester one university break for 4 - 6 weeks. That is, it will be between June and August 2022 at the mutual convenience of NAAJA and the intern.
Location
The internship is based in the Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
Cost
AALN will cover transport costs to Alice Springs from the intern’s home and back, as well as accommodation in Alice Springs (possibly in a home stay arrangement). A modest stipend for daily living costs during the internship will also be supplied by AALN.
How to Apply
To apply, please:
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Complete the NAAJA Intern Placement Expression of Interest and send to intern@naaja.org.au; and
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Send a current CV and covering email explaining your interest in undertaking this internship to studentprograms.aaln@gmail.com.
Applications close at 11:59 PM on Wednesday 8 June 2022. The intern will be selected by AALN and will be subject to NAAJA approval.
Expression of Interest Form: https://bit.ly/3GF0zcz
Victorian Court of Appeal Internship | *APPLICATIONS CLOSED*
This is a rare opportunity for those early in their legal careers to get an inside look at the court system and life as a judge. The internship is aimed for students or early practitioners with an interest, especially those with an interest in advocacy.
WORKSHOPS
2022 AALN | APPLICATIONS OPEN
We are excited to announce that we are partnering with several law firms to hold the 2022 AALN Careers Application Workshop. This is an amazing opportunity for students to receive feedback and insights from representatives of top-tier Australian law firms.
Sessions will run from Monday 1 August until Friday 5 August.
To register, please visit: https://bit.ly/3RZaVZW. There are limited vacancies and we anticipate spots to run out soon, so don't miss out!
Thank you Herbert Smith Freehills, Clayton Utz, Maddocks, and Victoria Legal Aid for sponsoring this year's workshops.
Professional Skills & Career Application Workshop
Since 2018, AALN has successfully hosted a Professional Skills and Careers Workshop. This is an opportunity for multiple law firms to engage with highly motivated AALN members. This tailored workshop assists members with the clerkship recruitment process, CV and cover letter writing and interview responses. The workshop aims to help members develop key professional skills, increase confidence with pursuing professional opportunities and increase the representation of African Australian students in clerkship and graduate programs.
The 2020 Careers Application Workshop is sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Maddocks.
Commercial Awareness Workshop
The yearly AALN Commercial Awareness Workshop aims to develop our members’ understanding of commerciality through a skills based workshop delivered by commercial lawyers from a leading Australian law firm. The workshop aims to support African Australian students applying for seasonal clerkship and graduate positions. This workshop is a fantastic opportunity to demystify and fine-tune the concept of 'commerciality' through a skills-based seminar delivered by commercial lawyers from a leading Australian law firm. Students with an interest in commercial law, as well as those applying for seasonal clerkship or graduate positions in the coming months will find this session particularly beneficial for demonstrating their commercial acumen in applications and interviews.
The 2020 Commercial Awareness Workshop was sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills, an official AALN Association Sponsor. Michael Ziegelaar, Corporate Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), presented at our Commercial Awareness Workshop on 16 July 2020. Michael is the head of the Melbourne Corporate Group and has over 20 years of experience advising on some of Australia's most significant commercial transactions. Michael's 10 Golden Rules for Commercial Awareness highlighted practical skills that anyone hoping to pursue a career in commercial law should bear in mind and seek to develop.
AALN CAREER SERIES
Law from Your Living Room was a series of Q&As with legal professionals designed to give members an insight into the range of different careers one could pursue in the legal profession. Law professionals from different practice areas shared their experiences via Zoom. AALN members participated in interactive sessions in the following areas: criminal law, migration law, the pathway to being a partner, a career at The Bar, and being a woman in law.