STUDENT PROGRAMS
CLERKSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS
The AALN partners with government and legal organisations to deliver paid, legal work experience for AALN members.
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Victoria Legal Aid Clerkship | APPLICATIONS OPEN
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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's Past President, Amani Green, stated:
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"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."
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Applications are open for the African Australian Legal Clerkship Program for 2025. Options are also available in corporate services for those interested in non-legal pathways. Please visit https://bit.ly/4cCtYE7 to apply!
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Applications close Friday 9 May 2025 at 11:59PM.
BMCLC AFRICAN AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM | APPLICATIONS OPEN
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BMCLC is inviting applications for the African Australian Assistance Project Volunteer Program!
This initiative, funded through the Victorian Legal Services Board Grant Program, provides legal assistance and community capacity-building support to young African Australians in the Brimbank and Melton regions.
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Internship Overview
Volunteers will have the opportunity to work alongside lawyers like John Kon who has experience mentoring law students at Victoria University.
commUnity+ endeavours to provide genuine service to local communities. Please note that applicants for this volunteer program must possess knowledge and understanding of the African Australian communities in Melbourne’s West
Eligibility
The internship is available to Law students/recent graduates with knowledge and understanding of African Australian communities in Melbourne’s West
All volunteers must commit to a minimum of one day each fortnight for a period of six months. A detailed volunteer position description is available online.
Location
Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre.
How to Apply
To apply please visit https://www.comm-unityplus.org.au/home/working-with-us/volunteering/​
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Expression of Interest: legal@comm-unityplus.org.au
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Victorian Court of Appeal Internship | *APPLICATIONS CLOSED*
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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.
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WORKSHOPS
2022 AALN | APPLICATIONS OPEN
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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.
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Professional Skills & Career Application Workshop​
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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.
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​The 2020 Careers Application Workshop is sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Maddocks.
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Commercial Awareness Workshop
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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.
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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.
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AALN CAREER SERIES
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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.