Legal Stream

Our program

Our legal graduates will:

• have the opportunity to work on a broad range of legal work in an Australian Government department and gain exposure to Australian Government policies and programs
• have access to a specific legal blended learning program offering a combination of structured training and on the job experience.

Our department supports its legal graduates, who are not already admitted, to complete a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and gain admission as a Legal Practitioner. This may also include financial assistance.

I was drawn to the DEWR Legal Graduate Program for the opportunity to explore diverse areas of law while contributing to the Australian community. Across my three rotations in the Legal and Assurance Division, I was exposed to a wide range of legal work — including program advice, contract reviews, FOI requests and privacy matters — giving me a strong understanding of the role of a government lawyer. I was supported by generous and experienced lawyers who encouraged curiosity, learning and collaboration. The program has strengthened my professional values and shown me how meaningful government legal practice can be
Zoe, Legal Graduate, 2025

What our legal graduates do

The department’s in-house legal practice offers a wide range of services. Our lawyers provide legal advice across the range of the department’s responsibilities (including in relation to the development of legislation and the conduct of litigation).

Legal graduates have the opportunity to rotate through various legal teams in the Legal and Assurance Division and the Workplace Relations Legal Division. Legal graduates are involved in the full range of work undertaken by our legal teams. Areas include:

• government and administrative law
• corporate and commercial law
• intellectual property
• litigation (including some advocacy work)
• social security
• information law
• workplace relations law
• workers’ compensation and work health and safety law
• legislation development (including drafting of legislative instruments)

Working as a Workplace Relations Legal graduate gave me a well-rounded introduction to government legal practice. I have had the opportunity of working across the Workplace Relation Legal division on a broad range of legal work that is both engaging and rewarding. This has included drafting legal advice on various workplace relations matters, advising on potential amendments to Fair Work legislation, and monitoring Commonwealth litigation relevant to the workplace relations system. These experiences have strengthened by legal analysis, writing and stakeholder engagement skills and given me valuable insight into the role of a government lawyer supporting government decision-making.
Charlotte, 2025

Who are we looking for?

We offer career opportunities for highly talented and motivated law graduates. We are looking for graduates who have:

• completed a Bachelor of Laws from an Australian university or will have completed a Bachelor of Laws from an Australian university by the commencement of the graduate program.
• a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) or who are eligible and committed to completing the qualification and gaining admission as a Legal Practitioner. The department supports its legal graduates to complete their GDLP and gain admission if they have not already done so.
• a strong academic record.

Additionally, graduates should:

• have excellent legal and analytical capabilities
• have outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• have personal drive and enthusiasm
• show initiative and flexibility
• possess leadership qualities.

Joining the department as a legal graduate, I undertook three rotations across distinct areas of the Legal and Assurance Division. This gave me a strong understanding of the breadth of the department’s work and extensive opportunities for professional development. I joined the public service to do work with real impact, and my graduate year delivered that. I drafted long‑form legal advice on complex issues, including advice prepared for the Secretary of the department, which strengthened my ability to distil technical legal matters into clear, practical guidance for senior decision- makers. Government legal practice has had a significant impact on me because of the diversity of matters that arise even within a single team. During my second rotation in a commercial team, the work spanned property law, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, and a wide range of contracting and procurement issues. Contributing to such varied and meaningful work demonstrated to me how the legal function of a department shapes programs and policies that affect people every day.
Lachlan, Legal Graduate, 2025

Legal Stream FAQ

For more information, check out our Legal Stream Frequently Asked Questions.

Eligibility

To be eligible for AGGP Legal Stream, you must:

• submit a completed application prior to the closing date and time
• be an Australian citizen at the time of application
• have completed (or will complete) at least an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 7 qualification (a Bachelor degree), equivalent, or higher equivalent by 31 December 2026
• have completed your most recent eligible qualification between 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2026
• be able to obtain and maintain a valid Australian Government security clearance once accepted onto the program when required. Further information on security clearances is available from Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA)
• be willing to undergo any police, character, health, or other checks required.

How to apply

We are a participating agency in the Australian Government Graduate Program (AGGP) Legal stream. Applications are now open.

Submit an application

Successful applicants will be placed in a merit pool that will be considered by the APS and Commonwealth entities. Please note that agencies and departments and will offer different employment conditions and graduate program features.

Make sure you nominate the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations as your preferred agency for your chance to join us!

If you have any questions, please email entrylevel@dewr.gov.au.