Wondering where most first-year lawyers actually end up working?
This article draws on the valuable insights from our career advisor, Jacinta Foley, as she shares her experience as a law recruiter and the many conversations she’s had with students looking to launch their legal careers. You might be surprised, and also gain helpful insights to plot out our career path.
If you’re finishing your law degree and thinking about your first job as a qualified lawyer, you’re probably wondering: where do most first-year lawyers end up working?
The most recent data we have gives us a pretty clear picture of that first step into the legal profession. Think it’s all big firms? Think again… here’s what it shows.
Most First-Year Lawyers Land in the Private Sector
Around three quarters of first-year lawyers start in the private sector. Why? There are simply more jobs.
Private firms make up the majority of the legal sector, employing around two-thirds of all practising lawyers. Small and mid-sized firms in particular, often need junior lawyers to help with client work and research.
Government and in-house roles tend to have fewer entry-level openings. So, private practice is where most grads begin.
Small Firms Take the Lead
Here’s something most students don’t realise: it’s small firms that employ the majority of first-year lawyers.
We often hear from students who assume that the big top-tier firms take most of the grads and everyone else is left to find what’s left. It’s actually the opposite.
Nearly half of all law grads working in the private sector are in small firms – think one to four partners. A good number are in mid-sized firms with up to 10 or 20 partners.
Only around a quarter of first year lawyers in the private sector go into the large firms.
So, if you’ve been aiming only at the big players, make sure you’re not missing the many opportunities in smaller firms. They make up a huge part of the legal workforce.
In-House and Government Roles
The remaining quarter of first year lawyers split fairly evenly between in-house roles and government.
Often, first year lawyers working in government departments are recruited through annual graduate recruitment programs, which are run by many departments at the federal and state levels. Other government agencies and statutory authorities, including state or territory-based legal aid commissions, may also offer limited entry-level opportunities for law graduates.
The number of entry level in-house legal roles has increased over the last few years, but still make up less than 10% of opportunities for first-year lawyers. These are typically offered in large, corporate employers in the industrial, banking and finance or service industries, with smaller businesses less likely to employ junior lawyers. This means many lawyers first gain experience in private practice before moving into an in-house role.
What about Community Legal Centres?
Community legal centres (CLCs) also hire some first-year lawyers, but it’s a small number (around 4%). These roles are important and meaningful, but if you’re focused on CLCs straight after graduation, keep in mind that openings are limited. They might be a better fit later down the track, after you’ve gained some experience.
That said, if you’re passionate about that area and an entry-level job comes up, go for it. Just be aware of where the broader job market is so you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.
Beyond Legal Practice
Not sure if you want to practise law right away? Or ever?
That’s completely fine. Plenty of law grads find meaningful work outside traditional legal roles. Legal qualifications are valued in places like:
- Statutory authorities and commissions such as the Ombudsman or the EPA
- Courts and tribunals
- Government departments
- Industry bodies and unions
- Not-for-profits and charities
- Corporate roles in compliance, risk, policy or advocacy
- The education sector
These organisations value the attention to detail and the structured, analytical thinking skills of law grads. Your understanding of how systems work (government, policy, law) can be put to use in many ways.
Keep Your Options Open
The big takeaway? Don’t lock yourself into one idea of what being a new lawyer looks like. Whether you’ve got your sights set on corporate law, social justice or are curious about jobs outside the legal world, there’s no one right path.
There are more ways to use your law degree than you might think. So, stay curious and see where it takes you.
Wherever you’re heading, remember, PLT is what gives you real world experience. You’ll build practical skills, get a feel for the work and start to figure out what kind of legal career fits you.
