Law Graduate - Probono Practice (Feb 2025)

Who we are

Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS) is known throughout the market as a leading full-service commercial law firm. We work on high-profile and complex transactions and disputes, always with a focus on commercial outcomes. We are a firm of more than 400 people, including 85+ partners, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth.

We were named ‘Technology, Media and Telecom M&A Legal Adviser of the Year’ in the Mergermarket M&A Awards Australia 2023 and received awards for client service excellence from Beaton Consulting, based on independent client feedback. Our lawyers and practice groups are highly ranked in all the major legal directories, including Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a Law Graduate to join our Pro bono practice for 12 months.

As a pro bono graduate you will have the opportunity to:

• work exclusively with our pro bono clients 
• gain invaluable experience and broaden your legal expertise while supporting low-income individuals, disadvantaged groups, and marginalized members of the Australian community
• we will work with you to design the year to best suit your interests – this could include placements at Justice and Equity Centre (JEC), placements at community legal centres and/or placements at charities. 

Transition into our clerkship program at the end of your role and be considered for a graduate position in private practice, with the opportunity to have an ongoing pro bono practice alongside a commercial role if that interests you.

We value graduates who have not only excelled academically but have great communications skills, thrive in a collaborative environment and want to deliver legal advice to create the best outcomes for our clients.

Working at JWS

We value collaboration and our teams work together to achieve shared outcomes. We care about the well-being of our people and will invest time in understanding your objectives so we can support you throughout your career. We believe it’s this focus on our people that has seen our firm grow rapidly to become one of Australia’s leading independent law firms.

We pride ourselves on being down-to-earth, approachable, and always high-performing. We have worked hard to create a culture where people look out for each other.

We offer:

• A collegiate environment with a collaborative culture across offices and practice groups
• High-quality work with committed mentors supporting your career development
• Comprehensive benefits including competitive remuneration, flexible working, and extensive social and wellbeing initiatives
• Opportunities for professional growth through structured learning and development programs and employee recognition initiatives

 If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity to take your career to the next level, then we would love to hear from you.

 Applications are open to students who are in the final year of their law degree or who have recently completed their law degree. 

Written applications should include a covering letter, CV, and current official academic transcript. They should be addressed to Wilma Lewis, People & Development Manager.

We are committed to promoting a workplace that is diverse and inclusive. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion, or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. In particular, we would welcome applications from First Nations candidates.

Johnson Winter Slattery pays respect to Elders past and present of our nation’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We honour the deep spiritual, cultural and customary connections of Traditional Owners to the Australian landscape, including Australia’s waterways, land, and sea country.