DIDN’T GET A CLERKSHIP OR GRADUATE ROLE? WHAT TO DO NEXT
DIDN’T GET A CLERKSHIP OR GRADUATE ROLE? WHAT TO DO NEXT
Didn't get a clerkship or graduate role? You can still build a legal career. Clerkships and graduate programs are common ways to enter the profession, but they're not the only ones. Building experience through paralegal work, government, community legal centres and other legal or law-related roles can also help you take the next step.
And even once you've started, your career might not follow the path you expected.
We spoke with Bianca Dalby and Joy Xu about what happens when legal careers don't go to plan, what you can learn from your early roles and why your first job doesn't have to determine where you end up.
At a glance:
Missing out on a clerkship or graduate role doesn't mean you've missed your chance at a legal career.
Your first steps might involve a different role, workplace or area of law than you originally imagined. What matters is the experience you build, what you learn and how that helps you decide where to go next.
Your first role doesn't have to define your career. Treat it as a chance to learn what you enjoy, what you don't and what you might want from your next opportunity.
DO YOU NEED A CLERKSHIP OR GRADUATE PROGRAM TO BECOME A LAWYER?
No. Clerkships and graduate programs are common ways to enter the legal profession, but they're not the only ones.
Legal careers can start in many different places. You might build experience through paralegal work, government, community legal centres or other legal and law-related roles before moving into legal practice.
Your first opportunity doesn't necessarily need to have "graduate lawyer" in the job title to help you build a legal career.
A role that gives you relevant experience, develops your skills or introduces you to an area of work you hadn't considered can still help you move forward.
YOUR FIRST LEGAL JOB DOESN'T DEFINE YOUR CAREER
There's a lot of pressure to choose a practice area, find the right graduate job and get your career heading in the "right" direction as quickly as possible.
But you might not know what suits you until you actually experience it.
Treat your first role as a chance to learn, not a decision that defines your career.
It can help you discover what kind of work you enjoy, what gives you energy, what doesn't suit you and the type of workplace where you work best.
You might even discover an area of law or type of work you hadn't considered before.
You don't necessarily need to map your entire career before you begin it. Experience can help you work out where you want to go next.
DO LAW SCHOOL GRADES MATTER WHEN GETTING A LEGAL JOB?
Your marks can matter, particularly for some entry points into the profession. But they don't determine your entire career.
It's easy to overestimate how much your marks and CV at graduation will define what happens next.
A particular result might affect whether you're competitive for one opportunity at one point in time. It isn't a permanent ranking of your ability or potential.
Once you start working, you're also building something your university transcript can't show: professional experience.
The work you do, the skills you develop and what you learn from each role become part of what you can offer your next employer.
WHAT IF YOUR FIRST LEGAL JOB ISN'T RIGHT FOR YOU?
Before deciding you've chosen the wrong career, try to work out what you actually don't like about the role.
| IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH... | IT MIGHT BE WORTH THINKING ABOUT... |
|---|---|
| The subject matter | Would another area of law interest you more? |
| The day-to-day tasks | Is it the practice area you dislike, or the type of work you're doing within it? |
| Client-facing work | Would you prefer a role with less direct client interaction? |
| The emotional weight | Would another type of legal work be more sustainable for you? |
| The pace | Would a different working environment suit you better? |
| The workplace | Is it actually the area of law that's not right, or the organisation you're working for? |
Getting specific about what's not working can help you decide whether you need a different workplace, a different type of role or a different area altogether.
CAN YOU CHANGE AREAS OF LAW LATER?
Changing direction doesn't necessarily mean starting again.
The experience you've already built comes with you. Skills such as legal judgement, research, drafting and problem-solving can remain useful even when the subject matter changes.
Experiences that don't seem connected at the time can also become useful later in your career. As you move between roles, you build knowledge and skills that can shape where you go next, even if your career doesn't look like one carefully planned path.
You can learn from a role, take those skills with you and make a different decision when you know more.
DOES CAREER SUCCESS HAVE TO MEAN BECOMING A PARTNER?
Not necessarily.
There isn't one definition of a successful legal career.
For some lawyers, progressing into increasingly senior positions might be important. For others, success could mean doing interesting work, helping people or becoming highly knowledgeable in a particular field.
Some lawyers build careers as subject-matter experts, developing deep expertise, strong professional reputations and networks without necessarily pursuing leadership or executive positions.
Rather than automatically measuring your career against titles or seniority, think about what success actually means to you.
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN YOUR NEXT LEGAL ROLE?
Instead of only asking which practice area interests you, think about what you actually want from your work.
What drives you to work in law?
You might value:
- working directly with clients
- helping people
- solving legal problems
- research
- strategic thinking.
It can also help to identify some non-negotiables you want from a role.
Once you understand those things, you can look more broadly at the opportunities available. The right next step might be in a law firm, but it could also be in-house, in government, policy, legal research or another law-related role.
You don't need to know exactly where each opportunity will eventually lead. Instead, consider what you could learn from it and whether it moves you towards the kind of work you want to do.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU DON'T GET A LAW GRADUATE JOB?
If the first opportunity you wanted hasn't worked out, keep looking for ways to build experience and learn.
| TRY THIS | WHY IT CAN HELP |
|---|---|
| Consider different entry points | A paralegal or other legal role can help you build experience even if it isn't the graduate position you originally pictured. |
| Look beyond law firms | Government, community legal centres and other organisations can offer opportunities to use and develop legal skills. |
| Use the experience you already have | Skills developed outside legal work can still be relevant. Think about how they could transfer into a legal environment. |
| Give practical examples when applying | If you're asked about a skill such as organisation, demonstrate it through something you've actually done, even if it wasn't in a legal job. |
| Keep learning | Ask questions, seek opportunities to develop your skills and be open to constructive feedback. |
| Keep applying | A few unsuccessful applications don't determine what your entire career will look like. |
Getting specific about what's not working can help you decide whether you need a different workplace, a different type of role or a different area altogether.
YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT
Legal careers don't always unfold in a straight line.
You might miss out on the graduate role you wanted. Start in a job you hadn't considered. Discover that an area of law isn't right for you. Or find an opportunity in a field you didn't even know existed when you graduated.
Your early roles can help you understand what you're good at, what gives you energy, what doesn't suit you and what you want to try next.
You can take what you've learned with you and change direction as you learn more.
Your career doesn't need to follow the plan you had at law school to keep moving forward.
FAQS
Yes. A clerkship isn't the only way to begin building a legal career. Experience can also come through paralegal work, government, community legal centres and other legal or law-related roles
Look at other opportunities that can help you build relevant experience and skills. Your first role doesn't necessarily need to be a graduate lawyer position to contribute to your longer-term legal career.
Marks can matter for some entry points into the profession, but they don't determine your entire career. As you begin working, the professional experience and skills you develop also become part of what you can offer employers.
A paralegal role can be one way to build legal experience and develop your skills. Rather than focusing only on the job title, consider what experience the role could give you and what you could learn from it.
Yes. Changing direction doesn't mean leaving everything you've learned behind. Skills such as legal judgement, research, drafting and problem-solving can transfer with you as you explore a different area of law or type of role.
You don't necessarily need to decide before you start working. Your early roles can help you learn what work you enjoy, what doesn't suit you and what kind of career you might want to build.
