Seasonal clerkship and graduate recruitment

We know making decisions around graduate or seasonal clerkship placements can be overwhelming. As your member organisation, we want to streamline this process for you as much as possible.

That’s why QLS has created the QLS Seasonal Clerkship and Graduate Recruitment Guidelines. The guidelines aim to provide students and firms transparency and consistency through the legal recruitment process and allows you the time to simultaneously consider offers received and make an informed decision that is right for you.

The recruitment 'cycle' commences with clerkship recruitment in July/August with programs operating across Summer One, Summer Two, Autumn and concluding in Winter. Priority graduate decisions for commencement in the following year are made in early August with open market commencing immediately afterwards.

Firms who only offer summer programs now wait until July/August to make their priority offers with open market opening shortly thereafter. This allows students more time to research and consider where they intend to pursue their legal career.

This aligns with the recruitment cycles of our Victorian counter-parts at the Law Institute of Victoria.

Key dates, the application process and current list of signatory firms are noted below.

Seasonal Clerkship

Key dates

2023 program cycle | 2024 program cycle | 2025 program cycle 

 202320242025*2026*
Summer 2 clerkship
Jan - Feb Jan - Feb Jan - Feb
Autumn clerkship
Apr - MayApril - MayApril - May
Winter clerkship
Jun - JulJun - JulJun - Jul
Legal Careers Expo10 May  8 May7 May Early May
Applications open for clerkships17 July 15 July14 July
Applications close for clerkships by 5pm AEST11 August 9 August8 August
Offers made for seasonal clerkships11 October9 October8 October
Offers for seasonal clerkships must be accepted or declined by 5pm AEST12 October10 October9 October
Spring clerkshipAutumn intake offered insteadAutumn intake offered insteadAutumn intake offered instead
Summer 1 clerkshipNov - DecNov - DecNov - Dec

* Dates to be confirmed in November/December 2024

Application process

Each participating law firm has its own application process and clerkship offerings. Not all firms offer all 4 clerkship offerings. 

Click on the firm you are interested in from the list below for information on their application pathway.

For practical advice on writing resumes and cover letters, refer to the tip sheet.

2024 Participating firms in the Seasonal Clerkship program

Graduate Program

Key dates

| 2023 program cycle | 2024 program cycle | 2025 program cycle

 2023*2024*2025*2026*
Graduate program commences
February February February
Legal Careers Expo10 May  8 May7 MayEarly May
Offers made to current staff/vacation clerks for graduate employment7 August  5 August4 August
Offers for graduate positions to current staff/vacation clerks must be accepted or declined by 5pm AEST8 August 6 August5 August
Applications for Graduate positions open (open market)14 August12 August11 August
Applications for graduate positions close (open market)25 August23 August22 August
Offers made for graduate positions28 September26 September25 September
Offers for graduate positions must be accepted or declined by 5pm AEST29 September27 September26 September

* Dates to be confirmed in November/December 2024

2024 Participating firms in the Graduate Program

Becoming a participating firm

Firms taking part in this initiative support Queensland’s legal student community and benefit from increased exposure to universities and students and a streamlined recruitment process.

To become a participating firm, please contact students@qls.com.au

Related content

Seasonal Clerkship and Graduate Recruitment Guidelines Tip sheet for writing resumes and cover letters