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.
Key dates, the application process and current list of signatory firms are noted below.
Seasonal Clerkship
Key dates
2026 program cycle
| 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Legal Careers Expo | 7 May 2025 |
| Applications open for clerkships | 14 July 2025 |
| Applications close for clerkships by 5pm AEST | 8 August 2025 |
| Offers for seasonal clerkships can be made from 9am AEST | 8 October 2025 |
| Offers for seasonal clerkships must be accepted or declined by 1pm AEST | 9 October 2025 |
| Summer 1 clerkship | Nov - Dec 2025 |
| Summer 2 clerkship | Jan - Feb 2026 |
| Autumn clerkship | April - May 2026 |
| Winter clerkship | June - July 2026 |
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.
2025 Participating firms in the Seasonal Clerkship program
- Ashurst
- Barry Nilsson
- Carter Newell
- Clayton Utz
- Corrs Chambers Westgarth
- DLA Piper
- Gadens
- Hall & Wilcox
- Hamilton Locke
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- HopgoodGanim Lawyers
- HWL Ebsworth
- Johnson Winter & Slattery
- Mills Oakley
- MinterEllison
- Results Legal
- Thomson Geer
Graduate Program
Key dates
2026 program cycle
| 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Legal Careers Expo | 7 May 2025 |
| Offers for current staff/vacation clerks for graduate employment can be made from 9am AEST | 4 August |
| Offers for graduate positions to current staff/vacation clerks must be accepted or declined by 1pm AEST | 5 August |
| Applications for Graduate positions open (open market) | 11 August |
| Applications for graduate positions close (open market) | 22 August |
| Offers for graduate positions can be made from 9am AEST | 25 September |
| Offers for graduate positions must be accepted or declined by 1pm AEST | 26 September |
| Graduate program commences | February 2026 |
2025 Participating firms in the Graduate Program
- Ashurst
- Barry Nilsson
- Carter Newell
- Clayton Utz
- Corrs Chambers Westgarth
- Colins Biggers & Paisley Lawyers
- DLA Piper
- Gadens
- Hall & Wilcox
- Hamilton Locke
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- HopgoodGanim Lawyers
- HWL Ebsworth
- Johnson Winter & Slattery
- Macpherson Kelley
- Mills Oakley
- MinterEllison
- Thomson Geer
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