Big Sis Briefing: The Graduate Lawyer Job Market

The graduate lawyer job market isn’t broken, even if it feels that way.

It’s just working exactly the way supply and demand says it should.

There are more law students than there are entry-level legal jobs. Always have been…. and while that gap has stretched and squeezed over the years, the fundamentals haven’t shifted.

What has shifted is the pressure. The mental load. The stakes.

What hasn’t changed is how little transparency there is at the start.

Law is still sold as a ‘smart’ degree. It’s a common path for high-achieving school-leavers who aren’t sure what else to study. It holds status. It makes family members proud. It’s seen as a “good” and “safe” choice. Plus, there’s this idea that you can always use it for something else.

But law is also expensive. It’s a serious investment of time and money. Now, while the degree itself gives you access to a powerful way of thinking and communicating, the job market is a whole other thing.

That’s where the disconnect lies.

So let’s break it down.

Here’s what I wish more people knew, at each stage of the journey.

If you're still in school and thinking about law

This is the time to ask real questions before you enrol:

• “What percentage of students from this university actually get graduate jobs in law?”

• “Does the uni offer support with internships, clerkships and job readiness?”

• “What if you decide not to practice? Where else does this degree lead?”

Law can be an amazing degree if you’re genuinely interested in how society works, how power is structured and how legal thinking shapes the world around us. But it should not be a default option just because you got a high ATAR.

If practising law is the goal, that’s great. Just go into it with your eyes open. Not everyone finishes law school with a job lined up. The competition is real. You’ll need more than good grades to stand out.

If you're currently studying law

This is where the grind begins. The stress. The comparison. The hustle.

Here’s the truth: your grades matter, but they are not everything.

Employers also care about:

• How you communicate with all types of people

• Whether you can work in a team

• Your attention to detail

• Whether you understand how law operates in a commercial or community context

If you’re finding the load unsustainable, don’t be afraid to reduce your subject count.

Take time to get practical experience.

Join committees, volunteer or get a part-time job that builds real-world skills.

Don’t panic if you’re not working in a law firm yet. Plenty of legal employers love people who’ve worked in admin, retail, hospitality, research, policy or tech. It shows resilience, perspective and initiative.

Also, get online!!

I say this all the time, but LinkedIn isn’t just for senior professionals. It’s a place to build visibility, stay across industry trends and start connecting with the profession now and not later.

If you’ve graduated and haven’t started practising yet

This phase is tough.

The “I’ve finished uni but I’m not admitted and I don’t have a legal job yet” stage is hard, and it’s barely acknowledged.

You might be juggling PLT, casual work, job hunting and trying to hold your confidence together. It can feel like limbo. It can feel like failure.

But it’s not.

You’re not behind. Everyone’s timeline looks different. Some people don’t get admitted for a year or more after finishing their degree. Some step sideways into policy or business roles. Some take a break. That doesn’t make you any less capable.

If you’re in this space, stay connected. Join your local young lawyers network. Attend the free webinars and events. Message someone you admire on LinkedIn. It all helps.

And if you can find even one informal mentor to talk to about your goals and struggles, do it. You don’t need to figure this out alone.

Here’s the big picture

A law degree is a privilege.

It gives you access to a way of thinking and communicating that shapes industries, government, business and justice systems. You learn how to problem-solve, advocate, analyse and speak with impact.

But the law job? That’s not guaranteed.

The graduate market is flooded. The path to practice is competitive and often unclear. If you don’t understand the system you’re stepping into, it’s easy to feel lost.

That’s why I share content like this. Not to put people off studying law, but to make the invisible stuff visible.

To help you get strategic as early as possible.

To share what the glossy brochures and career fairs usually don’t.

But mostly, to share what that young, naive and ambitious country mouse from Townsville would’ve loved to have known, but had to figure out by herself.

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