Graduate Lawyer Program null

The Organisation

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) protects Australia and Australians from threats to their security. In a complex, challenging and changing security environment, our success is built on the imagination and intelligence of our team. ASIO’s people are ordinary Australians but they do extraordinary things – they are our most important asset. To be successful in our mission, we need talented people who are highly capable, dedicated, adaptable and resilient.

We seek to reflect the diversity of the community we protect. ASIO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, where all staff are valued and respected. We welcome applications from all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious affiliation, age or disability. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to apply. We are secretive about what we do, not what we value. Find out more about diversity and inclusion at ASIO.

The Opportunity

The Graduate Lawyer Program is a dynamic 12-month program, offering experience across a wide range of legal areas in a busy, fast-paced environment. The work ranges from providing real time legal advice on ASIO operations, through to legislative reform, administrative and corporate law advice, and criminal and civil litigation. This role will offer a diverse range of opportunities providing foundational training and experience as a government lawyer.

The 12-month structured program will expose you to all the different areas of law practised in ASIO’s Legal Services division. If you have not already completed your practical legal training course for admission to practice in Australia, ASIO will sponsor and support completion of the course as part of the graduate program. 

On successful completion of the program you will be an AE5 (APS5 equivalent) lawyer, and you will be placed in one of the legal specialisation areas such as operations, administrative law, corporate/employment law or litigation. Further opportunities will be provided to move across the division and interstate to broaden your legal experience and support ongoing legal professional development.

A merit pool may be created to fill future vacancies which has the same or similar requirements as this position. This merit pool will be valid for up to 18 months.

What you will bring

Preferred candidates will possess the following attributes:

• Excellent legal analytical and research skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Critical thinking skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced team environment. 
• Ability to demonstrate a client focus.
• Demonstrated commitment to professionalism, integrity and confidentiality.

What we offer you

ASIO provides a number of benefits to its staff including:

• Significant training and development as part of a 12-month graduate program which includes extensive on-the-job experience, as well as internal, external and online legal and professional training.
• A competitive salary, including a 7.5% allowance for maintaining a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access security clearance.
• Employer superannuation contributions of 15.4%.
• A variety of leave options, in addition to the standard 4 weeks annual leave to ensure your work-life balance.
• Flexible working arrangements to assist you to maintain your work-life balance. (Please note: due to our unique working environment, work from home options are generally not available. During the graduate program, part-time working arrangements may be considered on a case-by-case basis and may require extension of the program in order to be accommodated).
• Study assistance, including financial support and study leave for tertiary education.
• Access to 7 staff-led diversity and inclusion networks.
• Mentoring opportunities.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Eligibility 

To be eligible to apply for the program you must meet the following requirements:

• Be an Australian citizen.
• Have gained a Bachelor of Laws or a Juris Doctor from an Australian tertiary institution (or a comparable domestic or overseas qualification) by commencement of the program, and completed no more than 4 years before the program starts.
• Be eligible to enroll in a practical legal training course that leads to admission in Australia, eligible for admission in Australia, or admitted to practice in Australia.
• Be assessed as suitable to hold and maintain a Top Secret Privileged Access (TS-PA) security clearance. 

Reasonable adjustments

ASIO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for candidates to participate within all stages of the selection process. These opportunities may include reasonable adjustment to assessment methodologies to enable full participation. 

Please let us know if you require any additional assistance or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process in order to fully participate in the recruitment process or the workplace. 

Location

The Graduate Lawyer Program is located in Canberra and applicants must be willing to relocate. Relocation assistance is provided to successful candidates where ASIO requires you to relocate. 

We advertise positions nationally to give everybody the opportunity to apply, due to this some external advertising platforms may display other capital cities.  

How to apply

Click on ‘Apply online’ to commence your application. Your application must include the following:

• A written pitch of up to 500 words using examples to demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the requirements.
• A current CV, no more than 2 pages in length, outlining your employment history, the dates and a brief description of your role, as well as any academic qualifications or relevant training you may have undertaken.
• A copy of your academic transcript.
• Details of 2 referees, which must include a current or previous manager.

Closing date and time

Monday 07 April 2025 at 5:00pm AEST 

No extensions will be granted and late applications will not be accepted. 

The Recruitment Selection Process – what to expect

We thank all applicants for their interest in applying for the Graduate Lawyer Program. Please be advised that our selection process is rigorous and extensive. 

All employment decisions and selection processes at ASIO are based on merit principles and candidates must be prepared to undergo various selection stages. The stages themselves may include application assessment, eligibility checks, online testing, skills-based assessment and panel discussion.

ASIO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for candidates to participate within all stages of the selection process. These opportunities may include reasonable adjustment to assessment methodologies to enable full participation. Please let us know if you require any additional assistance or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process in order to fully participate in the recruitment process or the workplace. 

ASIO holds all employment applications in the strictest of confidence. It is essential that you do the same. Please do not discuss your application with others as doing so may adversely affect your potential employment.

We ask all applicants for their patience throughout the process. Once complete, we will notify unsuccessful candidates but will not provide feedback on any aspect of the selection process.

The Recruitment Selection Process – Timeframes

As we are recruiting for an early 2026 intake, candidates can expect the following timeframes for the recruitment selection process:

• Program advertised and applications are open February to April 2025.
• Assessment Centres will likely run in May 2025.
• Candidates notified of outcomes in June 2025.

Employment conditions

Employment is under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979. Conditions of service are similar to those applying in the Australian Public Service. We recognise entitlements accrued under the Public Service Act 1999 and provide for continuation of superannuation under the Commonwealth schemes. Salary packaging arrangements are also available.

Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI)
In 2024, ASIO achieved the AWEI Gold Standard, recognising ASIO’s inclusion work and positive culture. ASIO was one of only 7 public sector employers, and the first Australian intelligence agency, to achieve this status.

The ASIO Diversity and Inclusion Strategy reflects ASIO’s commitment and recognises the benefits of being a diverse and inclusive organisation. For further information about ASIO’s Diversity and Inclusion networks, please visit: www.asio.gov.au/about/diversity-and-inclusion.

Enquiries
If you require further information after reading the selection documentation, please contact ASIO Recruitment at careers@asio.gov.au or phone 02 6263 7888.

More information
For more information about ASIO, please visit: www.asio.gov.au