Early talent
Our Brisbane office firmly believes that it is the people that make all the difference, and our Vacation Clerkship and Graduate programs offer pathways to becoming part of the firm’s early talent. Gadens is looking for candidates with a variety of different experiences, work history, knowledge and insights. A solid academic record is desirable to us, but we also like to see evidence of business acumen, community engagement, professionalism, and teamwork.
Gadens is a full-service commercial law firm with five main practice areas, including:
- Property and Construction
- Banking and Finance
- Litigation and Corporate Recovery Services
- General litigation
- Financial services regulatory
- Corporate Advisory
- Workplace relations
- Technology, Media, Intellectual Property, Privacy & Data
- General commercial law
- Pro Bono
Graduates will gain hands-on experience in up to three of these areas, whereas our vacation clerks will normally work in just one area.
Vacation Clerkship
The summer vacation clerkship program is hosted over four weeks. Starting in November, you will complete your placement in one of the five practice groups listed above. Working on real matters with the guidance of a mentor and buddy, you will have the opportunity to gain in-depth experience and insight into what life at Gadens is really like.
For the right candidate, a clerkship provides a genuine pathway to our graduate program.
Eligibility
The program is open to penultimate and final year students.
Application dates
Timeline for the application process is set out by Queensland Law Society guidelines:
- Applications for our 2024 clerkships will open Monday, 15 July 2024
- Applications for our 2024 clerkships will close at 5pm, Friday, 9 August 2024
- Interviews: Monday, 19 August – Friday, 6 September 2024
- Offers extended: Wednesday, 9 October 2024
Applications are currently closed.
Graduate Program
Our graduate program is tailored to offer comprehensive and progressive training in an environment that encourages collaboration and values, integrity, and accountability.
The program has candidates join the firm in a permanent role. You will commence the first of three rotations in February/March, with the opportunity to work across many of our main practice areas. Rotations last 6-8 months.
From day one at Gadens, you will be exposed to complex and stimulating work in an educational environment.
Eligibility
The program is open to all 2024 graduates, including final year students graduating in February 2025.
Application dates
Timeline for the process is set out by Queensland Law Society guidelines:
- Applications open: Monday, 12 August 2024
- Applications close: Friday, 23 August 2024
- Interviews: Wednesday, 2 September – Friday, 13 September 2024
- Offers extended: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Program application details
You will need to attach the following documents as part of your application:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Full academic transcript
Applications are currently closed.
We also invite students to apply for administrative and paralegal opportunities that are advertised on our website throughout the year. We encourage you to visit our careers page for upcoming opportunities or contact people@gadens.com.
Our culture
Gadens has operated in Queensland for more than 30 years and currently has 26 partners and more than 240 employees in our Brisbane office.
Our values and culture assist us in creating a cohesive environment in which we are committed equally to professionalism and personal fulfilment. We strive to create a culture where the principles of sustainability and sound corporate responsibility are embraced. We regularly assist disadvantaged and marginalised communities and have our own indigenous employment programme.
Gadens is renowned for delivering innovative solutions for our clients. Our firm has invested in technology to drive efficiencies and deliver solutions which meet client needs and are responsive to ever-changing business environments.
We pride ourselves on our diverse workforce, embracing the collective skills and experience of our people. Additionally, we maintain a strong connection with the arts, actively supporting emerging and established artist. This is driven by our philosophy that creative engagement encourages our people and clients to think outside the box and share ideas.
Melbourne and Sydney
For all information regarding our clerkship and graduate programs in our Melbourne and Sydney offices, please see: Early Careers Programs.
