Mills Oakley has been recognised for excellence in both client service and workplace culture.
Recently named an “Employer of Choice,” we are dedicated to fostering a supportive and innovative environment where our talented professionals thrive and deliver outstanding results for our clients across Australia.
We are one of the few firms where clerks and law graduates can explore a diverse range of practice areas ranging from Corporate to Not-For-Profit, Property to Family Law, and Litigation to Private Advisory. This range of experience offers a unique advantage for those seeking a well-rounded foundation early in their legal career.
Connect with one of our HR Business Partners ([email protected]) to learn more about the practice areas available in your preferred location.
As an independent firm led by internationally experienced Partners, we maintain small cohorts and offer rotations across diverse practice areas that few firms can match. All early career programs are designed to offer students and graduates practical experience and personalised, supportive mentorship.
In the past, students and graduates chose us because:
We are an independent law firm lead by Partners with international network background. This combination of agility with international expertise means students receive top-tier support and guidance without unnecessary formality. Learn more about Our People.
We intentionally maintain smaller cohorts compared to other firms so that clerks and graduates can collaborate closely with senior lawyers and have a clearer path to build a career with us.
We offer the opportunity to rotate across diverse practice areas during the Clerkship Program. Few firms offer the same level of exposure across multiple practice areas.
A four-to-eight-week summer/winter program for penultimate-year law students looking to explore real client matters, gain top-tier mentorship, and experience life at Mills Oakley firsthand.
Our Seasonal Clerkship Program gives you the invaluable opportunity to work alongside our experienced lawyers, gaining hands-on experience across two practice areas at Mills Oakley. To support your development, we provide you with a dedicated mentor, along with a comprehensive induction program that includes IT training, practice area overviews, and professional skills seminars.
We recognise that the start of your legal career is a pivotal foundation for your future. Our program is designed to offer an in-depth view into firm life and immerse you in our open, supportive, and collaborative culture.
Our Seasonal Clerkship program is structured as follows:
Sydney and Canberra: An eight-week clerkship over summer
Perth: A four-week clerkship over summer and winter
Melbourne: A six-week clerkship, with the option of completing in summer or winter
Adelaide: A six-week clerkship over summer
Brisbane: A four-week clerkship over summer
All clerkships consist of two rotations through two of our practice groups.
Sydney clerkship applications are now closed.
Want to stay in the loop for our 2026 intake? Register here to receive future updates.
Applications Open – 10 June 2026
Applications Close – 12 July 2026 (11:59pm AEST)
Offers Made – 9 September 2026
Offers Accepted/Declined – 10 September 2026
Clerkship Intake – December 2026 to January 2027
Canberra clerkship applications are now closed.
Want to stay in the loop for our 2026 intake? Register here to receive future updates.
Applications Open – 10 June 2026
Applications Close – 12 July 2026 (11:59pm AEST)
Offers Made – 9 September 2026
Offers Accepted/Declined – 10 September 2026
Clerkship Intake – December 2026 to January 2027
Perth clerkship
Want to stay in the loop for our 2026 intake? Register here to receive future updates.
Applications Open – 22 June 2026 (9am AWST)
Applications Close – 26 July 2026 (5pm AWST)
Offers Made – 11 September 2026 (from 9am AWST)
Offers Accepted/ Declined – 11 September 2026 (by 1pm AWST)
Summer Clerkship – November/December 2026 (4 weeks)
Winter Clerkship – June/July 2027 (4 weeks)
Melbourne clerkship applications are now open.
Apply Here for our 2026 intake.
Applications Open – 6 July 2026
Applications Close – 9 August 2026
Offers Made – 15 October 2026
Offers Accepted/Declined – 16 October 2026
Summer Clerkship – November/December 2026 (6 weeks)
Winter Clerkship – June/July 2027 (6 weeks)
Adelaide clerkship applications are now closed.
Want to stay in the loop for our 2026 intake? Register here to receive future updates.
Applications Open – 22 June 2026
Applications Close – 17 July 2026
Offers Made – 31 August 2026
Offers Accepted/Declined – 2 September 2026
Clerkship Intake – November/December 2026
Brisbane clerkship are now closed.
Want to stay in the loop for our 2026 intake? Register here to receive future updates.
Applications Open – 13 July 2026 (9am AEST)
Applications Close – 7 August 2026 (5pm AEST)
Offers Made – 7 October 2026 (from 9am AEST)
Offers Accepted/Declined – 8 October 2026 (by 1pm AEST)
Clerkship – November-December 2026 (4 weeks)
A three-week program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students seeking practical experience, professional training, and a pathway into impactful legal career with Mills Oakley.
Our First Nations Pathway Program offers invaluable work experience, mentorship, and professional skills for students with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. This three-week program provides Australian First Nations law students with a genuine glimpse into life at Mills Oakley.
You will have opportunities to collaborate with practitioners at all levels and actively participate in high-impact legal projects. You can expect a diverse range of learning opportunities, hands-on practical legal exposure, and mentorship from seasoned lawyers.
Participating in this program also creates a pathway for you to join our Mills Oakley Graduate Program at the completion of your law degree.
A 12-month program for law graduates ready to launch their career through structured professional training, rotations through diverse practice areas, and immersive experience on high-impact projects.
At Mills Oakley, your Graduate Program begins with a comprehensive induction program tailored to equip you with the fundamentals of legal practice while introducing you to key figures across our practice teams. This foundation sets the stage for a dynamic 12-month experience, during which you’ll rotate through three practice areas. These rotations provide invaluable, hands-on exposure across a range of disciplines, allowing you to refine your expertise and discover where your passions lie.
Our approach to recruitment emphasises cultivating talent from within, with most of our Law Graduates coming through our Seasonal Clerkship Program. However, additional graduate opportunities do occasionally arise. We invite those with a drive for excellence and a passion for impactful legal work to keep an eye on this page for any new openings in the program.
Mills Oakley have 20 practice areas, each a gateway to different industries, challenges, and career paths. See where your strengths fit, meet the teams you could join, and envision the potential impact you’ll make from day one.
“It’s great to be able to take clerks and graduates up to court so they can see what we do on a day-to-day basis. One seasonal clerk was able to attend most of a long trial in the Supreme Court of NSW in the few weeks they had in our team, and I know they found the experience really valuable.
Sonya Parsons | Partner
Charities and Purpose-Driven Institutions
We are dedicated to shaping an inclusive, safe, and supportive work experience to all current and prospective employees.
At Mills Oakley, we understand that diversity drives innovation and enriches the workplace. We value the contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Our diversity and inclusion philosophy is not only embedded in our hiring practices, but also in our day-to-day operations.
Our commitment to shaping a more inclusive future workplace for all Australian’s includes creating opportunities for the advancement and career growth of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. We offer our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as a genuine pledge to support the progress of First Nations communities. Recognising the under-representation of First Nations individuals among our team members, we are dedicated to creating an environment of belonging. Our First Nations Pathway Program offers an engaging and educational experience.
Employee wellbeing
As part of our commitment to our employees’ health and wellbeing, we have developed a comprehensive suite of initiatives designed to ensure that both our current employees and prospective clerks and graduates have access to the resources and support they need to thrive in all aspects of their lives.
We offer Seasonal Clerkships, a Graduate Program, and a First Nations Internship. Each program is designed to provide in-depth experience, mentorship, and a pathway to a successful career with us.
Applications open at different times depending on the program and location. Applications for 2025/2026 Seasonal Clerkships are opening soon. Please view your preferred location above for open dates and deadlines.
Applications can be submitted via our online portal during the advertised recruitment period. You’ll need to submit:
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview, where you’ll meet members of our team and have the chance to ask questions about life at Mills Oakley.
You’ll be notified of the outcome as soon as possible following interviews. We know waiting can be stressful, so we aim to keep you informed every step of the way.
Keep an eye on our website for opening dates and key deadlines.
We are looking for candidates who are passionate about the law and have a vision of advancing their careers as graduates at Mills Oakley. Our firm thrives on a culture of collaboration and approachability, so we are particularly interested in individuals who resonate with our values and work environment.
To ensure that you are a strong fit for Mills Oakley, take the time to research our firm and explore the practice groups that interest you the most. This will help you articulate why you want to join us and demonstrate your genuine interest. We encourage you to highlight all relevant experiences, both legal and non-legal, as they shape who you are and the unique skills you bring.
We have 20 diverse practices areas ranging from Commercial and Family Law to Not-For-Profit and Cyber Risk. Explore our practice areas here.
You will rotate through 2 of our practice groups as a Law Clerk, and 3 of our practice groups as a Law Graduate.
Throughout the twelve-month program, graduates will rotate through three different practice areas, spending four months in each before securing a permanent placement. The program begins with an induction, including workshops designed to help graduates transition smoothly into the workplace. Each graduate is paired with a dedicated partner, mentor, and buddy to support them during their rotations.
During the graduate year, participants will also complete the Practical Legal Training (PLT) Program through the College of Law, with financial support from the firm. In-house Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events are offered throughout the year to further support their professional growth.
The majority of our graduates are recruited through our Seasonal Clerkship Program and the priority offer process. When we have additional places, they will be advertised on our careers page. All 2025 graduate positions have been filled.
The number of clerkship and graduate positions depends on the office location of your preference. Please reach out to one of our HR Business Partners ([email protected]) for more information.
Priority offers are made in line with Law Society timelines (e.g. in February for ACT/NSW, August for VIC etc.) to clerks who have conveyed a true passion in their position and align well with the Mills Oakley values and performance expectations.
Yes, each clerk and graduate is provided with both a buddy and a mentor in each of their rotations. We believe it is important that clerks have the right people working with them and supporting them during their time with the firm.