Employment Opportunities at SSO

Generally the State Solicitor's Office recruitment strategy for lawyers is targeted at more junior levels through an acclaimed Law Graduate programme, moving through to Restricted Practice and beyond.

However, the State Solicitor's Office also selectively recruits at junior, mid-range and senior (partner equivalent) levels when the special need arises.

The State Solicitor's Office is always keen to hear from very talented lawyers who are interested in joining a leading government law firm in one or more of the practice areas outlined in this website.

If you require any further information on lawyer positions with us, contact:

Keith Whitehouse, General Manager
Phone: (08) 9264 1897
Email: k.whitehouse@sso.wa.gov.au 

The Office will accept applications from:

1. Law graduates who have not completed the coursework component of an approved practical legal training course.
   These graduates will be required to complete a practical legal training course during their 12 month legal traineeship (paid for by the State Solicitor's Office). At the conclusion of the programme, the State Solicitor's Office will support the graduate's admission to practice and, subject to performance, transition them to a 12 month contract of employment as a Solicitor.
    
2. Law graduates who have completed the coursework component of an approved practical legal training course (such as that provided by the College of Law) but have not been admitted to practice law.
   These graduates will still undertake a 12 month legal traineeship, with the same level of remuneration as the graduates in 1 above, but will not have to undertake further external practical legal training provided the approved course work is completed prior to their commencement. At the conclusion of the programme, the State Solicitor's Office will support the graduate's admission to practice and, subject to performance, transition them to a 12 month contract of employment as a Solicitor.
    
3. Law graduates who have completed the requirements of an approved practical legal training course (such as that provided by the College of Law) and have already been admitted to practice law.
   These graduates will still undertake a 12 month legal traineeship, with the same level of remuneration as the graduates in 1 and 2 above, but will not have to undertake further external practical legal training. At the conclusion of the programme, subject to performance, these graduates will transition to a 12 month contract of employment as a Solicitor.

Note that this recruitment process is open to law graduates only. We will accept applications from graduates who have been admitted to practice law; however practicing lawyers will not be eligible to apply. This ineligibility includes overseas qualified and practicing lawyers who have completed an Australian law degree for admission in Western Australia.

One recruitment process is undertaken each year for the State Solicitor's Office's Law Graduate Programme.

Due to circumstances related to COVID-19, the State Solicitor's Office has had to make the difficult decision to run a targeted recruitment process for our 2021 Law Graduate Program. As a result, applications for our 2021 Law Graduate Program will only be accepted from Professional Assistants currently employed at the State Solicitor's Office, and Vacation Clerks from our 2018/19 and 2019/20 intakes.

This decision to run a targeted recruitment process is an unexpected outcome of the unique times in which we find ourselves, however we anticipate that we will be back to our standard recruitment practices for Law Graduates in 2021 (for the 2022 program).

If you have clerked with us in our 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 vacation clerkship intake, you will be contacted directly regarding your eligibility to apply for our 2021 Law Graduate Program.

Pay scales

The Law Graduate salary is currently under review, and more information will be provided to applicants as it becomes available. However remuneration for the second year of the programme will be that payable to a Solicitor (L2LG), commencing at $93,548 (as of 13 June 2018).

Future with the State Solicitor's Office

In the ordinary course, subject to performance, those who complete their initial contract will be considered for a contract extension and, in due course, permanency.

Mentors

Each Law Graduate is paired with a senior lawyer as part of an excellent mentoring scheme.

The program is designed to provide support and counsel to Law Graduates and junior practitioners. The mentor and mentees meet regularly to discuss work practices or other specific work-related issues.

Continuing Professional Development

Highly informative in-house Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminars are held on a regular basis. The presentations are made by the SSO lawyers and some guest speakers cover a range of topics of particular interest and applicability to the work of the State Solicitor's Office.

Rotations

The Law Graduate Programme is designed to provide practical experience in the full range of State Solicitor's Office practice areas - and more. This is achieved by placing the Law Graduates in a range of internal and external practice areas throughout the year of the Law Graduate Programme. The following is what can be expected in the range of placement areas:

Civil Litigation

Chambers attendances are frequent. Often Law Graduates will be instructed to appear on more than one matter per session. Other more involved Court work includes:

• Special appointments (chambers matters expected to take more than 20 minutes to hear) and where drafting written submissions may be required.
• Conciliation and Review Directorate hearings (workers compensation matters which often involve calling and cross-examining witnesses).
• Sheriff interpleader summons applications.

General litigation work mainly relates to interlocutory procedures such as pleadings, discovery and interrogatories. Opinion writing in a range of areas is also frequently required.

Recoveries

This rotation provides Law Graduates with an insight into the realities of commercial practice and this rotation offers useful exposure to Court work. The Law Graduates attends Court to examine judgment debtors, by way of a means inquiry, regarding their means to pay judgment debts.

Other aspects of this work include:

• communicating with clients
• letter writing
• proofing of witnesses
• drafting Court documents
• preparing submissions for summary judgment and other applications
• legal research
• opinion writing.

Commercial

Law Graduates assist in the preparation of a wide range of commercial, conveyancing and other related legal documents such as:

• resource or State agreements
• copyright arrangements
• deeds of assignment.

Law Graduates also have the opportunity to attend property settlements. Much time is spent researching points of law relating to the execution of commercial transactions.

Native Title

The Native Title area represents the State's interests in all matters relating to native title. This involves representation in the National Native Title Tribunal, the Federal Court and the High Court. In addition, the Land Claims area provides legal advice to State Government Departments on native title issues and often liaises with the Commercial and Conveyancing branch in respect to resource development and mining issues.

The procedures established by the Native Title Act (Cth) are continually evolving. This impacts upon the work of Law Graduates, which is predominantly directed towards opinion writing. Issues that arise often relate to the interpretation of the Commonwealth Act such as the procedures it establishes and the powers and jurisdiction of the Native Title Tribunal. Law Graduates also assist in preparing matters for Court, including researching Federal and High Court submissions.

WA Police Service

This is another important external placement which provides a valuable opportunity for Law Graduates to gain an insight into the work done by SSO solicitors on placement with WA Police and WA Police solicitors. Law Graduates will be placed in the Legal Services Unit of WA Police. They will be asked to conduct research on a wide range of matters, and be involved in both preparing for, and assisting at, various court hearings.

These full time positions will provide applicants with a unique opportunity to work closely with the most senior legal officers within government. Responsibilities include assisting in drafting legal opinions, submissions and correspondence and involvement in law reform. The work is interesting, diverse and challenging and will provide an excellent basis for a successful career in law.

Successful applicants will be appointed for two years beginning in January 2021. Following completion of the appointment Professional Assistants can reasonably expect, subject to performance, to be offered a place in the State Solicitor's Office Law Graduate Programme and to be offered articles with the State Solicitor and to be employed through their restricted practice period.

Applicants should be in their penultimate year of study of law and be prepared to complete their study part-time over the two year period. Highly developed research, analytical, problem solving and interpersonal skills are essential. Applicants' legal academic results should be such that applicants can reasonably anticipate being invited into an Honours programme in law.

Professional Assistants will receive remuneration at level 4 PSGOGA, $78,452 per annum (as of 13 June 2018).

Applications will open in 2020.

To apply:

All applications must be submitted on the WA Jobs Board (www.jobs.wa.gov.au)

Please address your application to the General Manager, Mr Keith Whitehouse including:

1. a cover letter identifying why you want to work for the State Solicitor's Office
2. your resume
3. a copy of your most current official academic transcript.

Late applications or those sent directly to the State Solicitor's Office cannot be accepted Applications received directly by the State Solicitor's Office will be returned to the applicant for re-submission via the WA Jobs Board.

Applications are usually sought in July of each year for the coming summer and following winter vacation periods. Generally 12 three-week summer clerkships are offered, with a further 12 winter clerkships of two weeks duration being available.

The clerkships are available to under-graduate and postgraduate students only.  The carefully structured vacation clerkship program ensures that participants are well mentored and gain experience in as many of the State Solicitor's practice areas as possible.

During a typical clerkship a Vacation Clerk will spend a week one of the following areas before rotating into another:

• Specialist Advisings
• Native Title and State Lands
• Commercial
• Litigation.

During a week's placement a major task will be allocated along with opportunities to attend court and meetings.

Vacation Recruitment Dates Summer 2019/2020 and Winter 2020

• Applications open 15 July 2019
• Applications close 4.30 pm 5 August 2019
• Offers 20 September 2019 (9.00 am) - offers will be held open for 2 hours.

Please note that no interviews are held for Vacation Clerkships at the State Solicitor's Office. Clerkships are selected based on academic excellence combined with a genuine interest in law pertaining to Government.

To apply: All applications must be submitted on the WA Jobs Board (www.jobs.wa.gov.au/) Please address your application to the Head of Professional Development, Ms Kirsten Chivers including:

1. A cover letter of no more than two (2) pages discussing why you want to undertake a vacation clerkship at the State Solicitor's Office.
2. A current comprehensive CV.
3. A copy of your most current academic transcript.

Late applications or those sent directly to the State Solicitor's Office cannot be accepted Applications received directly by the State Solicitor's Office will be returned to the applicant for re-submission via the WA Jobs Board.

Positions range from relatively junior law clerks through to very skilled and experienced senior managing law clerks. Once with the State Solicitor's Office you will have excellent opportunities for personal development and advancement.

Typical work of law clerks and paralegals includes:

• Providing clerical and paralegal support to lawyers.
• Filing and serving documents.
• Preparing a range of legal and court documents and associated correspondence.
• Assisting with the management of large litigation matters, including data base administration and document management.
• Managing a range of legal files under the supervision of lawyers
• Appearing in chambers.

Available positions are usually advertised in The West Australian newspaper (Government appointments section) as well as on the WA Jobs Board. Jobs feature on the Department of Justice website.

If you require any further information on law clerk or paralegal positions with us, please contact:

Assistant General Manager
Phone: (08) 9264 1868
Email: sso@sso.wa.gov.au 

Typical work of legal assistants include:

• Providing secretarial and clerical support to lawyers.
• Screening, answering or placing telephone calls.
• Word processing of opinions, court and legal documents and associated correspondence.
• Assisting with the management of lawyers' files, opinions and time sheets.
• Attending to travel arrangements.

Positions are advertised in a similar manner to Law Clerks and Paralegals - please see above.

If you require any further information on legal assistant or reception positions, contact:

Assistant General Manager
Phone: (08) 9264 1868
Email: sso@sso.wa.gov.au 

The State Solicitor's Office has a small team of historical and anthropological researchers whose work typically includes:

• undertaking genealogical research
• preparing scoping reports for lawyers
• analysing relevant archival materials and litigation evidence
• maintaining historical land claims materials.

Positions are advertised in a similar manner to Law Clerks and Paralegals - please see above.

If you require any further information on historical research positions, contact:

Managing Research Officer
Phone: (08) 9264 6102
Email: sso@sso.wa.gov.au

The State Solicitor's Office delivers some internal corporate and business services, principally in the areas of records and workflow management; human resource management; matter costing and billing; financial management and budgeting; and information technology. While these are not our 'core' legal activities, they are certainly critical to the operations of the Office. Other corporate services (eg Library services, accounts processing etc) operate within the Department of Justice. 

Corporate positions are advertised in a similar manner to Law Clerks, although no pool recruitment exercises are undertaken for these positions - see above.

If you require any further information on corporate or business support positions, contact:

Assistant General Manager
Phone: (08) 9264 1868
Email: sso@sso.wa.gov.au