Specialist Law Clerk Committee

The Specialist Law Clerk Committee was formed on 4 May 2006 and supports over 120 Associates of the Society.

Its primary focus is to standardise industry practices, consolidate and raise the profile of the profession within South Australia, realise the importance and full potential law clerks bring to the South Australian legal industry and to provide them with the same networking, support and other opportunities that are available to legal practitioners.

What is a Law Clerk?

Law clerks usually work for lawyers assisting them in a broad variety of work in all areas of the law.

Who employs Law Clerks?

Law clerks can be employed in any organisation that provides legal advice (e.g. private legal firms, Federal and State government bodies (including the courts), hospitals, banks, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and large or small corporations with in-house legal representation.

What areas of law do Law Clerks work in?

Law clerks work in all areas of the law e.g. criminal, family, commercial, conveyancing, insurance, procedural skills, probate, litigation, research, debt collection, accountancy work, HR, environmental, defence, personal injury, Workcover, immigration and private investigative work).

What duties does a Law Clerk perform?

An experienced law clerk provides hands-on assistance across all aspects of work generally in a law firm or in a company that has in-house legal representation. Some of this work may include (but is not limited to):

• providing an initial contact point for legal queries;

• undertaking legal research;

• drafting various types of agreements and correspondence;

• preparing documents and compiling briefs for trial;

• assisting with commercial transactions;

• design and operation of specialised databases;

• liaising with clients and external organisations; or

• governance and compliance activities.

Membership

Specialist law clerks, while not able to be members of the Society, are eligible to apply to become an Associate – in fact, a special category of Associate (Specialist Law Clerk) has been created for them. Persons employed as a law clerk (either full time or part time) and those students undertaking a relevant course of study, are welcome to apply.

The joining fee has been kept to a minimum to provide an affordable opportunity for law clerks to develop their careers through this organisation. The Law Society encourages firms to pay the joining fee on behalf of their law clerks as the benefit to the firm of their staff being Associates outweighs the minimal subscription cost.

To apply, please contact Michelle Griffith, on email michelle.griffith@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Specialist Law Clerk Associates are exposed to a number of services that have been specially designed to benefit them and to assist in improved advocacy of their invaluable multi-tasking role to the broader professional legal community. Some of those benefits include:

• continuing professional development via Lunchtime Learning Seminars;

• receipt of the Law Society’s weekly e-newsletter, In-Brief;

• invitations to networking opportunities and social events;

• Frequent Values benefits program card;

• discussion forums;

• standardisation of industry practices; and

• increased employment opportunities.

Training

“Lunchtime Learning” is a series of informal educational seminars targeted specifically towards the interests of South Australian specialist law clerks. The one hour seminars held during lunchtime every two months focus on best legal practices regarding various topics of law that are relevant to the profession. The seminars are presented by peers in the legal industry and the topics for the seminars are determined by our members’ various practice areas and/or specific requests. If you would like to volunteer to be a speaker at one of these “Lunchtime Learning” sessions, please register your interest with Michelle Griffith, Manager (Member & Community Services) at michelle.griffith@lawsocietysa.asn.au or Phone: 8229 0238.

TAFE offers Certificate IV in Business (Legal Services), Diploma of Justice Administration and Certificates III and IV in Justice Studies. The courses are a solid introduction to aspects of judicial, legal and local government sectors and provide the fundamental knowledge and practical skills in order to work as a law clerk within these sectors.

In addition, Flinders University offers a Bachelor of Justice and Society (SATAC Code 214241). The degree is three years full time and aims to provide the necessary tools to understand how society works, the skills to research and analyse social issues and the ability to make legal and moral assessments and proposals for change.

Employment opportunities

The Committee provides a free Employment Notice Service to any firm or company that wishes to advertise a law clerk position directly to the group of Associates of the Society it supports. Firms and companies are advantaged by being able to directly target over 100 South Australian specialist law clerks.

If you would like the Law Society to send an Employment Notice on your behalf or on behalf of your firm or company please contact Michelle Griffith, Manager (Member & Community Services) at michelle.griffith@lawsocietysa.asn.au or Ph: 8229 0238.

Want to contact us?

Kali Brenzel - kali.brenzel@baesystems.com 

Tania Spinello - tspinello@lipmankaras.com 

Dion Heyer - dion.heyer@feg.com.au 

Michelle Griffith, Law Society of South Australia, Manager (Member & Community Services) – michelle.griffith@lawsocietysa.asn.au 

The Committee thanks the following organisations for their strong backing and unwavering support in the further development of the Committee and the group it supports:

• Adelaide TAFE;

• Legal Circles;

• The Institute of Legal Executives - Victoria; and

• The Institute of Legal Executives - Western Australia.