Judge's Associate

The High Court of Australia, Federal Courts, Supreme Courts and County Courts offer positions as Judge’s Associates.

An Associate is essentially an assistant to the Judge and the duties of an Associate will vary depending on the Court and the needs of the individual Judge. A Judge’s Associateship is an ideal stepping stone for an aspiring Barrister. You have the privilege of working behind the scenes, becoming familiar with practices, procedure, court staff, practitioners, counsel and most importantly you have the opportunity to watch advocates and learn what makes a good advocate. Many Judges choose Associates who demonstrate an interest or commitment to joining the Bar. Most Associateships are for a 1-2 year term. Associates typically will also complete a year as a Trainee Solicitor prior to or after their Associateship in order to be eligible for admission to legal practice.

Not all Judge’s Associate positions are advertised, so you should make enquiries and forward your CV to the Chief Justice’s Associate or the Registrar of the particular court you wish to apply. If you have an interest in a specific jurisdiction or have a Judge in mind, you should contact the relevant Associate and make enquiries as to if and when the position will become available and ascertain the individual requirements of that Judge.You are encouraged to review the relevant website, as the application process for each jurisdiction will differ.