Legal Services offers two programs in which law students can participate:

• a Summer Clerkship program, and
• a Practical Legal Training program.

Summer Clerkship Program

Legal Services' Summer Clerkship program is an exciting opportunity to experience the work we undertake on a day to day basis and see firsthand the impact we have on the South Australian community.

The 2027 Summer Clerskhip program will run from Monday, 1 February to Friday, 19 February 2027.

Applications for the 2027 Summer Clerkship are now open. For further information and to apply please see our Current Vacancies . 

Applications close 11.59 pm, Sunday 30 August 2026.

Aims

The aims of the Summer Clerkship program include:

• assisting law students to develop professional knowledge and skills within a legal environment
• encouraging law students to consider a career in the legal assistance sector, and
• providing Legal Services with the opportunity to recruit suitable, trained and qualified Indigenous and non-Indigenous lawyers.

About the Summer Clerkship Program 

The Summer Clerkship program is a structured program which includes training and development, and opportunities to undertake a range of duties, including:

• Legal research
• Drafting documents
• Observing matters in court

Students are supervised and supported throughout the program. Summer Clerk positions at Legal Services are paid positions.

The Summer Clerkship is a three week program where you will be provided with an introduction to each of our legal divisions in your first week, followed by a two week immersion in one particular legal practice (Criminal Law, Family Law, Civil Law or Legal Information and Advice).

There will be an opportunity for four summer clerkship roles.

Timing

Our 2027 Summer Clerskhip program will run over three weeks, Monday, 1 February until Friday, 19 February 2027. The Clerkship is a full-time role, meaning working hours will be (approx.) 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Selection Process

Summer Clerkship applications are assessed on the basis of a written application addressing the selection criteria, together with a covering letter, current curriculum vitae and academic transcript.

We use face-to-face (and/or video call) interviews for short-listed candidates.

All successful applicants are required to hold a valid Criminal History Check and a DHS Working with Children Check. 

Applications for the 2027 Summer Clerkship will open Monday, 3 August 2026. Applications are now available via the Current Vacancies page on our website. Applications will close Sunday, 30 August 2026.

Enquiries

Please direct enquiries to Legal Education Officer, Hannah Millard, at hannah.millard@lsc.sa.gov.au. 

Practical Legal Training Program

Legal Services offers three PLT placement blocks each year.

Applications for our 24 August to 11 September 2026 PLT Placement Block are now open. Apply here: Current Vacancies

Applications close 8 July 2026.

About the PLT Program

Students are able to complete a Practical Legal Training (PLT) placement with Legal Services as part of their Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP).

Legal Services' PLT Placement blocks run for three weeks, full-time (15 days). We cannot accommodate requests for part-time placements.

Legal Services' PLT Placement positions are unpaid.

Legal Services will host up to six students per placement block. PLT students will be placed in one of the following divisions for the entirety of their placement, in accordance with capacity and availability of supervisors to provide a quality placement experience:

• Criminal Law
• Family Law
• Civil Law (SACAT Representation, NDIS Appeals and Protection Visa Appeals)
• Legal Information and Advice

If students have a preference as to the Division in which they undertake their placement, this should be indicated in their application. All effort will be made to match the student with their preferred area of law, however, this cannot be guaranteed.

Most PLT placements will be based from our Adelaide city office.

We may have an opportunity to undertake a PLT placement with our Criminal Law team in our Elizabeth or Noarlunga offices. If this is something you would be interested in, please indicate this is in your application and we will do our best to accommodate this preference.

Students selected to undertake a PLT Placement with Legal Services will be responsible for ensuring all necessary documentation from their GDLP provider is received and completed in order to commence and finalise their placement.

Dates

The dates for PLT placement blocks in 2026 are: 

*The above dates may be subject to change.

Selection Process

Application Process

Only students who are currently undertaking their PLT/GDLP are eligible.

Applications (when open) can be made through the Current Vacancies page on the Legal Services website. You will need to provide the following documents:

• Cover letter (noting legal Division preference, if applicable)
• Curriculum Vitae (including contact details of at least two current referees)
• Academic Transcript

Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Criminal History Check and a DHS Working with Children Check. If you have these current checks please include evidence with your application, otherwise Legal Services will arrange for them to be obtained.

We select students for PLT based on the written applications. We do not conduct formal interviews for PLT placements.

We will endeavour to notify applicants of the success of their application within four weeks from commencement of the placement block.

Enquiries

Please direct enquiries to Legal Education Officer, Hannah Millard at hannah.millard@lsc.sa.gov.au.