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CSO employment

Employment and training with the Crown Solicitor’s Office (CSO).


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Employment

General vacancies

CSO is required to fill all positions through a merit-based selection process. Paid positions are advertised on the government's IWORKFORSA website. You can register to receive updates about legal positions via the IWORKFORSA website. Positions that can be filled externally (ie open to people not already working in government) may also be advertised through online recruitment websites (such as Seek or CareerOne) or the Saturday edition of the Advertiser newspaper. 

Graduate pool

CSO has established a graduate LEC1 solicitor pool. Successful applicants are placed in a pool and notified as suitable vacancies arise. Successful applications for the pool are valid for at least 12 months.

Potential applicants are advised that the CSO graduate pool is currently closed and will reopen in 2018.

You can register to receive updates about legal positions on the IWORKFORSA website.

Paralegal pool

CSO has established a paralegal pool. Successful applicants are placed in a pool and notified as suitable vacancies arise. Successful applications for the pool are valid for 12 months.

Potential applicants are advised that the CSO paralegal pool is currently closed and will re-open in 2018.

You can register to receive updates about paralegal positions on the IWORKFORSA website.

Administrative officer and legal secretary pools

CSO has established administrative officer and legal secretary pools. Successful applicants are placed in a pool and notified as suitable vacancies arise. Successful applications for the pool are valid for 12 months.

Potential applicants are advised that the CSO Administrative Officer and Legal Secretary pools are currently closed and likely to re-open mid 2018..

You can receive updates about this position on the IWORKFORSA website.

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Practical legal training

CSO offers placements to students wishing to complete the practical legal training (PLT) component of their Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) of their professional qualifications. Placements are offered to approximately 6 students 3 times per year, for a period of 6 weeks (225 hours) in accordance with the guidelines set by the Law Society.

Only students currently undertaking their PLT/GDLP are eligible. 

Applications now closed. The 2019 intake will open at the end of 2018.

Potential applicants are advised that the dates available for 2018 are as follows:

  • 26 February 2018 to 6 April 2018
  • 14 May 2018 to 22 June 2018
  • 20 August 2018 to 28 September 2018

Please note: dates may differ slightly due to public holidays. 

Please note that we take rolling applications. Once the PLT allocation has been met we will no longer be able to accept any more applications, therefore we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

The 2018 intake is now open for applications and will close on 30 June, if the allocations have not been exhausted sooner.

Applications are to be submitted online via the following link: http://agdsa.applynow.net.au/jobs/AGDSA220.

If you have any questions, please contact us via email at CSO-BusinessServices [at] sa.gov.au.

Thank you for your interest in gaining experience within the Crown Solicitor's Office.

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Summer clerkships

Program objectives

The CSO Summer Clerkship program offers law students an opportunity to gain practical legal experience within a government environment, and undertake work within a legal practice.

Participants

Students completing their final years of study are invited to apply for a summer clerkship. CSO is interested in students who are high achievers in both their academic and personal lives, with good interpersonal skills, relevant legal work experience and relevant references.

About the program

The CSO Summer Clerkship program offers selected students the opportunity to take part in a structured program, including training and development sessions covering a range of legal and non-legal topics:

  • introduction to CSO
  • tour of the Attorney General's Department library, and training in the use of online facilities
  • training in drafting and legal research
  • information session on the practice management system
  • file and matter management
  • assisting in client matters, under supervision.

Students offered clerkships will be paid for the full 8 weeks. Each summer clerk is allocated to a section within CSO, or outposted to various government agencies.

Timing

Summer clerkships are offered for a period of 8 weeks each year, typically commencing in late November to early/mid-December. Summer clerkships conclude in time for students to attend the first practical legal training program offered by the Law Society.

Numbers

Each year 5-7 placements are offered to law students. Placements are highly sought after and extremely competitive.

Applications

Applications for summer clerkships close on 30 April of each year. Interviews will be conducted by June, with all offers being completed by the end of July.

Applications are now closed.  

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Enquiries

All enquiries should be directed to the Business Services section, phone (08) 8463 6554 or email CSO-BusinessServices [at] sa.gov.au.

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