Law Graduate Program - Fast Track Your Career with McKays!

Would you like to secure a Law Graduate role in a leading regional practice, with excellent opportunities for career progression?

The McKays Law Graduate Program in Mackay equips you with the skills, experience and opportunities, to give your career a kick start!

Join us either immediately after the completion of your university degree, or following admission.

Rotations

One of the main features of our Graduate Program at McKays is completing ‘rotations’, where you will have the opportunity to spend time in different areas of the practice e.g. conveyancing, commercial, family law, criminal law etc. You will typically spend on average three to six months in each rotation, allowing you to benefit from a range of supervision styles and mentoring from a variety of senior practitioners. You will also be able to sample several different areas of law, before settling into your niche area. Feedback from previous Law Graduates has been that they have found this aspect of the Program invaluable. Some have even been surprised by how their preferences have changed, from studying certain subjects at university, compared with working in those areas in real life.

Quality Legal Work

Our reputation for providing quality legal services, means that we attract an interesting mix of work and clients, from individuals to large ASX listed corporations from across Queensland. Our lawyers focus on just one or two areas of law, rather than taking a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ approach. This means that they become experts in their fields, allowing them to provide our clients with a superior service, leading to repeat work and word of mouth referrals.

Regardless of the area of law in which you work, you will be given hands on, challenging tasks that are appropriate for your skill level from day one. Our senior lawyers will encourage and trust you to tackle problems, yet are there to guide you and answer your questions when needed.

Practical Legal Training

For those who are not yet admitted, you will complete either a Practical Legal Training Program (PLT) or Trainee Solicitor Program (TSP), while working full time.

• PLT - Often, Graduates elect to complete their PLT through the College of Law, or a university. PLT can be completed ‘full time’ or ‘part time’, however our experience is that Graduates prefer a part time course, as this allows them to better manage a work/life balance. PLT typically takes approximately 8-9 months to complete part time.

• TSP - The TSP is usually completed through Queensland University of Technology. You have approximately twelve months to complete the practical and theoretical components of the course. Most of the practical components can be achieved via on-the-job training, mentoring and coaching that you receive as part of your training with McKays. However, supplementary courses are also available if needed.

We are more than happy to chat to you about which option might be more suitable for you, and why. We can also arrange for you to chat to our lawyers who have already completed our Graduate Program, so you can hear first hand from them about their experiences.

Community / Living in Mackay

Mackay has a population of over 130,000, with just under 40% of the residents being born oversees from countries such as the Philippines, New Zealand, England, India, China and South Africa.

Historically, Mackay was known for its sugar production, however with the coalfields to the west of Mackay having the single largest coal reserve in Australia (with 34 operational coal mines extracting more than 100 million tonnes annually), a large number of residents now work in mining or mining related services.

Mackay’s tropical lifestyle is relaxed and fairly laid back, with many options available for outdoor enthusiasts including fishing, boating, camping and hiking. There is a growing restaurant and dining scene in Mackay and the city is quickly becoming an attractive location for larger sporting fixtures and events e.g. Women’s Big Bash League cricket and the annual Food and Wine Festival. Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands are close enough for weekend getaways for sailing, snorkeling and diving, and with Mackay and the Whitsunday Airport close by, you can easily visit friends and family, go shopping or attend concerts on the weekends at the state’s capital or interstate.

For Law Graduates who are new to Mackay, our tip is to join sporting and community groups that interest you, and take every opportunity to get out and about in the community. There are many sporting clubs to choose from including AFL, NRL, Soccer, touch football, netball, basketball etc, as well as social groups and charitable/community organisations.

We also encourage all of our professional staff, from Graduates through to Directors, to embrace the many professional networking opportunities available to them, including attending Young Professionals Mackay and Chamber of Commerce events. These networking opportunities often lead to lasting friendships with other local professionals, and long term business relationships.

Want to know more?

If you’d like to know more about our Law Graduate Program, please feel free to email or call us and we will be happy to chat to you about your options! We also offer Vacation Work Experience for those who would like to try us for size!

If you would like to apply for a position with us, please send us a covering letter, copy of your resume, and a copy of your academic transcript.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Law Students

Are you currently studying a law degree at university? Would you be interested in gaining practical experience through a casual, part or full time role while you study remotely? Click here to learn more about employment opportunities for Law Students in Mackay.

High School Students

Have you recently graduated from high school? We have a program dedicated to those looking for an entry level role in a professional environment. Please click here for more information.