Lawyer
What you'll do
Your duties will cover broad fields of law, including:
- disciplinary
- administrative
- operations
- civil and commercial
- legal aid requirements.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career as an officer. As you progress, the Army will provide you with leadership, management, and specialist skills training to develop your ability to effectively manage your teams. You’ll also be provided with training opportunities to further develop your role-related expertise. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and enable you to become an influential leader in the Army.
As an officer in the Army, you may also undertake a posting to an Any Officer role during your career, such as instructor/training roles and staff officer roles. This experience helps you broaden your skill set and prepare for more senior roles.
Following training, you could be posted to one of the many Army regional and formation Commands and Army Offices across Australia. Locations include Adelaide, Albury/Wodonga, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Kapooka, Melbourne, Perth, Puckapunyal, Sydney and Townsville.
Discover where the Army operates across Australia on our base locations map.
Requirements and training
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 57 years.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
The minimum requirement for entry into this role are:
- Tertiary qualifications in law e.g. Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD)
- Admitted to practice as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of an Australian state or territory
- Hold a current practising certificate with a state or territory Law Society or be immediately eligible to obtain a practising certificate
Entry is competitive and satisfying the minimum requirements does not guarantee entry.
Appointment as a Lawyer requires a strong academic record demonstrating proven academic ability. Candidates who have practical legal experience and/or strong academic performance in our key areas of military legal practice will be more competitive: Administrative law, Law of Armed Conflict/International Humanitarian Law, International Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Law of the Sea, Aviation Law, Law of Naval Warfare, Cyber Law, Space Law, Law relating to National Security, Intelligence, Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, or Use of the Defence Force.
Candidates will be asked to provide a covering letter outlining their motivation for joining and how their education, skillset and experience are applicable in a military context. Candidates with practical experience and/or extra-curricular activities relevant to military legal service will be more competitive.
To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.
Male
- Push-ups: 8
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
Female
- Push-ups: 4
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.
You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 4 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.
Course: Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (SSO FAC)
Duration: 25 days
Location: Royal Military College – Duntroon, Canberra, ACT
You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of:
- leadership and military justice
- weapons handling
- command and control
- unit and personnel administration
- basic military skills
- the ideals of officer behaviour
- attitudes necessary for future employment.
This course is delivered in 2 parts for both full-time and part-time (Reserve) Officers.
- Part 1 – 10 days
- Part 2 – 15 days.
Course: Legal Training Module 1 (LTM1)
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Military Law Training Centre (MLTC), Victoria Barracks, Paddington, Sydney, NSW
LTM1 is the initial employment training (IET) for ADF Lawyers. It involves an intensive 2-week in-house course at the MLTC and a number of on-the-job tasks called LL1 Tasks and Assessment Criteria, that are to be completed in the workplace after the in-house course under technical control of a supervisor. You need to complete the LL1 tasks within 18 months of completing LTM1.
Legal Training Module 2 (LTM2)
This training consists of the following courses:
- Military Justice Law
- Military Operations Law
- Military Legal Practice.
Each subject is delivered as a one or 2-week intensive, followed by assessment tasks. LTM2 is usually completed over a period of 2 to 3 years. Completion will equip you with the knowledge and reference materials to work at the tactical and operational level at the senior Lieutenant and Lieutenant Commander levels.
Legal Training Module 3 (LTM3)
This training is completed by all lawyers and consists of 3 core subjects:
- Advanced Military Administrative Law
- Advanced Military Discipline Law
- Advanced Military Operations Law.
Each subject is delivered as a one-week intensive course, followed by assessment tasks and will be sufficient for the granting of a Graduate Certificate of Military Law. If you don’t already have a master’s degree, you can then complete a further 4 master’s level elective subjects at the University of Adelaide to qualify for the award of a Master of Laws. LTM3 is usually completed over a period of 4 years.
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
You can apply for DUS after having completed 12 months of a law degree (Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD), however, the Army will only sponsor the study from your date of appointment into the Army.
Undergraduate sponsorship requires a strong academic record performance in your studies to date. Candidates who have performed well in our key areas of military legal practice will be more competitive. These include: Administrative law, Law of Armed Conflict/International Humanitarian Law, International Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Law of the Sea, Aviation Law, Cyber Law, Space Law.
Practical legal experience and/or leadership experience will also strengthen your application.
Please note, if you’re studying a double degree, you’ll only receive funding for one degree.
To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.
Male
- Push-ups: 8
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
Female
- Push-ups: 4
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.
You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS). Your IMPS will be 4 years full-time service after you have graduated and completed your sponsored university study and any required hiatus periods. Subsequent periods of service or open-ended appointment may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.
Course: Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (SSO FAC)
Duration: 25 days
Location: Royal Military College – Duntroon, Canberra, ACT
You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of:
- leadership and military justice
- weapons handling
- command and control
- unit and personnel administration
- basic military skills
- the ideals of officer behaviour
- attitudes necessary for future employment.
This course is delivered in 2 parts for both full-time and part-time (Reserve) Officers.
- Part 1 – 10 days
- Part 2 – 15 days.
Course: Legal Training Module 1 (LTM1)
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Military Law Training Centre (MLTC), Victoria Barracks, Paddington, Sydney, NSW
LTM1 is the initial employment training (IET) for ADF Lawyers. It involves an intensive 2-week in-house course at the MLTC and a number of on-the-job tasks called LL1 Tasks and Assessment Criteria, that are to be completed in the workplace after the in-house course under technical control of a supervisor. You need to complete the LL1 tasks within 18 months of completing LTM1.
Legal Training Module 2 (LTM2)
This training consists of the following courses:
- Military Justice Law
- Military Operations Law
- Military Legal Practice.
Each subject is delivered as a one or 2-week intensive, followed by assessment tasks. LTM2 is usually completed over a period of 2 to 3 years. Completion will equip you with the knowledge and reference materials to work at the tactical and operational level at the senior Lieutenant and Lieutenant Commander levels.
Legal Training Module 3 (LTM3)
This training is completed by all lawyers and consists of 3 core subjects:
- Advanced Military Administrative Law
- Advanced Military Discipline Law
- Advanced Military Operations Law.
Each subject is delivered as a one-week intensive course, followed by assessment tasks and will be sufficient for the granting of a Graduate Certificate of Military Law. If you don’t already have a master’s degree, you can then complete a further 4 master’s level elective subjects at the University of Adelaide to qualify for the award of a Master of Laws. LTM3 is usually completed over a period of 4 years.