Lawyer
As a part-time Army Lawyer, you’ll work in a legal job with a difference that will give you an exciting and ever-expanding field of expertise. One week you could be engaged in civil law, the next you could be undertaking a fascinating variety of military-specific legal tasks, at home or overseas.
What you'll do
Whether you’re a barrister or a solicitor, this flexible part-time role is a great opportunity to broaden your experience working in areas such as international law, copyright law, environmental law, workplace health and safety, the management of government contracts, employment law and anti-discrimination law. No matter what area of law you’re working in, everything you do will make a difference to Australia.
If you’re looking to experience adventure and excitement outside the everyday, earn tax-free pay and work as part of a close-knit team, this is an exciting opportunity that can work around your lifestyle.
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.
The Army Reserve has units located all across Australia and offers you the flexibility to serve where you live. There are training locations in cities, small towns and regional areas. Even if there isn’t a unit close to you there may be other ways to serve. You’ll have a Careers Coach who you can ask about your options.
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. For Reserve service, the maximum age to apply is 60 years, with a Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) of 65. Candidates who wish to enlist into the Reserves beyond the age of 61 years will need further assessment to ensure they can complete all pre-requisite training in their chosen field prior to reaching CRA.
You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.
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 is:
- tertiary qualifications in law e.g. Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- admitted as a barrister or solicitor to the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian state or territory, or have passed all examinations for admission
- hold a current practising certificate with a state or territory Law Society or be capable of obtaining a practising certificate after appointment.
Lawyer positions are very competitive, and you’ll need practical experience to be 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.
There is no minimum number of years required in the ADF Reserve as service is voluntary. You can volunteer until the Defence Reserve retirement age of 65, subject to the requirements and your suitability for further service.
Reserve service is flexible and can fit around your family, life and work responsibilities. In your first year, you can choose to serve between a minimum of 20 and up to 150 days, which includes Initial Employment and Military Training. After that, you can choose to serve 20 to 150 days each year, with the potential to extend to 200 days. On training completion, you can serve from as little as one night a week, one weekend a month, or in consecutive weeks - in a way that suits your lifestyle.
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.