The Community Legal Centres NSW First Nations Cadetship Program offers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students the chance to gain hands-on work experience at community legal centres across New South Wales.
This program helps address the underrepresentation of First Nations peoples in the legal sector, supporting their professional growth while boosting the presence of First Nations people in community legal roles and expanding access to justice across the state.
The opportunity is open to First Nations students in any degree of study. Priority will go to law, social work, communications, or community development students.
Employment
Cadets are paid employees for 12 months and complete two days per week with structured mentoring, networking, and opportunities to engage with the judiciary, attend Aboriginal court models, and participate in law firm training in Sydney’s CBD.
What’s in it for students?
- Practical experience and opportunities for personal and professional development, including training and mentoring
- Real-world exposure to the legal field
- Engagement with frontline advocacy, courts, client interviews, and community networks
- Building connections with local Aboriginal communities
Eligibility
To be eligible for a place in the internship, students need to:
- Be enrolled in a university degree or equivalent
- Be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
- Have an interest in social justice
Duties and Commitments
- Complete CLCNSW and Host Orientation
- Attend placement on time and be in good communication with Host Supervisor and CLCNSW
- Complete tasks set out in Student Contract
- Complete a Media Task set out by CLCNSW – Opinion Article or Reflective Journal
- Complete Student Profile for student promotion
Where can students work?
Any CLCNSW member centre can host a student, pending the availability of supervising staff and the student's timetable, as well as capacity, workload and cultural safety. A priority of every student is that they are culturally safe in their workplace and supported in their study.
Meet the Cadets
2026 First Nations Cadets
Cadets from previous years
- Maikiira Barber
- Keely Che-Cain
- Hannah Fernie
- Aimee Lawson
- Xander Mains
- Jai McGaw
- Emma McMahon
- 2022 CLCNSW First Nations Cadets
Articles written by cadets
- Growth and Learning in the Children's Court by Aimee Lawson
- NCAT's Indigenous List is a model for positive change by Emma McMahon
- Grief, Culture and Justice: A Journey through the NSW Coroners Court by Maikiira Barber
- Enhancing Access to Justice: The role of the Family Law Indigenous List in supporting Indigenous families by Hannah Fernie
- Experiencing the Walama List court model as a First Nations law student by Jai McGaw
Apply
Applications for the CLCNSW First Nations Cadetship will reopen in September 2026.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to step into the world of legal practice and make a real impact.
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Bobbi Murray
Sector Development Manager
Community Legal Centres NSW
Email: bobbi.murray@clcnsw.org.au
Rural, regional and remote (RRR) opportunities
Community Legal Centres NSW also offers a two-week internship that places students in rural, regional and remote (RRR) community legal centres during their university break. Find out more about the RRR internship here!
More information
Find more background on the CLCNSW First Nations cadetship program here.