Questions about working with Yegal

Yes, of course. All our paralegals are paid above Award rates for their time and are employed as casuals by Yegal for the duration of any project.

We work with a mix of top tier, mid tier and international law firms, as well as in-house and corporate counsel across a range of industries. A growing client base is our network of boutique law firms, plus insurance claims firms — claims roles are a great way to gain practical experience as a bridge to a law firm job.

We collect your availability as a starting point and match you to a job that suits it. Wider availability boosts your chances. Clients tend to want paralegals who can work at least three days per week for continuity, though this is not always the case. It's very important to us that you put your studies first.

We want to help law students because getting into the industry can be hard, but we do work with graduates on a number of projects and graduates are encouraged to apply. We'll consider candidates in their first two years post admission.

Projects vary in type and duration. Some paralegals are placed on ongoing two-day-per-week projects with in-house counsel or boutique firms. Projects at larger firms tend to average three months and often involve e-Discovery.

All Yegal paralegals are paid above the Legal Services Award rate. None of our positions are volunteer placements or internships.

You are paid fortnightly, one week in arrears, by 5pm Friday at the latest. Your payslip is emailed the day before, allowing time for your timesheets to be approved and payments processed.

Yes. Yegal also works with clients on permanent roles, and many short-term paralegal projects convert to permanent employment. Making a strong impression during an assignment can create opportunities to extend an engagement.

We cannot guarantee hours or work. Clients use Yegal when they need to adjust resources during busy periods. Where possible, we build lasting relationships with paralegals, and successful assignments can lead to second and third opportunities, subject to conflict checks.

We do not sponsor visas. Internationally qualified lawyers are encouraged to pursue relevant practical training, including e-Discovery, when seeking to enter the Australian legal job market.

Of course. We encourage paralegals to fit placements around existing work and study commitments, and there is no obligation to work exclusively through Yegal. Paralegals with three or more days of weekly availability generally have a better chance of securing a role.

Many placements arise from short-term spikes in client activity, so candidates who respond quickly and can start soon tend to have an advantage. Other roles are less time-sensitive, so notice periods vary from job to job.

We're looking for students who can demonstrate a Credit Average at a minimum. Our paralegals are a reflection of us, so we look for high achievers where we can.

Not necessarily. Most clients want to see some form of paid office experience, though we understand this is not always realistic for law students. Supplementing legal theory with practical training to make you job ready can help you overcome a lack of practical work experience.

Volunteering is commendable, but practical training can be more valuable when your goal is paid legal work. We encourage candidates to identify a practice area that interests them and build relevant, job-ready skills in that field.

Yes, most definitely. Once you make it through our competitive screening process, we aim to help as many students as possible find paralegal jobs. Continue building relevant experience and practical skills while you wait for a suitable opportunity.