Inside the legal job hunt: Lessons from top law graduates

For law graduates, securing that first role and stepping into the legal profession after years of dedication at university has turned into a high-stakes maze of relentless competition, repeated rejection, and constant uncertainty.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel: three law graduates who have navigated these same challenges now share their top tips and practical strategies that helped them secure their first legal roles and begin building their careers.

The obstacles and challenges

For most law graduates, transitioning from university to the workforce has become a minefield of uncertainty and unexpected challenges, where academic knowledge alone no longer guarantees a smooth entry into legal employment.

Emily Xu, corporate counsel at Ticketek Entertainment Group, shed light on the structural challenges facing new graduates, describing what she calls the “awkward” phase of the legal job market.

“As a law graduate, you occupy an awkward position in the legal job market,” she said.

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“On one hand, you may be considered overqualified for paralegal roles, either because you have already completed your law degree or because you already possess some practical legal experience.”

Reflecting on this in-between stage, Emily Xu emphasised that many graduates are left in a state of professional limbo, with limited admission status narrowing their options and making it difficult to secure roles that reflect both their capabilities and long-term ambitions.

“On the other hand, not being admitted to practise can restrict you to roles for which you may be perceived as overqualified or that you may find insufficiently challenging,” she said.

“This in-between stage can make it difficult to find a role that aligns with both your qualifications and career ambitions.”

For Erica Trandafilovic, a graduate law clerk at JGA Saddler, she echoed this challenge by describing the paradoxical situation she personally faced – entering the legal job market with years of professional experience as a mature-age student, yet lacking the formal legal background many employers prioritised.

“Coming into the job market with no legal experience, despite being an experienced professional, was a big obstacle,” Trandafilovic said.

“As a mature-age law student, taking time off work for unpaid volunteer or internship positions was not an option for me.”

Adding to the challenge, Trandafilovic explained that repeated rejections and limited feedback often leave graduates struggling to understand how to turn “no” into “yes”.

“The rejections and lack of communication or feedback regarding my applications were surprising and made it challenging to understand how to improve the way I presented myself,” Trandafilovic said.

“I came to the realisation quickly that I needed help to refine my application approach and overall presentation.”

While for Joy Xu, AML/CFT lawyer at Dentons, her visa status presented an often overlooked barrier in the Australian market for law graduates who are not permanent residents in Australia.

“For me, one of the most practical and sometimes underestimated challenges was my visa status. In the Australian market, many large firms still have graduate recruitment policies that are not always clear or flexible when it comes to candidates without permanent residency,” Joy Xu said.

“Quite a few application processes explicitly ask about PR or citizenship, and that inevitably narrows the field. That was a useful reality check early on.

“It forced me to think more strategically about where my profile would actually be competitive, rather than applying broadly and hoping for the best. It also made me more proactive in looking at specialist and niche areas, where firms tend to prioritise skills and interest over a more standardised graduate intake profile.”

Navigating limited opportunities

While these challenges are significant on their own, law graduates also face the added pressure of navigating a legal job market marked by scarce opportunities and a limited number of graduate positions.

Trandafilovic recounted her experience navigating a highly competitive job market, where a flood of applicants competed for a limited number of entry-level positions, making each opportunity both precious and fiercely contested.

“There were limited entry-level positions at the time I was looking for an opportunity,” Trandafilovic said.

“This made it very challenging as I was aware I was likely competing with a high volume of fellow applicants.”

To navigate this challenging landscape, she reflected on the importance of standing out in a competitive job market by being proactive and going beyond merely submitting applications.

“I tried to set myself apart in this context after applying by making telephone contact with the employer to introduce myself and obtain feedback on my application,” Trandafilovic said.

Having described her legal journey as “unconventional” and with experience in corporate governance before completing her law degree, Emily Xu shared that returning from a career break meant re-entering an intensely competitive legal job market, putting her skills and resilience to the test despite her prior experience.

To tackle this challenge, Emily Xu took a proactive approach, prioritising the expansion of her professional network by organising 30 coffee catch-ups with lawyers across a wide spectrum of practice areas, an effort that helped her refine her career narrative and sharpen her job search strategy.

“While considering my next career move, I focused on expanding my professional network. Over the course of eight months, I organised over 30 coffee catch-ups (both in person and virtually) with different lawyers,” Emily Xu said.

“Each lawyer had unique experiences, represented various practice areas, and was at a different stage in their career. These conversations provided valuable insights and helped me refine both my career narrative and my job search strategy.”

Meanwhile, Joy Xu reflected that navigating this tough job market taught her the value of standing out and differentiating herself, ultimately guiding her towards a career in AML compliance – a field she describes as still “niche” but experiencing rapidly “increasing demand”.

She advised that while those passionate about a traditional practice area should pursue it with focus despite the challenges of a tough job market, law graduates who are still undecided about their career path can benefit from exploring less conventional routes, which often reveal hidden opportunities that are ultimately transformative.

“If you’re deeply committed to a traditional practice area, it absolutely makes sense to pursue that with focus and persistence,” Joy Xu said.

“But if, like me, you’re still exploring, being open to less conventional paths can create opportunities that aren’t as visible or as saturated. Sometimes the best career moves happen slightly outside the obvious lanes.”

Strategies that made a difference

In today’s competitive legal market, success requires more than submitting applications. Meticulous preparation, targeted applications, and proactive strategies have become essential.

Joy Xu credited her careful interview preparation as a key factor in securing her career, highlighting everything from booking career consultations to perfecting how she presented her experience, to digging deep into each firm to ensure her motivations and insights resonated in every conversation.

“I took preparation very seriously. Before interviews, I consistently booked career consultations through the College of Law to refine how I presented my experience and how I spoke about my motivations,” Joy Xu said.

“I also made a point of researching each firm properly, not just their practice areas, but their business model and where my role would fit within it. So that my conversations in interviews were specific and grounded.”

Trandafilovic also stressed the value of comprehensive career preparation and targeted guidance, noting how working with a general careers coach helped sharpen her CV, applications, and networking skills while providing the focused insight needed to navigate the legal market.

“Initially, I engaged with a general careers coach to work on refining my CV, application writing skills, updating my LinkedIn profile and networking skills. This was invaluable as a start, but it became clear I needed someone with insights into the legal profession,” Trandafilovic said.

“I found some great resources on the College of Law website, including CV and letter templates and examples.”

Equally important, Joy Xu highlighted that while technical skills are essential, interviews ultimately hinge on interpersonal connections, explaining that communicating clearly and genuinely can make a candidate stand out far more than trying to fit a scripted “perfect” mould.

“Beyond that, I think interpersonal skills matter more than many candidates realise. Of course, technical competence is essential, but interviews are also about whether people can see themselves working with you day to day,” Xu said.

“I focused on being clear, thoughtful, and genuine in how I communicated, rather than trying to fit a scripted ‘perfect candidate’ mould.”

While preparation is crucial, Emily Xu emphasised the value of a selective, intentional approach to applying for law firms, prioritising carefully tailored applications over a volume-driven strategy of mindlessly chasing every Seek job posting.

“I was selective and intentional with my applications, focusing on organisations and roles that genuinely aligned with my interests and values,” Xu outlined.

“I did not subscribe to a volume-based ‘spray and pray’ approach; instead, I prioritised quality over quantity, ensuring each application was considered and tailored.”

Xu also highlighted the importance of applying for roles even when you don’t meet every listed requirement, explaining how this approach opened doors to opportunities she might have otherwise overlooked and reinforced the value of backing herself in a competitive market.

“I made a conscious decision to apply for roles even where I did not meet every listed requirement. If I believed I could competently perform the majority of the role and had the capacity to grow into the remainder, I would apply,” Xu stated.

“This approach allowed me to secure interviews for opportunities that I may otherwise have been self-excluded from and reinforced the importance of ‘backing yourself’ and taking measured risks in a competitive market.”

The playbook for career success

In a relentlessly competitive legal job market with no end in sight, law graduates must tackle their careers with clarity, patience, and a sharp strategic mindset as these qualities become needed for success.

Emily Xu advised law graduates to dive headfirst into every networking opportunity, explaining how connecting with those just a few steps ahead can provide the freshest and most invaluable insights into life as a junior lawyer.

“Attend as many career fairs, conferences and industry events as you can and organise coffee catch-ups with both new and existing contacts,” Xu stated.

“Try to connect with professionals who are 2 to 5 years ahead, as they can offer a more recent and relevant perspective on the junior lawyer experience.”

With LinkedIn now a central platform in the legal profession, Xu encouraged law graduates to use it not only to showcase their experience but also to reach out to connections – emphasising that sometimes a single message can open unexpected doors.

“Leverage LinkedIn to showcase not only your work experience but also your professional interests,” Xu noted.

“Find a few second-degree or third-degree connections on LinkedIn to reach out to. While you may not always receive a response, sometimes a single message can open unexpected doors.”

While building professional connections is crucial, Trandafilovic emphasised the importance of standing out by personally reaching out to key hiring contacts and, regardless of the outcome, seeking feedback to refine your approach for the next opportunity.

“Set yourself apart from other applicants by contacting the key hiring person to introduce yourself. Irrespective of the outcome, try [to] obtain feedback so you can improve on your approach for your next opportunity,” Trandafilovic said.

Alongside this, she stressed the importance of taking the time to “polish” your CV and craft a standout cover letter that not only grabs attention but also aligns with the firm’s goals.

Joy Xu encouraged law graduates to pause and reflect on what they truly want, dive into the areas they’re passionate about with focus and patience, and resist letting short-term anxieties steer them off their long-term career path.

“I would start by saying: be honest with yourself about what you actually want, and what you don’t yet know,” Xu outlined.

“If you have a clear goal and a strong interest in a particular area, commit to it and pursue it with focus and patience. Don’t let short-term anxiety dictate your long-term direction.”

For those still finding their passions, she encouraged viewing this time as an opportunity to explore emerging or unconventional areas of practice and discover where their true strengths and interests lie.

“If, on the other hand, your goals are still evolving, that’s not a weakness – it’s an opportunity. Use that flexibility to explore emerging or less traditional areas of practice,” Xu stated.

“The legal profession is much broader than it sometimes appears at university, and some of the most resilient career paths sit at the intersection of law, regulation, and business.”