Graduate program

See what our graduates have to say about launching a career at Sparke Helmore

Read Sparke Helmore’s latest graduate brochure.

Why choose Sparke Helmore?

Sparke Helmore offers graduates a challenging and rewarding way to kick start their legal career.

Working at Sparke Helmore provides all employees with a unique range of opportunities to expand their knowledge, with access to:

Find out more about our Pro Bono and Community Programs.

What do we look for in our graduates?

Our people are key to our success. We are always on the look-out for graduates with potential to progress, who fit with our culture and align with our values, and who demonstrate, among other things, intelligence, interpersonal skills, commitment, energy and commerciality.

Sparke Helmore graduates are:

• "All-rounders" who engaged in extra-curricular pursuits as well as their studies (our graduates have often excelled at mooting, debating, team sports or student politics in addition to their studies)
• Team players
• Clear and concise writers
• Confident and articulate communicators
• Experienced in any of the following: summer clerkships, casual paralegal positions, voluntary legal aid experience and tipstaffing

What can you expect as a graduate at Sparke Helmore?

The first year of practising law can be daunting. Our graduates follow a program designed to guide you through the experience, providing you with comprehensive training and mentoring as well as networking opportunities.

The program includes specialised soft skill training to equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to become a capable and well-rounded practitioner. The training covers areas such as time management, business development and firm finances. You will also get to work on high quality, complex matters with leading legal practitioners from your first day.

Our graduates also have access to the firm's mentoring program, which pairs you with a senior lawyer in another practice group, to give you a broader understanding of the firm and its other practice areas.

What past graduates have to say

Meet some of our partners

Deciding on the firm that’s right for you is a big decision.  Is the culture right for me?  Will I receive quality work? Will there be people genuinely interested in my growth who can point me in the right direction?

To help answer these questions, meet 12 of our partners who tell you more about who they are, what they do, and give you some insider tips!

GradAustralia Awards 2023 - No 1 for Workplace Culture and No 2 for Overall Graduate Satisfaction

We were voted No 1 for Workplace Culture and No 2 for overall Graduate Satisfaction with strong Top 10 placing in several other very important categories.

Looking to join us?

Graduate opportunities at Sparke Helmore

We recruit graduates in all ten of Sparke Helmore’s offices depending on business requirements. Where graduate positions become available they will be advertised through the Job opportunities section of Join us.

Sydney - Graduates

We understand that finding the right firm to start your career can be a daunting process which is why we want to work with you to find the best solution for you. We give you the opportunity to tell us what's important to you and for us to help you get to where you want to be.

We also understand that some graduates are passionate and committed to a career in one of our specific practice groups while others might not know where they would like to specialise at such an early stage of their career.  For this reason, our 2025/2026 program will offer you the opportunity to tell us whether you would like to commence your career in a specific practice group or if your preference is to rotate through different areas.