The program is scheduled to kick off in the first half of the year
McCabes has unveiled an internship program that will be geared towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The program is intended to offer support and motivation to Indigenous youth in navigating the transition from tertiary education to full-time employment, the firm said. The internship is designed to cultivate skillsets and broaden the networks of participating students, not only supporting their education but also enhancing their employability prospects.
The program is scheduled to kick off in the first half of the year with the inaugural group of participants.
The initiative was driven by a finding from a study conducted by the Law Society of NSW, which revealed that less than 1% of Australian lawyers identify as Indigenous – even though nearly 3% of the population is Indigenous. Moreover, the 2023 Indigenous Strategy Annual Report published by Universities Australia indicated that only 50% of Indigenous Bachelor degree students completed their studies compared to 71.1% of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
Under its internship program, McCabes said that it sought to inspire interns by providing mentorship and real-world experience to facilitate the completion of their degrees while contributing to the development of their careers. Participating students will receive guidance from a seasoned legal practitioner as well as paid work experience two days a week throughout the duration of their university education.
“Being a part of an internship program as a student is something that can provide clarity in your career inspirations, and this program is designed to provide real-world experience and exposure across a number of different areas of the law”, managing principal Andrew Lacey said. “Our goal is to provide a supportive environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can experience first-hand what a career in the legal industry entails, and become acquainted with the almost limitless opportunities that become available upon graduating with a law degree”.
