Updating Results

Johnson Winter Slattery

4.4
  • 100 - 500 employees

About Johnson Winter Slattery

  • Law

Johnson Winter Slattery was started by three lawyers who wanted to do things differently.

We've grown rapidly to become one of Australia's leading independent firms and now have offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. We also work with leading law firms around the world.

Working with us will give you all the benefits that come with working for a large corporate law firm and much more. We will put you at the forefront of corporate law, working with our clients on their most complex and business critical legal work – it's what we do best.

Looking after people is our top priority: our lawyers, business services professionals and, most importantly, our clients. This is what really sets us apart. We pride ourselves on being down to earth, approachable and always high performing. Our ethos is: "we're in it together" – it's the cornerstone of our business and guides our approach to everything we do.
When people come first, numbers take the backseat. We have no targets for billable hours and less internal hierarchies, so you will be free to focus on getting the best outcomes for your clients.

Our flat team structure means you won't be tied down early in your career. You will have the opportunity to work with partners nationally, across a broad range of practice areas and sectors, giving you the best opportunity to diversify your skills and to shape your own career path. Our lawyers take on the work that reflects their ability, not their job title. There are no barriers to your success with us.

You will have the opportunity to take on pro bono work from day one, given you even more opportunity to broaden your legal experience. Our practice is focused on helping low income, disadvantaged or marginalised members of the Australian community and the organisations which support them. We work with many established and emerging charitable organisations taking over their legal issues so they are free to focus on helping the people and causes they support. Just a few of our pro bono clients include Desert PeaMedia, KYUP!, The Social Outfit, Be Centre, Council for Homeless Persons, Noah's Ark, St Vincent de Paul Society Sydney, Legal Aid NSW and Mary's House. Our graduates regularly go on secondment arrangements with Marrickville Legal Centre, Youth Law Australia, Law Access and PIAC.

Recruitment Process

How do I apply?

Just submit your CV, covering letter and current official academic transcript via our website. You can address this to Wilma Lewis, our Senior People & Development Consultant.

What's next?

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 'get to know us' session and an interview with one of our Partners and the People & Development team. You'll also be invited to drinks and networking evening, where you can meet our partners and lawyers to find out why they think Johnson Winter Slattery is such a great place to work. If you're successful, we'll be in touch to let you know when you start!

Interview tips

Make sure you tell us why you want to work at our firm and why you think you're a great fit. We'll want to know about your previous work experience, university studies, other achievements and any other experiences you want to share with us. There'll also be a few behavioural questions.

The selection criteria:

If you are enthusiastic, driven to succeed and want to continually develop your skills, you'll fit right in. We're looking for graduates who have not only excelled academically but have great communications skills, thrive in a collaborative environment and want to deliver legal advice to create the best outcomes for our clients.

Remuneration & Career Growth

Our grad remuneration is competitive and on par to the top tier firms. Our lawyer salaries will increase year on year and there is potential for their salary to significantly increase as their career progresses.

We offer other benefits including, taxi vouchers if you work late, dinner in the office, firm hosted lunches and dinners. Opportunities to travel on a needs basis, secondment (client and probono) opportunities also.

Clerkship (Vacation Clerk)

  • Penultimate year and final year law students
  • Induction, practice area talks
  • Mentor and buddy program
  • Emphasis on learning how the firm operates and practical application of legal skills across a variety of practice areas
  • Learn on the job, working closely with partners and clients

Graduate

  • At the completion of university studies
  • Complete College of Law
  • Graduate Academy – core legal skills training workshop
  • Mentor and buddy program
  • Emphasis on learning how the firm operates and practical application of legal skills across a variety of practice areas
  • Building commercial acumen

Associate

  • On being admitted
  • Begin to specialise at 2-3 years PQE
  • Junior Lawyer Development Program
  • Continue to build legal and professional knowledge
  • Access to clients
  • Opportunity for secondments
  • Continue to develop commercial awareness and acumen

Senior Associate

  • Consideration for appointment, generally at 5-6 years PQE
  • Established in practice area of interest
  • Sound legal and professional knowledge
  • Manage the conduct of matters autonomously
  • Develop client relationship skills
  • Develop commercial acumen

Partner/Special Counsel

  • Consideration at 10+ years PQE
  • Thoroughly developed legal and professional skills
  • Well developed client relationship skills
  • Strong commercial acumen
  • Technical competence – consistently producing correct and best legal solutions

Our team structure means that our junior lawyers are not tied down to specific practices areas. You will work with partners across our national offices, and a broad range of practice areas and sectors, throughout your early career.

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.4
Overall score based on 14 reviews
They Score Best in…
7.8
Career Prospects
8.5
Culture
7.8
Satisfaction
7.7
Work Hours
7.8
Career Prospects
8.5
Culture
7.8
Satisfaction
7.7
Work Hours
What Graduates Say About Them
  • You are given the opportunity to try many different areas of law without being confined to a specific team.
  • I like that there is a true non-siloed approach for graduates so that you can experience all practice areas. Despite being a mid-sized firm we do a lot of what would be considered "top-tier" work for interesting and multinational clients. There is a very hands-on approach here and I am able to have direct access to senior practitioners. The hours are good.
  • Flexible and understanding culture, great people, diverse and engaging work
  • We don't do rotations so you're able to work in a variety of different areas and can ask to work on specific things you are interested in. Everyone is lovely to work with and are very accommodating and flexible.
  • Sometimes it is difficult to get consistent and ongoing work.
  • The non-siloed approach comes with its challenges in managing different commitments across different practice groups as well as searching out your own work. If you have a can-do attitude and good time management skills you can overcome these challenges.

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
I
IT & Computer Science
L
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
Current Jobs & Opportunities

Internship, Clerkship or Placement

Brisbane
Leading and proudly independent Australian law firm. Great opportunity to receive training and mentoring from industry recognised partners and lawyers
Applications Close
12 Aug 2023
Start Date
20 Nov 2023

Internship, Clerkship or Placement

Sydney
Leading and proudly independent Australian law firm. Great opportunity to receive training and mentoring from industry recognised partners and lawyers
Applications Close
10 Jul 2023
Start Date
21 Nov 2023

Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories
The firm exhibits a strong commitment to Pro Bono work and clearly recognises the need for the legal industry to assist those beyond the top end of town.

Heather Pym

  • Graduate stories
The firm exhibits a strong commitment to Pro Bono work and clearly recognises the need for the legal industry to assist those beyond the top end of town.

Heather Pym

  • Graduate stories
There is a really strong culture at JWS for involving graduates and clerks in high-level work and exposing them to end-to-end processes.

Madison Lardner

  • Graduate stories
There is a really strong culture at JWS for involving graduates and clerks in high-level work and exposing them to end-to-end processes.

Madison Lardner

  • Graduate stories
The firm exhibits a strong commitment to Pro Bono work and clearly recognises the need for the legal industry to assist those beyond the top end of town.

Heather Pym

  • Graduate stories
The firm exhibits a strong commitment to Pro Bono work and clearly recognises the need for the legal industry to assist those beyond the top end of town.

Heather Pym

  • Graduate stories
There is a really strong culture at JWS for involving graduates and clerks in high-level work and exposing them to end-to-end processes.

Madison Lardner

  • Graduate stories
There is a really strong culture at JWS for involving graduates and clerks in high-level work and exposing them to end-to-end processes.

Madison Lardner


A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Georgia Marwick

We have a great low-leverage model at JWS so juniors are really heavily involved.
  • Day in the life

Georgia Marwick

We have a great low-leverage model at JWS so juniors are really heavily involved.
  • Day in the life

Alice Colquhoun

Alice Colquhoun studied a Bachelor of Law at the University of Queensland and is now a Law Graduate at Johnson Winter Slattery.
  • Day in the life

Alice Colquhoun

Alice Colquhoun studied a Bachelor of Law at the University of Queensland and is now a Law Graduate at Johnson Winter Slattery.
  • Day in the life

Georgia Marwick

We have a great low-leverage model at JWS so juniors are really heavily involved.
  • Day in the life

Georgia Marwick

We have a great low-leverage model at JWS so juniors are really heavily involved.
  • Day in the life

Alice Colquhoun

Alice Colquhoun studied a Bachelor of Law at the University of Queensland and is now a Law Graduate at Johnson Winter Slattery.
  • Day in the life

Alice Colquhoun

Alice Colquhoun studied a Bachelor of Law at the University of Queensland and is now a Law Graduate at Johnson Winter Slattery.