Building legal careers and strengthening access to justice
Everyone who experiences family violence should be able to access timely, high-quality legal support – no matter where they live in Victoria.
Building a legal workforce with the right skills and expertise is critical to making this possible.
What this program is about
The Emerging Lawyers Program prepares newly admitted and early‑career lawyers for a sustainable, rewarding career in the community legal sector.
Over 18 months, Emerging Lawyers:
- gain hands‑on experience
- build specialist skills in family violence and family law
- receive structured training and supervision
- work alongside experienced practitioners supporting family violence victim-survivors
Why it matters
The program is designed to strengthen both individual careers and the broader community legal system.
The first intake of Emerging Lawyers provided legal assistance to more than 3000 people across Victoria over an 18-month program.
Through the Emerging Lawyers Program, we:
- build the next generation of community lawyers
- increase access to specialist family violence legal support
- strengthen the capability of the community legal sector
- respond to growing demand for family violence services across Victoria
Learning through experience
Hear directly from Emerging Lawyers about what they’re looking forward to and how the program is shaping their legal careers.
Where Emerging Lawyers work
The 2026–2027 Emerging Lawyers Program is now underway.
Emerging Lawyers are working across Victoria in our partner community legal centres, helping people access support closer to where they live.
Current locations include:
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Epping
- Geelong
- Mildura
- Morwell
- Shepparton
- Warrnambool
This place-based approach helps ensure people can get the legal support they need to stay safe and rebuild their lives.
Meet Victoria's next generation of community lawyers
The Emerging Lawyers Program is building the next generation of community lawyers to improve access to family violence and family law support across Victoria.