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The Summer Clerk Program

The Attorney-General's Department is seeking undergraduate students who are interested in achieving a just and secure society for all Australians through participation in a Summer Clerk Program between November and February.

If you are interested in assisting to shape Australia’s legal and justice system, the Attorney-General's Department is the workplace for you! The Department has a challenging and exciting policy and program agenda in which our summer clerks are actively involved.

Applications for the 2011-2012 Summer Clerk Program will be open for two weeks from Thursday 21 July to Thursday 4 August 2011.

• 2011 Careers Fairs the Attorney-General's Department will be visiting
• What we offer
• Who we are looking for
• Opportunities
• Writing your application
• The selection process
• How to apply

2011 Careers Fairs the Attorney-General's Department will be visiting

• Sydney Big Meet Careers Fair
  Hilton Sydney, 488 George Street, Sydney NSW
  1pm – 5pm Friday, 11 March 2011

• Melbourne Big Meet Careers Fair
  Crown Casino, Southbank, Melbourne VIC
  11:30am – 3:30pm Monday, 7 March 2011

• Perth Big Meet Careers Fair
  Perth Convention Exhibition Centre
  21 Mounts Bay Road, Perth WA
  1pm – 5pm, Tuesday 22 March 2011

• Australian National University (ANU) Law Careers Fair
  Melville Hall, ANU Campus, Canberra ACT
  12noon – 3pm Thursday, 10 March 2011

• University of South Australia Careers Fair
  Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide SA
  11am – 3pm Tuesday, 22 March 2011

• University of Tasmania (UTAS) Careers Fair
  Activities Centre, University of Tasmania, Corner of Churchill Avenue and French Street, Sandy Bay TAS
  12noon – 3pm Friday, 11 March 2011

• University of Queensland (UQ) Careers Fair
  University of Queensland,Union Road Centre, St Lucia Campus, QLD
  11am – 3pm, Wednesday 30 March 2011

• University of Canberra Career Night
  Ann Harding Room, Natsem Building, University of Canberra ACT
  6:30pm - 8pm, Wednesday 9 March 2011

What we offer

The Summer Clerk Program is designed to assist you to expand your professional skills and abilities. This experience will provide you with new challenges which will help you to develop your potential and give you an introduction to the Australian Public Service

The Department offers Summer Clerks:

• work offering practical experience
• a comprehensive induction program
• flexible working conditions, and
• a competitive salary of $45,530 per annum (as at February 2011).

All the positions will be located in Canberra. Please note that if you are offered a Summer Clerkship and you do not live in Canberra, relocation and accommodation costs for the duration of the Clerkship will be at your own expense.

The 2011-2012 Summer Clerk Program will run from Monday 28 November 2011 through to Friday 10 February 2012.

Who we are looking for

The department is seeking undergraduate students who are interested in working at the forefront of program delivery, policy and legal development. The Department's Summer Clerks need to be enthusiastic, motivated, possess integrity, and have strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.

We are looking for Summer Clerks with a background in:

• Arts
• Business
• Commerce
• Economics
• Humanities
• Information Technology
• Law
• Political Science
• Public Administration, or
• Social Sciences

Eligibility

Applicants for the 2011-2012 Summer Clerk Program must be Australian Citizens and have no more than two semesters to complete in your undergraduate degree or have completed your undergraduate degree not more than three years prior to the commencement of the program in November 2011.

Health, security and character clearances, and evidence of qualifications must also be met.

Opportunities

There are a range of opportunities offered through the Attorney-General's Department Summer Clerks program that will allow you to use the skills and knowledge you have gained through university and prior work experience.

Successful candidates will be placed in an area of the Department that has identified a need for additional resources over the summer period. It is important to note that successful candidates will have little input into the area for their placement throughout the program.

The Summer Clerkship is a great opportunity to gain exposure to the way in which Government and the Australian Public Service operates.

Writing your Application

The work of a summer clerk in the Attorney-General’s Department may include contributing to the development of policy advice and/or programs across the Department. This could be in the areas of civil and criminal law, information and security, international law, emergency management response, national security, law enforcement and coordination, family services, legal assistance or corporate functions encompassing information technology, human resources and finance. A full organisational chart which lists the areas of the Department in which you may work can be found at www.ag.gov.au

Position Duties

Under general direction:

1. Undertake activities/projects as assigned. These activities may include:
   • research assignments;
   • project work on policy development;
   • project or case management; or
   • preparing briefing material, submissions and reports.
2. Perform the full range of administrative tasks associated with activities.
3. Contribute to overall planning and team activities.
4. Additional duties as required at the APS 2 level

Summer Clerks are assessed against the APS 2 Level capabilities.

Generic Capabilities APS Levels 1-2

Supports strategic direction

• Supports shared purpose and direction
• Thinks strategically
• Harnesses information and opportunities
• Shows judgement, intelligence and commonsense

Achieves results

• Identifies and uses resources wisely
• Applies and builds professional expertise
• Responds positively to change
• Takes responsibility for managing work projects to achieve results

Supports productive working relationships

• Nurtures internal and external relationships
• Listens to, understands and recognises the needs of others
• Values individual differences and diversity
• Shares learning and supports others

Displays personal drive and integrity

• Demonstrates public service professionalism and probity
• Engages with risk and shows personal courage
• Commits to action
• Promotes and adopts a positive and balanced approach to work
• Demonstrates self awareness and a commitment to personal development

Communicates with influence

• Communicates clearly
• Listens, understands and adapts to audience
• Negotiates confidently

Getting Started

Your aim when completing your application should be to create a succinct and concise document that contains examples which highlight your skills, abilities, and your understanding of how your personal attributes can add value to the position. The application should be written in the context of demonstrating how you meet the selection criteria, job specific selection criteria and duty statement.

You should provide practical examples of how you apply your skills within the work environment and how these skills will add value to the position and the Department. You should also be able to clearly articulate why you do things and how you know whether you have been successful and achieved your objectives.

With this in mind, you are encouraged to obtain as much information as possible about the duties and responsibilities of the position, work environment and the Department by reading the information provided in the selection documentation, and accessing information available on our website at www.ag.gov.au. This will enable you to be specific about how your skills and experience are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Please note the word limit is the maximum amount you will be able to submit for each statement against the selection criteria and you cannot submit more words for each statement of criteria.

Method for writing your selection criteria

• When writing selection criteria keep your answers focused and clearly written and ensure you stay within the allocated word limit.
• Ensure you read the entire question and answer all components contained within it.
• Be sure to support your claims with actual, specific examples.
• It is recommended that when answering the selection criteria you use the STAR method (detailed below).
• Edit your responses for grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Ensure you proof read your responses thoroughly as your written communication will be evidenced by how you write your application. It is often useful to have a friend read over your application prior to submitting it.
• Refer to Fact sheet five in ‘Cracking the Code: How to Apply for Jobs in the Australian Public Service’ for examples of how to address selection criteria.

STAR Method

Situation

• What was the situation?
• Set the context.

Task

• What was your role?
• What did you have to do?
• What task/s needed to be achieved and what was the desired outcome?

Action

• What were the steps you took to complete the task? (This will include allocation of resources, people involved etc)
• What obstacles had to be overcome?

Results

• What was the outcome?
• What lessons did you learn from this event?

How to create an effective resume

Ensure your resume:

• is clear and concise and easy to read
• is relevant to the job
• is within the maximum page length
• has been proof read.

Key information that should be included on your resume:

• Contact details:
  • name
  • address
  • phone or mobile number
  • contact email
• Career objective
• Employment history:
• include all relevant work history, including volunteering and work experience
• provide details on the name of your employer, the job title, the period of employment, your duties, your demonstrated skills and your key achievement
• Education and training qualifications:
• all relevant education and training qualifications should be listed in this section
• provide details on the name of the institution where you studied, course title and date completed
• Special achievements:
• use this section to highlight any special achievements
• special achievements can be community work, volunteering or a sporting achievement
• Referees:
• contact details for two people who have supervised your work (supervisor, teacher, coach) or who has a good knowledge of your ability to do the job.

The Selection Process

Your application will be subject to a two-stage assessment process. The first stage considers whether your application includes all of the information we require, including information about citizenship, academic results (undergraduate degree), resume and a statement of claims against the selection criteria.

If you meet these requirements you will then be considered for shortlisting and interview. Your statement with your claims against the selection criteria will be crucial to the success of your application at this stage. Those applicants shortlisted will be invited to interview in Canberra. Please note that if you are selected for interview and you do not live in Canberra, costs associated with travelling to Canberra for the interview process will be at your own expense.

Successful applicants who accept an offer of employment will then be required to undertake health, character and security clearances.

How to apply

To apply for the Summer Clerk Program you will have recently graduated or have no more than two semesters to complete (at the commencement of the program in November) in your undergraduate degree and be an Australian citizen.

The online application process requires you to complete information about yourself including personal details and academic qualifications. These details will be verified before successful applicants commence with the Department.

Applications for the 2011-2012 Summer Clerk Program will be open for two weeks from Thursday 21 July to Thursday 4 August 2011.

More information

For more information about the Attorney-General's Department Summer Clerk Program email HR.Assist@ag.gov.au or phone (02) 6141 3333.