Adlawgroup, the firm which posted the infamous Seek ad offering two year grad positions for $22k, has hit back saying the South Australian Law Society didn’t fully understand the business model.
Adlawgroup spokesperson Tina Hailstone told news.com.au that it appeared the Law Society “has not fully understood the business model”.
Hailstone said that the firm doesn’t know when or if the program would be launched following the South Australian Law Society’s verdict that the program was not consistent with an employment relationship.
Law graduates in the state are required to undertake two years of supervised employment before being allowed to practice.
Despite claims by the firm the project is a response to an oversupply of graduates and gives new lawyers an opportunity to invest in their own future, partners of parent company WBH Legal have said they are looking into absorbing most of the costs of participation following the controversy.
Adlawgroup received around 25 applicants before its ad was removed from Seek after just one day, according to news.com.au.
“The sad thing is there have been a number of applicants emailing and asking have you had any progress yet,” Hailstone said after the firm notified applicants that the program wouldn’t be going ahead at this stage.
“The opportunities for graduates aren’t there. The situation is getting worse and my view is this is an effect that you get when you turn professional education into a commodity.”
