Elizabeth Fleming and Associates this year began the ‘Mind the Gap’ program for year 12 students wanting to study law who wish to take a gap year between school and university.

The students are introduced to the office environment, gaining valuable skills across all areas of law, while earning an above-award salary.

They even receive two months off work to travel.

Firm manager Victoria Fleming said there was a real problem attracting young legal professionals to rural areas.

She said that often when they did, after six months or so the graduates decided it was not for them.

In thinking of a way to address the problem, Ms Fleming took a cue from the medical profession, which proactively places young doctors in regional hospitals and surgeries.

“I thought why don’t we get them in before they start (uni) so they can actually see what it’s like in a real office environment and see if it’s what they really want to do,” she said.

Ms Fleming last year contacted all Eurobodalla high schools inviting students likely to study law to apply for the program.

Batemans Bay High School 2014 graduates Charlie Hall and Raymond Riley were successful.

Ms Fleming said the pair had done “a lot of admin” throughout the year; answering phones, writing letters and dealing with clients one-on-one.

“I think it’s a big success so far,” she said.

“They’ve had a pretty well-rounded experience of what it’s like.

“I think they’ll have a lot of respect for administration when they do go on to do law.”

The benefit for the business is having experienced staff who can be called in during university holidays.

Ms Fleming hopes too they will be keen to return to the region once qualified.

“It means one of our staff members can have a couple of weeks off and we can bring someone in that is familiar with the office,” Ms Fleming said.

“If they want a job and if they want to move back to the area and we’re happy with them, they’ve continued working for us, they have somewhere to go.”

The firm will run the program again in 2016.

Twelve months working at Elizabeth Fleming and Associates has cemented Charlie Hall and Raymond Riley’s ambitions to become lawyers.

Mr Hall, 18, and Mr Riley, 19, were the first Mind the Gap participants.

Mr Hall was always interested in studying law but was “sitting on the fence” at the end of year 12, despite gaining early entry to a bachelor of criminal justice at CSU and a bachelor of arts of UOW.

He said he now had a good understanding of family law, criminal law, conveyancing and wills and estates litigation.

“It’s furthered the idea that I think I want to do law. It’s interesting everyday and I get to work alongside great lawyers,” he said.

Mr Riley, 19, a keen traveller, plans to study international law to “make more of a difference on a global scale”. He plans to study languages at ANU and add a law degree.

He said the program solidified his goals.

“There was doubt before because you don’t really know what to expect in the real world because in university it’s all theory,” he said.

BATEMANS Bay solicitor Elliot Wain says it is “very difficult” to attract young lawyers to regional areas as the pull of the bright city lights is too strong. Mr Wain said they tended to see positions outside cities as a hindrance to quick progression in the profession. By contrast, Mr Wain said country firms gave graduates a wide range of experience.

“They’re missing out on extremely valuable experience as opposed to being in a larger law firm in Sydney where they’re pocketed into one area at a time,” he said.