MURDOCH STUDENT LAW SOCIETY PRESENTS
CLERKSHIP GUIDE
2020
2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 1
Acknowledgements The Murdoch Student Law Society would like to thank the following Murdoch University students, alumni and staff for their contribution to the 2020 Clerkship Guide.
Editor-in-Chief Riya Shah
Editors
Alex Crowhurst Florian Mitteregger
MSLS Education & Careers Team
Graphic Design Riya Shah
Contributors
Sonia Walker Steve Shaw Louise Dinnie Karla Fernandes Owen Evans Sarah Payne Kashmirra Thevar Brianna Dos Santos Hussein Al Asedy Joshua Scoles Isobelle Smith Aideen Myles Kate Thresher Yasmin McCann Chen Da Tan Shay Kiriakidis
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MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
Riya Shah | Education & Careers Vice President Alex Crowhurst | Careers Officer Florian Mitteregger | Careers Officer
Our Sponsors The Murdoch Student Law Society would like to thank our sponsors for their contribution and generous support in making this publication possible. Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 3
CONTENTS
4
08
An Intro to Clerkships
16
The Application Process
60
Practice Areas
70
Firm Directory
122
The Actual Clerkship
126
Other Opportunities
136
Student Experiences
MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
A Word from the Editor I am excited to present to you the MSLS 2020 Clerkship Guide! For most, a clerkship is a pivotal first step out of university and step into the legal profession. However, the clerkship process can initially seem daunting and difficult. To support you throughout your clerkship journey, the MSLS Clerkship Guide navigates through the entire process. From submitting your written application and completing psychometric testing to attending clerkship interviews and networking evenings, our Guide provides you with comprehensive advice and tips on all things clerkships. Although clerkships are often considered a crucial aspect of any legal career, it is important to remember that commercial law is not for everyone. The law is diverse and there is no “right way� to enter into the legal industry. And so, this Guide also steps outside the commercial clerkship process, by detailing pre-penultimate intiatives, government work experience and opportunities that Murdoch University provides for its law students. I hope that this Guide equips you with all the necessary tools to confidently begin your clerkship journey and I wish you the best of luck for this clerkship season!
Riya Shah MSLS Education & Careers Vice President
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Address from the Head of Law & Criminology As I write this address from home, I am struck by how much has changed since this time last year. A year ago, I would not have imagined that our LLB would be running online and everyone would be studying from home. Whilst this new work and study environment certainly poses challenges it also creates opportunities. It has never been more evident that the ability to adapt to change, demonstrate resilience and effectively use new technologies are vital skills that everyone needs to develop. You are already helping your future career by developing and using these skills during this period of relative isolation. Planning your career is an important part of your academic journey. It is not something you should leave until the year you are graduating. This is particularly true in the present environment where you may need to think even more creatively about your career pathway. Planning requires knowledge about the careers that are available. It also requires knowledge of who you are and what will suit you. The MSLS Clerkship Guide is a great way to begin that process by showing you the range of options that are available when you complete your degree. A big ‘Thank You’ to MSLS for organising the guide. I also want to acknowledge the fantastic work MSLS are doing providing career focussed virtual seminars whilst face to face options are not available. When you are thinking about your future career, consider your areas of interest, where you want to end up and how to differentiate yourself in a competitive environment. Try and be flexible and pay attention to what is happening in the economy. For example, are there areas of legal work that are likely to be less impacted by an economic downturn? Are there emerging areas that you could study that would help to add a point of difference to your CV? Choose specified electives or combined degrees that will help support your interests and your future work plans. Importantly, when it is possible, take opportunities to complete volunteer work and internships in areas where you think you may like to work. Now may also be a good time to enrol in small online courses that increase your skill set to help differentiate you in the market. It may also be sensible to consider postgraduate study options if you feel this is a good option for you.
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Think carefully about the skills and knowledge you already have. How will this allow you to provide additional expertise and skills in the workplace? Any paid work or volunteering you have completed, even in an unrelated area, may allow you to demonstrate administrative skills, a strong work ethic, communication skills and an ability to balance competing responsibilities. Also, if you are applying for clerkships this year, practice online interview techniques and think about how you can respond to any questions about how you have coped during this period of change. Whilst your degree is important in obtaining a career, employers are looking for more than a qualification. Use your time wisely, so that when you do apply for a position you have the right skills and qualities to obtain that position. Getting involved in mooting, SCALES and taking on leadership positions in the School, even if you are operating remotely, will all help contribute to your skills. Finally, remember that working outside your comfort zone can be a good thing. Say yes to opportunities, even if you feel overwhelmed and lack confidence. Find out about who you are and what matters to you. Once you know that, a whole world of new career opportunities may be open to you. I wish you every success with you career plans. Remember that the staff are all here to help you and we are happy to chat to you if you feel we can assist you in helping to plan your future careers.
Sonia Walker
Address from the Academic Chair of Law & Criminology Getting any job is down to two things really: What you know and who you know. What you know is your grades, and let’s face it, they are what they are. The better they are the better, of course, but don’t think that just good grades is enough. If your grades are not so good that can be a problem, but that problem can be overcome if you work the ‘who you know’. Clerkships are part of working the who you know. Some firms only hire people who have clerked with them. So, you really should be chasing up clerkships. Chase formal ones, paid ones. But don’t put aside small firms, informal clerkships and unpaid positions. If you have the time, do them all. If you don’t have the time, make it. Maybe take a bit longer at uni, do fewer units, get better grades and get out and make connections. I know many of you only want to work for a large terrace firm when you graduate, but these are hard times, and what you really need is a job, pretty much any job. I don’t think there is much point in applying until you are within about 2 years of graduating, at least that is the general rule. Over the years I have known lots of lower C average student who have just chonked along and not had to worry about getting a job because they already had one, usually in a small or mid-level firm. They had worked the who you know, found regular work in a firm, were good at what they were asked to do, and had a job lined up at graduation. If I had someone working for me part time, someone who was a good worker, I would not be hiring some higher D person who may or not work out instead of them. Make sure you write a good cover letter that is tailored to that firm. That does not mean look up their web page and parrot it back! Make sure you find out who to address it to and get the name right. Be honest! That means don’t write and say ‘yours is the only firm I want to work for’ because straight away they know you are a liar. Be clear on why you are applying to them and be clear on what you have to offer them if they put you on. If your pre-law life gave you relevant skills make sure you discuss those skills. If you do get a clerkship the very first rule is be very nice to the admin staff! Learn their names! Be polite. As for the lawyers, introduce yourself and seek out work from them. If they give you work to do, try to do it quickly. If you don’t understand what you have been asked to do ask for clarification. Try to do that only once, so look at the job, work out ALL the things that you need to know to do it and get clarification on all of them. Don’t keep running back and pestering them. Check to see if there is any firm standard format, they want the work delivered in.
Its sounds grim, but the ultimate question an employer has to ask about anyone they are going to hire is “Can I make a profit out of this person”. Law firms don’t expect the profit over a year, but they do want someone who will be around long enough to start earning money. This means they want people who are stable and who can develop their own work life balance (yes, all the firms will tell you that work life balance is important to them, but what they mean, I think, is that they expect you to be resilient enough to work like a dog and not collapse). So show that you have things in your life other than work and that you can handle a busy complex life. What if you cannot get a clerkship. Do not feel that it is your fault, there are more students than positions. Do think outside the box. What about the country? Most people just would not take work outside the city (or even the Terrace) while there are plenty of smaller country firms that might give you a go. What about a government job in some quasi legal position? Less hours, good pay… So what if you have to move to Canberra for a year, you can always learn to ski… What about not being a lawyer at all? I know that most of you do law to get a lawyer job, and I get that. I think you should take a lawyer job if you can, even if its just to work out that it is not your life. That does not mean that it was all a waste if you do not get one though. A law degree is a wonderful foundation for any sort of management or policy-based career. Think laterally and look at as many job opportunities as you can. The bottom line is that you must think and to do things to improve your employability. These are very strange times and the future is uncertain. Do what you can to improve your ‘what you know’ by making sure you optimise your chances for good grades. That may mean take longer going through. It may even mean attending classes (when we start having them again). At the same time make very sure that you work on your who you know. I wish each of you all the luck you deserve, and if you have questions about specific work related or job ready related things please do get in touch with me to discuss them.
Dr Steve Shaw
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An Intro to Clerkships: What you need to know 8
MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
What are
Clerkships? A clerkship is considered an important part of developing a career in the legal profession. Usually, students will apply for and complete clerkships in the penultimate year of their degree. Primarily, a clerkship involves students undertaking full-time (sometimes part-time) employment with a law firm. Clerks are assigned different tasks such as legal writing and research, drafting and other administrative duties. There are three periods during which clerkships generally take place: November to December, January to February and June to July. These all coincide within university breaks. Clerkships can also vary in duration – they are often 3-4 weeks, however can be as long as 12 weeks or as short as 1 week. Typically, undertaking a clerkship can also open a pathway to being offered a graduate position. Some firms, especially large firms, select their graduates from their clerk pool. However, others open their graduate recruitment to everyone. Large and small law firms, consulting firms, government departments and the justice system are examples of where clerkships are offered.
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Why should you do a clerkship?
While clerkships are useful for various reasons, one of the most important reasons is that it opens you up to a network of legal professionals. Working with other clerks and lawyers will allow you to establish intepersonal connections. This will give you an ‘edge’ when you apply for a graduate position which might be the reason why you secure the graduate job over another applicant. Clerkships also provide insight into specific practice areas, how firms operate and the types of tasks you are likely to complete when working as an admitted lawyer.
What should you expect? Put simply, you can expect a challenging, rewarding and fulfilling experience. Clerks are often exposed to an extensive range of tasks and matters. Throughout the process you will likely meet senior lawyers, receive feedback and advice on your work and be invited to firmorganised functions. Most firms create an encouraging and supporting environment for their clerks and so you can also expect other lawyers to mentor you throughout the process. Most importantly, a clerkship gives you insight into the firm’s work culture which will ultimately help you determine whether you would like to work there once you graduate.
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Clerkship Glossary Term
Definition
Front-end
Work that primarily involves advising clients on transactions, contracts and agreements.
Back-end
Work that involves assisting clients when they encounter litigation, investigation or any form of dispute resolution process.
Cultural fit
Broadly refers to whether an individual can easily fit into an organisation’s working environment and its workplace culture. It also extends to an individual’s style at social functions and networking events and if they can adapt themselves to meet the organisation’s values.
Rotation
The different practice areas that clerks move through while undertaking a clerkship or that graduates move through during their graduate year. The duration of each rotation will vary from each firm.
Discrete task
A relatively simple work task that is expected to be completed in a short period of time (e.g. one hour).
Market offer
Where a firm makes a graduate offer to someone outside the clerkship pool by advertising and accepting applications from all graduates.
Psychometric testing
A variety of tests which are used in the clerkship application process. They assess a candidate’s cognitive skills such as problem solving, logic, numerical skills and reading comprehension, as well as a candidate’s emotional intelligence.
Tier
Refers to their “place” or “standing” in comparison to other law firms within the industry. The tiers referred to regularly are: top tier, mid-tier, and boutique firms.
Big Six
A term that was used to describe the largest law firms in Australia in both revenue and size before those firms merged with international firms. Before 2012 the Big Six included: Allens Arthur Robinson (now Allens), Blake Dawson (now Ashurst), Clayton Utz, Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills), Mallesons Stephen Jacques (now King & Wood Mallesons) and MinterEllison.
Magic Circle
An informal term to describe five London headquartered firms with the largest revenue, most international work and that out-perform other firms in profitability.The Magic Circle includes (as of 2020): Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter & May.
Silver Circle
Elite corporate law firms headquartered in London that usually have a lower turnover than Magic Circle firms, The Silver Circle includes (as of 2020): Ashurst, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Herbert Smith Freehills, McFarlanes, and Travers Smith.
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Key Dates in WA Application Dates & Clerkship Periods Below outlines the clerkship application schedule that most top-tier and mid-tier Perth commercial law firms follow. Government departments, boutique firms, accounting firms and other organisations may have varied application dates. To that end, please check the firm or organisation’s website for details on their specific application process. Please note that not all firms offer clerkships during all summer and winter periods. Once again, please double check the firm’s website for more details.
WA Clerkship Application Dates Applications open
Monday, 13 July 2020
Applications close
Sunday, 9 August 2020
Review and interview
Monday, 10 August to Friday, 18 September 2020
Offers made
9am Friday, 25 September 2020
Offers held open to
1pm Friday, 25 September 2020
2020/2021 Summer / Winter Clerkship Periods
12
Summer 1 (3 weeks)
Late November to early December
Summer 2 (3 weeks)
January to early February
Summer 3 (3 weeks)
Late February to early March
Summer (10 weeks)
Late November to December and January to February (includes a break over the Christmas and New Year period)
Winter (3 weeks)
Late June to early July
MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
Key Dates in Other States Clerkships in Other States The following two pages outline the clerkship dates in Victoria, NSW, SA, ACT & QLD. Please note that most firms only allow you to complete a clerkship in one office – this means you may not complete a clerkship for a firm in multiple states.
Victoria Clerkship Application Dates Applications open
Monday, 6 July 2020
Applications close
Monday, 31 August 2020
Offers made
Wednesday, 28 October 2020
NSW Clerkship Application Dates Applications open
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
Applications close
Sunday, 12 July 2020
Offers made
Wednesday, 16 September 2020
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SA Clerkship Application Dates Applications open
Monday, 6 July 2020
Applications close
Friday, 31 July 2020
Offers made
Monday, 7 September 2020
QLD Clerkship Application Dates Applications open
Monday, 2 March 2020
Applications close
Friday, 27 March 2020
Offers made
Thursday, 9 July 2020
ACT Clerkship Application Dates
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Applications open
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
Applications close
Sunday, 12 July 2020
Offers made
Wednesday, 16 September 2020
MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
Law Firm Directory The below firms are those recognised by Doyles as leading Western Australian firms in their particular specialities. Please use this directory as to start your research in finding clerkships or internships in legal firms in Perth. The below list by no means an exhaustive list of all the law firms, practices or sole practitioners in Perth. 3D HR Legal Allen & Overy * Allens * Allion Legal Ashurst * Bailwick Legal Bellanhouse Bennett & Co Blackwall Legal Castledine Gregory Clayton Utz * Clifford Chance * Clyde & Co Cornerstone Legal Corrs Chambers Westgarth * CX Law Dentons DLA Piper * Elevation Legal Elliptical Legal & Patent Services Ensign Legal Gilbert + Tobin * Glen McLeod Legal Hall & Wilcox Haynes Robinson Heldsinger Legal Herbert Smith Freehills * HFW HLS Legal Hogan Lovells Hopgood Ganim * Hotchkin Hanley HWL Ebsworth Iffla Wade Irdi Legal
Jackson McDonald Johnson Winter & Slattery * Jones Day K&L Gates * King & Wood Mallesons * Kott Gunning * Lantergy Legal Lavan * Lemonis & Tantiprasut LSV Borrello Lawyers Mallon & Co Maurice Blackburn McAuliffe Legal McWilliams Lawyers MDC Legal Mid West Lawyers Mills Oakley * MinterEllison * MKI Legal Moharich & More Nicholas Legal Norton Rose Fullbright * Panetta McGrath Pinsent Masons Price Sierakowski Provan Legal Quinn Emanuel Rugby Red Legal S Billing & Associates Shine Lawyers Slater & Gordon Solomon Brothers * Sparke Helmore * Squire Patton Boggs * Steinepreis Paganin
Teller & Associates Thomson Geer Tottle Partners * Turner Freeman Warren Siminton Raplh Wayland Legal William + Hughes * Wotton + Kearney Wrays
** The firms marked with an asterisk we have identified as those with clerkship programs that follow the clerkship application periods. However, each firm may have their own clerkship or internship program and application dates. Please check their individual websites for further information.
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The Application Process:
How do you secure a clerkship? 16
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What are the requirements? To be eligible for a clerkship, you should be in your penultimate year of study. Students which fall out of this category, such as pre-penultimate students or final-year students should enquire with specific firms on whether they are willing to accept students outside of their penultimate year. Outside your year of study, there are no other formal requirements for clerkship applicants. However, there are generally three broad qualities that law firms like to see in an applicant.
1. Strong Academic Record Almost all law firms require you to submit your official academic transcript with your application. A strong academic record not only reflects a strong work ethic, but also highlights which areas of law you excel in. However, good grades is not the be all and end all and firms will give equal weight to other aspects of your application.
2. Work Experience It is important you show that you have skills that are transferable to working in a legal environment. One way to build these skills is by gaining legal experience. However, it is not necessary to have legal experience and you can demonstrate your transferable skills through a part-time job such as customer service or hospitality. For example, you can demonstrate the time-management skills you learned while working in a fast-paced cafe.
3. Extracurricular Activities Beyond strong academic results and work experience, firms are also seeking students that have skills which relate to communication, organisation, teamwork and commitment. These skills can be demonstrated through extracurricular activities such as being involved in university competitions, student-run societies, sports etc.
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6 ST
TO SECURING STEP 1 PREPARATION
STEP 2
APPLICATIONS
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STE
INTERV
STE
PSYCHO TEST
TEPS
G A CLERKSHIP
EP 4
VIEW
EP 3
OMETRIC TING
STEP 5 NETWORKING EVENTS
STEP 6 OFFERS DAY
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S T E P
1
PREPARATION 20
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Where do I start? Preparation is an essential first step that every clerkship applicant must take. Each firm is different, from their practice areas to their unique culture. Therefore, researching the firm you are applying for, attending various information events, developing the necessary practical skills for your applications are all crucial steps in preparing your application. By taking these steps, you will know what firms are looking for in their clerks and how you can tailor your application to meet these requirements.
Firm Information Events Outside of MSLS, several firms also run events and panels during the semester. These events will typically involve firms presenting to prospective clerks and alowing time for questions. Attending a firm’s clerkship seminar will be both beneficial in deciding whether to apply to that firm and discovering what that firm looks for in their clerks. The best way to find out about firm information events is to monitor the firm’s webiste and social media pages. The Perth Law Careers Fair are other fantastic options. These two fairs are open to all students to attend. Law firms, government departments, consulting firms and other organisations which recruit clerks often attend these events to speak to students.
MSLS Careers & Education Events The MSLS Careers & Education team hosts a series of clerkship events with with firms and PLT. These events are targeted to those students applying for clerkships and aim to equip these students with the information and skills necessary to securing clerkships. These events provide excellent opportunities to hear directly from firms on what they look for in prospective candidates. In 2020, these events include the virtual Clerkship seminars and panels and the Careers Connect Virtual Fair.
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Research: Know Who You’re Applying For Researching each firm you apply to is vital component in preparing for clerkship applications. The best place to start your research is by reviewing a firm’s website. The first step in researching a firm is to review the firm’s clerkship process. This involves finding out the firm’s clerkship application dates, the periods when the firm runs their clerkships, the number of clerks they usually take in and their general approach to the application process. The second step is culture. This can shed is looking for. Ensure your personal values
to make note of the firm’s values and light on the type of applicants the firm that your application demonstrates how and skills align with the firm’s values.
The third step in your research is to look into a firm’s practice areas. Often a firm will list their areas of expertise on their website. Sometimes, a fim will also post articles written by their lawyers on matters they have recently worked on, developments in an area of law and the effect of those developments.
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Be Commercially Aware What is it? Commercial awareness is a broad term and generally refers to an indivdual’s business acumen and how conscious that individual is of the developments in the business world. Being commercially aware means that you should be able to consider the potential implications of an event and how it will affect the legal and commercial space.
Why is it important? Commercial awareness is important for providing your client with the best advice. A corporate lawyer must have a good understanding of a client’s business and their commercial interests in order to best assist that client. This means that a lawyer must become acquainted with what their client’s business does, how it operates and who its competitors are. Having this knowledge is important because it ensures that a lawyer can explain how their legal advice or course of action meets the client’s interests. For example, why certain legal protections are needed a transaction, why certain processes must be conducted or why litigation must be conducted in a certain way.
How to stay commercially aware? You cannot become commercially aware overnight. These skills will develop overtime, so it is best to start early. Start by reading and watching the news, reading business publications, listening to business podcasts and following company’s social media pages. Keep an eye out on big deals and events occuring in the commercial world as well as developments in the legal sphere. Some interesting sources to keep an eye on are the Australian Financial Review, the Economist, Lawyers Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, the Guardian, Finimize.
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APPLICATIONS S T E P
2
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Crafting your CV Curriculum Vitae A Curriculum Vitae (‘CV’) or resume is almost always required for a clerkship application. Your CV should outline your education, relevant work experience or employment history, volunteer experience, extra-curricular activities, hobbies, interests and contact information.
How to craft your CV A firm’s first impression of you will be through your CV. When crafting your CV, it is important to consider both the content and format. An effective CV should give a brief overview of who you are and what you have done. It should demonstrate that you have the relevant skills and experience for the job. Keep in mind that firms seek individuals that are well-rounded. They appreciate students who can maintain strong results, but can demonstrate a commitment to other causes such as sport, recreational activities, volunteering and other creative pursuits. In terms of the format, your CV should be organised and structured in a manner that it is easy to read – employers will not want to read a CV that has excessive words on a page. There are multiple effective ways to write your CV. We have provided some sample CVs on pages 28 to 31 that are organised in a clear and effective manner.
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10 Tips for your CV 1. Be honest – do not include something in your CV that you won’t be able to discuss in an interview 2. Keep your CV to 2 pages. If you have extensive experience, prioritise including the experience which is most relevant. 3. Use professional language and avoid imprecise jargon or slang. 4. Keep your CV up-to-date – include information which is relevant and fairly recent (up to 4 or 5 years ago). 5. Be as succinct as possible. Try and use dot points, headings and precise language to convey your attributes.
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6. Target the information to the firm or organisation. Review what the firm is looking for – how do your attributes, experience and skills fit what the firm is looking for in its clerks? 7. Use an easy-to-read font such as Arial or Times New Roman. A size 11 or 12 point font is recommended. 8. Make use of white space. Avoid cramming endless text and information onto a few pages. 9. Convert your CV to a PDF file. 10. Thoroughly proofread your CV. It is a good idea to have someone else look over your CV.
Elements of an Effective CV Personal/Contact Details Include your full name, email address, mobile number and residential address. It is also recommended to include your LinkedIn profile.
Personal Summary A brief paragraph about yourself that summarises your intended career direction, fields of interest and transferable skills. While this section is not necessary, it can serve to entice the reader to read the rest of your CV to find out more about you.
Education Specify the details of your tertiary and secondary education. Specifically, include the name of your course, name of your institution and period of study. It is a good idea your academic achievements such as your ATAR and any academic prizes or awards you have received.
Work Experience Outline your relevant employment history, starting with your most recent work experience. You should include your job title, name of employer, the start and finish date of employment, location, duties and responsibilities. In this section, you should focus on the transferable skills you have gained from each position. You should also highlight the manner in which you contributed to each employer and quantify your achievements if possible.
Extra-curricular Activities Detail your involvement in university societies, university competitions, not-for-profit organisations, the wider community and sporting involvements. Highlight the skills you have gained from each activity such as leadership, teammwork or organisational skills.
Hobbies or Interests This section serves to demonstrate that you are a well-rounded person capable of balancing work and study commitments with your hobbies and interests, such as baking, surfing or playing a sport. This gives the firm a perspective into who you really are.
References It is a good idea to include 2 or 3 references at the end of your CV to serve as a point of contact for employers. For each referee, include their name, position, company name, email and phone number. Referees can include current or past employers, teachers and anyone else who can comment on your skills in a professional environment. Avoid including personal references such as family or friends and try keep your references recent. It is a good idea to balance your referees – one referee that comment on your academic ability, and another who can comment on your work experience or skills.
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Creating your
Cover Letter Cover Letter
Tailoring Your Cover Letters No two cover letters should be exactly the same. You can tailor each cover letter by researching the firm and position. Your level of research present in your cover letter demonstrates to the firm your interest in the position. Research is not limited by the information in the advertisement. Many firms’ websites have a news and insights link where you can find information about the firm’s recent projects. If you are interested in a particular practice area, some firms also have a news section under each practice area. You can also mention in your cover letter anyone you talked to from the firm, their work and why you are interested in that field. Even researching and demonstrating an understanding of certain non-legal industries impacted by the firm’s work are additional touches that can set you apart from other applicants.
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A cover letter, or covering letter, is a document which is personalised for the position you are applying for and primarily seeks to explain why you are suited for that position. It forms part of your prospective employer’s first impression of you and essential to making your application unique. This document combines your skills, experience and nuances and links these qualities to your suitability for the position. Firms use cover letters to initially evaluate: your interest in the firm, your research effort, what you bring to the position and whether you are a suitable fit for the firm. An effective cover letter is interesting and engaging and ultimately convinces prospective employers to meet you in person.
The Components of a Cover Letter 1. CONTENTS
2. TONE
3. STYLE
• Your contact details • The date • The name and title of the HR representative the cover letter is addressed to • The firm’s name and address • A greeting/salutation • An introduction • How you heard about the position/firm • Why you applied for the position • Your background and skills • What you bring to the role • A sign off/closing
• Keep your tone polite and professional
• Use correct grammar • Write in first person • Keep sentences short and concise • Keep paragraphs short and contained to one idea/ topic • Use plain English • Make every word count • Punctuate correctly using commas, dashes, and periods • Keep your cover letter relevant and succinct
• Avoid colloquial language wherever possible. You may use jargon relevant to your experience and • Focus on providing evidence of why you should be hired rather than relying on overly descriptive adjectives
• Keep it one A4-page
GENERAL TIPS & TRICKS • Discuss what experience, skills and nuance you bring to the position and the firm. Avoid discussing what the position can do for your career. • Use the same font and font size throughout your cover letter. We recommend using Times New Roman or Arial in size 12 or 11 • Proofread for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes
• Use full names. No abbreviations! • Ensure that the tailored portions of your cover letter are not generic and disconnected from your own experience. • Write clear, concisely and use plain English • Be specific about your skills and use examples
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How to structure your cover letter Header
Begin your cover letter with your name, contact details and address at the top of the page. Your contact details should include your best contact number and professional email. On the left-hand corner of the page, write the name and title of the firm’s HR representative and the name and address of the firm. Below the header, address your salutation to the HR representative. For example, “Dear Mr/ Ms Jones”. Avoid addressing the letter with a generic “to whom it may concern” and instead make an effort to find the relevant HR representative. Below the salutation, include the reason for your application. For example, “RE: 2020 Summer/Winter Vacation Clerkship Application”.
Introduction
Reiterate the position you are applying for. Explain how you learned about the position. For example, an advertisement, the firm’s website or a personal referral. Outline your education, including your degree, your year of study and your expected year of graduation.
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Explain if you are currently em- demonstrate evidence of your ployed and any other relevant suitability. information. Reiterate in your last sentence why you are apYou (values) plying for the position. This paragraph focuses on your values and personal qualities. The Firm & Position Outline how the firm’s values Outline why you are interest- and their desired candidates’ ed in the firm. Use evidence to values align with your own. support your interest, such as Support your statements with shared values or appealing as- evidence, including your own pects about the firm and their experiences. Try not to come work. This paragraph is an ex- across as superficial or false if cellent opportunity to demon- your values do not align. The strate that you have researched paragraphs about you can the firm. Refer to the firm’s more or less remain the same practice area/s of interest, their over all cover letters.
recent work, people you have met or know from events and Closing recent achievements of the Reinforce your interest in the firm. position. Close your cover letter by thanking the person adYou (experience and dressed for considering your application. State that you look skils) forward to hearing from them. Use this paragraph to demon- Sign off professionally by usstrate how you fit the position ing “yours sincerely” or “yours criteria. Firms detail the posi- faithfully”, followed by your full tion criteria on their clerkship name. advertisement and their recruitment information website. Discuss your relevant skills and qualifications and link these aspects to the position criteria. Outline relevant work experience, extra-curricular activities and volunteer experience to
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Selection Criteria and Additional Questions Selection Criteria and Questions
STAR Method
During the application process, you may be asked to address selection criteria or additional questions on the firm. Save the questions into a word document, do your research and prepare your answers in advance before sending in your application.
The best method to answer selection criteria, scenario-based questions or any other additional questions is the STAR method.
Selection criteria are specific job requirements that selectors have identified as skills, qualifications, experience or attributes that are required for the position. Some firms will not use a selection criterion form and instead ask scenario-based questions. Firms may also ask additional questions about your interest in the firm or your values. These questions are generally aimed at finding out about an applicant’s achievements and background, motivation for applying for a particular firm or commercial awareness.
Situation – where, when and the context of your example Task – the task, problem or situation you were dealing with Action – what action you took to solve the problem, complete the task or handle the situation Result – the outcome of your action/s
Q. Tell us about a time you have had to work in a team? During my second year of university, I was a part of a moot team competing in Melbourne. That afternoon before we were set to moot against an opposing team, we received their submissions. In the opposition’s submissions they had an argument we had not addressed before or researched. Our team came together to make a plan, delegate research tasks and write our oral submissions to address this new point. Our team was able to research, write and practice our new oral argument that night ready for the morning. We were able to address their new argument and we were able to win the oral round against that team. 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 37
Example of questions aimed at finding more about you: Please tell us something outside of the law you are passionate about? What are your personal achievements? Tell us about a time you had to overcome a challenge. Are you involved in any activity outside of your studies?
Examples of questions aimed at finding out your motivation for applying: Why are you interested in our firm? What are you looking for in a legal career? How do you think our firm is different from other firms? Why do you want a career in [the firm’s practice area] law? What is your motivation for seeking a career in commercial law?
Examples of questions aimed at finding more about your commercial awareness: Which business news story has interested you in the last 12 months and why? What demonstrates your commercial awareness or interest in business? What commercial issue will be an area law firms will have to face in the future? What skills does a lawyer need in this current legal climate?
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The Final Steps to Complete your Written Application cvMail cvMail is an online platform for students to apply for clerkships, graduate jobs and schedule their interviews online. Many law firms tend to utilise cvMail to recieve clerkship applications.
How to use cvMail? Visit cvmail.com.au to register as a first time user. You can register with cvMail by applying to any firm listed on their website. Once you register, you can create your personal profile by entering in information such as your full name, address, email address, contact details, the languages you speak, your education history and your work experience. When applying to other firms (which use cvMail) your personal details, work experience and education history are transferred between applications automatically.
Your Email Address Ensure that you use a professional email when applying for clerkships. Keep your email address simple by including your first and last name.
Academic Transcript For formal applications, you should provide a copy of your official academic transcript and bring the official transcript to any interview. The official academic transcript contains your units and grades, grade point averages. You can order your academic transcript online to be posted to your home or get a copy at the Student Centre.
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PSYHOMETRIC TESTING 40
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What is psychometric testing? Psychometric testing is a form of aptitude tests used by many law firms to test an applicant’s ability to complete specific tasks and react to certain situations. Typically, psychometric testing tests general cognitive intelligence as well as emotional intelligence. Firms often either use mini games or multiple choice questions as their tests.
Cognitive Intelligence These tests measure an applicant’s logical thinking through exercises such as arithmetic or numerical problems, pattern recognition and reading comprehension. These tests will typically be timed and will test a candidate’s ability to think logically and rationally under pressure. The below skills will likely be tested. • Problem Solving: Ability to solve new problems without prior knowledge. • Numerical Reasoning: Ability to comprehend quantitative data. • Verbal Reasoning: Ability to comprehend written material (grammar, vocab, punctuation) and deduct relevant information.
Complete Sample Tests here:
• https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests • https://www.revelian.com/jobseeker/ example-assessments • https://psychometric-success.com
Emotional Intelligence These tests will typically assess an applicant’s ability to accurately identify and understand emotions. This will identify whether a candidate can easily form relations with people, inspire and influence stakeholders, appropriately respond to stressful events and adapt to the changing needs of stakeholders. An example of a test that measures emotional intelligence is matching people’s faces to what emotions they are feeling.
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General Tips for Psychometric Testing 1. Practice – Use the sample tests available on the previous page to acquaint yourself with the types of questions you may be asked. However, each firm will use a different testing platform and typically each platform will provide practice tests before you complete the actual test. Make sure you give yourself enough time to complete these practice tests so that you can familiarise yourself with the format and style of the real tests. 2. Plan your time – Most of these tests will be timed. Determine how many questions will be asked and how much time you are allocated so that you can determine how much time you should spend on each question. If you find certain questions easier, try to finish all the easy questions first and go back to the harder ones at the end. 3. Stay calm and be prepared – Ensure that you set up your computer in a quiet location where you will not be disturbed when completing the test. If you are unable to finish the entire test within the allocated time then do not stress – often these tests are unfinishable and are designed to test your ability to stay calm under pressure.
Personality Questionnaires Personality questionnaires are designed to understand how a candidate works best in a professional setting and which aspects of a workplace are considered most important to a candidate. This aligns an applicant’s values against the firm’s to assess whether a candidate will be a good fit for the firm and its culture. Often, you will be given hypotethical situations and asked to choose how you would act. These tests have no right or wrong answers, so it is best to answer honestly – don’t answer with what you think the firm wants to see in their applicants. 42
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4 INTERVIEW 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 43
Firm Interviews Interview Offer Congratulations! You’ve been offered an interview which means that your application was of a high standard and the firm believes that you might be a good fit for them. You now have the chance to impress the firm in-person by elaborating on your CV, cover letter and showcasing who you are, what you have to offer them and why you want to work with them.
Types of Interviews 1. Individual Interviews
Individual interviews are typically conducted by a HR representative alongside another member of the firm (often a recruitment partner). This involves a traditional interview set up where the interviewers will ask you questions in order to better understand who you are and whether you will fit well in the firm.
2. Group Interviews
Group interviews are usually designed to assess how you work in a team setting. In most group interviews you will be required to discuss a problem scenario or case notes with a group. Ensure that you communicate effectively with your group and work together to reach a solution or goal. This is also a great opportunity to demonstrate your leadership and teamwork skills by offering the group suggestions or proposing a plan for the group to implement.
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BEFORE the Interview 1. Know your Application
Firms use your information from your initial application as a starting point to learn about you. Throughout the interview, you will be asked about information contained within your CV, Cover Letter and responses to firm questions. Re-read your application and the information you included. Prepare for any questions relating to points you have raised. Be ready to explain any gaps in your study and work. Below are some questions to consider about yourself before your interview. • What are your interests/hobbies? What issues are your passionate about? • What are your goals? Short & long-term? • What real-life experiences do you have that you can speak about in response to behavioural questions?
2. Know your Interviewer
Just as research enabled your cover letter to stand out, researching the firm before your interview allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of the firm and interest in the position. Build up your knowledge of the firm. The firm’s website contains their various practice areas and industries, as well as recent work and insights. Check if the firm is mentioned in any media articles. Media organisations that report on Australia’s legal sector include: the Australian Financial Review, Lawyer’s Weekly and the Australasian Lawyer. Ensure that you research your interviewer/s as well by looking them up on LinkedIn – research their position, how long they’ve been at the firm and which practice area they work in. Prepare some questions you can ask the interviewer either about their role or the firm.
3. The Night Before
The day of the interview can be daunting and stressful, so ensure that you have prepared the night before the interview. Prepare to bring all relevant documentation including your CV, cover letter and academic transcript. Additionally, prepare your (formal business) attire for the next day. Much like an exam, you want to have prepared well in advance so you can relax the night before. Go to bed early so that you are well-rested for the next day.
4. Arrival
Don’t be late! Plan your route to the office in advance so that you can arrive early. It’s better to arrive 30 minutes early than 5 minutes late – use that time to grab a coffee, food or even look around the area. When you arrive, be polite and courteous when addressing the receptionist and other staff who are helping run the interviews. Remember to be friendly to other applicants and staff you meet before the interview. A HR representative will then collect you for the interview.
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What should I
WEAR?
Men’s Style • Suit – Well tailored, darker colours • Shoes – Black or brown leather. Wellpolished. Lace ups are preferred over slip-ons. • Belt – Black or brown leather with a minimalist buckle. • Cufflinks – Not an essential item, but it usually should match your belt buckle.
Women’s Style
• Watch – A watch should usually match your belt buckle and cufflinks.
• Skirt/Dress – Should fall just above or below the knee. Dark colours such as black, blue or grey are preferred.
• Facial hair – Clean shaven is preferred.
• Pants – If you prefer pants, wear suit pants. • Shirt – Collared or modest blouses are recommended. Bold prints or colours can be distracting. • Shoes – Closed-toe heels or flats are recommended. If they are heels, ensure they are comfortable and easy to walk in. Dark coloured shoes are recommended. • Jewellery – If you choose to, wear simple, understated jewellery. • Hair – Keep your hair neat and tidy. Having your hair down can be distracting for you, so it may be better to tie it up. • Makeup – Keep it natural and neutral.
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10 Interview Tips 1. First impressions count – try to connect with your interviewer/s at the beginning 2. Greet your interviewer/s with a handshake and introduce yourself in 30 to 40 seconds. Remember a few interesting or different facts about you for this introduction. 3. Be relaxed and confident while remaining polite and professional. 4. Body language! It is important to maintain good eye contact (to both interviewers if there are two), use hand gestures and smile. 5. Avoid fidgeting, slumping, folding your arms or looking away. 6. Avoid using colloquial language.
7. Ensure that you are actively listening to the question. It is a common mistake for applicants to use a pre-prepared answer that doesn’t actually answer the question. 8. For behavioural or situational questions, always use a real-life experience to support your answer. 9. Talk slowly, moderate your voice when necessary and use pauses effectively. If you don’t know the answer to a question, take a sip of water or ask the interviewer for a second to think of an answer. 10. Try to maintain a conversational style to your answers. Using preprepared answers can often make you sound disingenuous.
Behavioural or Situational Questions Much like answers to selection critera, the best method to answer behavioural or situational interview questions is by using the STAR method. . Situation – where, when and the context of your example Task – the task, problem or situation you were dealing with Action – what action you took to solve the problem, complete the task or handle the situation Result – the outcome of your action/s
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Types of Interview Questions Questions about YOU • • • •
Tell us about yourself? What are some of your weaknesses? What are some of your strengths? What units did you most like/dislike at university? • What motivates you? • What values are most important to you?
Questions about CAREER GOALS & MOTIVATION
Questions about YOUR PAST EMPLOYMENT?
• Why did you choose to study law? • Where do you see yourself in 5 years? • What are your career goals and how do they align with the firm? • What factors are important to you when choosing an employer?
• What skills have you gained from your work experience? • Have you ever had to deal with a difficult customer? • Tell us about a time when you received constructive criticism from an employer and how did you utilise it?
Questions about YOUR SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Questions about THE FIRM
• Do you enjoy working in a team or independently? • Tell us about a time where you had to work in a team? • How did you manage the workload between the group members? • How do you handle pressure? • Tell us about a time where you had to resolve a conflict? • How do you deal with group disagreements?
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• Tell us about a time where you displayed leadership? • How do you handle several responsibilities simultaneously and prioritise tasks? • Give an example of a time you have displayed initiative? • Give an example of a time you have overcome a significant setback?
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• • • •
Why do you want to work with us? What do you know about our firm? What practice areas interest you? Why do you want to work at a commercial firm?
Questions about THE INDUSTRY • What is your understanding of the current legal market? • Are there legal, regulatory and/or economic changes that could impact the commerical or legal sector?
AFTER the Interview 2. Following up
Take notes after your interview is finished to record what was discussed. Ensure that you review these notes later as this will allow you to recognise any mistakes you made and avoid making them in later interviews.
1. Ask your interviewer(s) questions
While an interview is an opportunity for the firm to learn more about you, it is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the firm – it is just as important that you are able to make an informed decision about the firm as it is for the firm about you. Therefore, you should ask your interviewer(s) good questions to show that you care about the position. You should ask questions you genuinely want to know, not questions that you think will impress the employer. At the same time, you should ask questions that you wouldn’t be able to easily find the answer to with a google search or a scroll through the firm’s website. Questions you can ask your interviewer(s) include: • Why did you join this firm? • What does the typical working day look like in this position? • What is your favourite part of working at this firm? • Are there opportunities for professional development? • What do you see as the most challenging part of the position?
Within 24-48 hours send a thank you email to your interviewer. In this email, you should: • Voice your appreciation for the interview and the opportunity to learn more about the firm • Reaffirm your interest and enthusiam for the firm and the position If you do not receive a clerkship offer, send the firm a thank you for taking the time to consider your application. You should also follow up with the interviewer(s) to ask for their advice on what you could do to improve your interview performance.
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Skills & Tips for Video Interviews
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10 Tips & Tricks for Video Interviews
Video Interview Formats
1. Choose a quiet and comfortable location for the interview. If this location is at home, tell your family or house members to not disturb you during the interview time. 2. Choose a location with good lighting so that your face is well lit in the video. 3. Ensure that your background is neat and clean so that your interviewers will not be distracted when you speak. 4. Run a video and mic test online to ensure that both are working properly. 5. Practice recording yourself answering questions. 6. Turn your phone off or on silent. 7. Have a glass of water handy. 8. Speak even slower than you would in person. 9. Look directly into the camera (rather than the screen) 10. Avoid having another document open on your screen. It is obvious when your eyes are flicking between the interviewer and another document.
There are typically two types of video interviews.
MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
1. A set of pre-recorded questions where applicants are afforded either limited or unlimited chances to record their answers. 2. An interview which is more or less the same as an in-person interview but it is conducted over video. Some accounting or finance firms tend to use the first kind of interviews prior to the inperson interviews. Law firms will typically only opt for in-person interviews, however some firms are conducting their interviews over video this year.
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NETWORKING EVENTS 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 51
Cocktail & Networking Evenings Some firms may hold a cocktail evening where you can network with other clerkship applicants as well as lawyers at the firm. These events are a fantastic opportunity to get to know the people at the firm and expose yourself to the firm culture. During these events, recruiters will observe your networking and interpersonal skills. In the commercial legal sector, the ability to establish relationships with clients and other potential stakeholders is vital. Therefore, it important to be friendly as well as courteous and respectful. It is a good idea to introduce yourself and speak to as many people as you can. While it is good to meet multiple people, it is better to engage in meaningful conversations with fewer people than to briefly speak to everyone in the room. Aim to be proactive and meet lawyers from different practice groups and at a different hierarchical level. Assert yourself as someone who is genuinely interested in meeting other people. However, it is also important not to seem unnatural or dominate the conversation – try and be yourself and interact freely and politely. These events can be intimidating, so if you know a friend attending the same event, buddy up with them so you can start and enter conversations together. It is also always recommended to wear corporate attire and present in a neat and organised fashion.
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How to
network at events
1. To begin a one-on-one conversation, introduce yourself, make eye contact and shake their hand. 2. To join a group conversation, politely ask if you may join the conversation. If canapes or drinks are circulating, this is a great way to break the ice. 3. Hold your drink in your left hand – no one wants to shake a cold, wet hand. 4. Develop an elevator pitch – a 30 second to 2 minute introduction to say when you first meet someone. 5. While, alcohol and light food are often served at these events, be mindful of how much you drink.
6. To leave a conversation, say it was lovely to meet them, say that you are grabbing another drink or going to the toilet and tell them to enjoy the rest of their evening. 7. Note down the names of the people you meet. You can use this to connect with them on LinkedIn later. 8. Think of some general questions before the event that you can ask if a conversation goes stale or dry. 9. Try to offer something to the people you meet. This can be as simple as offering to send them an interesting article you read relating to a topic you spoke to them about. 10. Always thank the HR representative on your way out.
THE BUDDY SYSTEM Some firms use a ‘buddy system’ where applicants will be paired up with a graduate or junior lawyer to guide them throughout the application process. You will usually have the opportunity to meet up with your buddy either before or after your interview, otherwise you will generally engage with your buddy via phone or email. It is a good idea to ask your buddy questions that you may not be comfortable asking in an interview. After the application process, add your buddy on LinkedIn or save their phone number so that you can easily stay in contact with your buddy. 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 53
OFFERS DAY S T E P
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Clerkship Offer If you’ve received one or more clerkship offers, congratulations! Offers will be made by all firms on the 25 September 2020 at 9am. You only have till 1pm to accept your offer/s so make sure you have a preference list prepared.
Preparation If you have interviewed at multiple places, consider making a preference list. Start by looking at the firm’s have clerkship periods. Firms may either have multiple periods or only have one period. Having a look at the clerkship periods and how they align in your calender can help you assess how many clerkships you can accept. Make a list of the places you have interviewed at as well as the places which you applied for but do not interview (i.e. SSO or DPP). When you are ranking the options you can consider: • the culture of the firm; • your interviewers, particularly the lawyers who interviewed you; • feedback from other applicants; • the duration of the clerkship; • if the clerkship is paid (1 to 3 weeks unpaid work may not be a viable option); and • the certainty of a graduate position
Acceptance/Rejection Etiquette It is always courteous to thank the HR representative/ partner/solicitor who has made you the offer, irrespective of whether you accept the offer or not. If you are waiting on other phone calls or unsure about an offer, ask the caller how long you have to accept their offer. If you have some time, politely tell them that you need some time to think over the offer and that you will call them back. If you choose to decline an offer, always thank the firm for the opportunity and politely decline. The caller may ask you why you decided to decline. It is wise to have a well-thought out answer to this question – you don’t want to burn any bridges.
Don’t Worry! While, you may feel disappointed if you didn’t receive any offers, it is important to remember that clerkships are not the be all and end all of your legal career. Clerkships are incredibly competitive and there are always a high volume of applicants. And given the economic climate, rejection is not something you should feel embarrassed or too upset about. Securing a clerkship is not the only way you can become a lawyer and it is definitely not an indication that being a lawyer isn’t for you. There will always be opportunities later down the track. Spend some quality time with your friends and family after offers day and remember to be kind to yourself and others during clerkship season.
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MEMOIRS OF A CLERK: A descent into madness The Process
Clear. Your. Schedule. I started working on applications approximately 2 weeks before the deadline. This was barely enough time to do things well and I only applied to about 12 firms. The CV and cover letter are a bit fiddly and took time to get perfect, but this was nothing compared to the short answer questions the top tier firms will ask you to write out. These ranged from 250 words to 1000 words of short answers. Some of the topics included:
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The Interviews
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD BE NORMAL… The interviews are not scary, the partners/staff are not trying to psych you out. Most of them want to have a chat and find out who you are. They also know what they do for a living and know about the firm they work for, so don’t just talk about their achievements.
Don’t bother trying to memorise facts about the firm from the website unless it actually means something to you and you can talk about it freely. If you mention the • What challenges the legal industry will $400,000,000 Mega GloboCorp Banking face? Merger you saw on the website and how • What is the most interesting change in it inspired you, be prepared to elaborate legal professional in the last 10 years? because otherwise you’ll look like a bit of a • What is a modern lawyer to you? dickhead. • What recent legal news story did you find interesting? If the biggest part of your personality is • Summarise the development of your uni grades, find another hobby to Australian Jurisprudence with respect to talk about…fast. Everyone at these firms is Corporations Law without using the letter smart, everyone coming in for an interview ‘e’ is smart. What else you got? Do you like running, knitting, reading, writing, snail Clearly, the last addition to that list was a racing, competitive eating? It doesn’t matter misguided attempt at humour, however in all what but be interested in something outside seriousness every single top tier had these, of law/study and be prepared to talk about so the amount of writing piled up quickly. it. Don’t just cut and paste cover letters. If you do, only do it to small parts of the letters The Actual Clerkship and make sure you are super careful and Be prepared to do work quickly. If you do all methodical when checking the addressee your work slowly and methodically, you may section. You probably won’t get a call-back be in for a bit of a shock. You do not have time if you get the HR rep or get the firm name to get things absolutely perfect as you will wrong. be expected to get them done within a short timeframe.
MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
Sometimes you will get told the proper procedure and sometimes you won’t. Sometimes you will have someone who can help you on a task and sometimes you won’t. Back yourself and the work you produce.
there are at this firm. How does it support you? What opportunities are there? What’s the retention rate like? If you got one top tier clerkship, you probably got a couple, so you can afford to ask these questions.
Say no to stuff if you are flat out. Not everyone on the floor knows what the clerks are doing, and people will be looking to either give you something to help you learn or give you something they absolutely don’t want to do and are trying to palm off. If you are flat out, politely say that you are at capacity but will come to them as soon as you are free. This is not rude, and it is way more professional than taking on too much and doing a terrible job.
Don’t take criticism personally. It is a new environment and it is extremely stressful. You may not do a good job straight away and that’s fine. Learn from it and try to improve.
There is a lot of luck involved as to how successful you are at clerking. You can be placed in a team who offer little support. You can be placed in a team that has great teachers and nurturing personalities. You might have a light workload, you might have nonstop work and have to stay back late. Clarify what your task is. You will be given tons This is mostly down to luck. Just do your best of instructions under stress and sometimes no matter what. at speed. Don’t be scared to ask questions or clarify what the instructions actually are. If you really enjoyed a firm, thing about Also be sure to ask when a task is due, and what you enjoyed about it. Did you like the give updates on your progress if you feel you people? Or did you like the work? I was told a might not make that deadline. few times by a few different lawyers that you should pick the place where you enjoy the Be personable and friendly. Don’t just use work because people always come and go. the whole clerkship as a social jaunt, but make sure you actually get a feel for the Be memorable. Large firms might go whole firm. Engage with the people in your through 40-ish clerks a year. What makes team but also see if you can meet some you memorable? Play to that. people in a different area. The team you are in does not necessarily represent the culture Most importantly, it is okay not to like of the entire firm. Also, to that end, don’t be it. Corporate firms are not for everyone. a jerk to other clerks or to support staff. You University places a crazy amount of emphasis probably shouldn’t do that anyway, but if on top tier firms because they’re sometimes you are a complete psycho just try and tone considered the best place to work. However, it down. remember that there are plenty of pathways into an amazing career in law outside of top Final Thoughts tier corporate firms. The clerkship process is also to see if you like the firm, not just to see if the firm likes Final Year Murdoch you. Ask questions about what type of perks Law Student
Owen Evans
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So, you’ve made it to your penultimate year of law school. Congratulations! At this important point of your degree, you will be encouraged to try and figure out which path you would like to follow at the end of your degree. Private or Public? Criminal, Civil, Family or Human Rights? This may be a clear cut and easy decision (lucky you!) and for others it may be simply overwhelming. Last year, I went through the clerkship application process to help me decide which path was right for me. 28 applications, various interviews and multiple cocktail networking nights later, I was lucky enough to accept clerkships with Johnson Winter & Slattery, Clayton Utz and Ashurst. I write to you some advice I wish someone had told me prior to entering into the process.
Preparing for applications to open (the calm before the storm)
Applications open towards the end of the winter holidays – almost 100% of the applications will ask you to submit a cover letter and CV as well as answer an additional series of questions or psychometric testing to finalise your application. The application process is very time consuming and takes up a solid portion of the first half of semester 2. If possible, consider taking a lighter load or less intense units during this time to avoid burning out. Use the holidays to draft, refine and proof your cover letters for each firm and prepare your resume. This is not a time to be complacent.
A letter to my younger self How to survive the clerkship process 58
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Unlike your resume, your cover letter should be uniquely tailored to the firm, and its office you are applying to (there is no use raving about a team in another country/office – as most of the time you are not being considered to join that team!). Get your friends or family to help you proof as it is very easy to make silly mistakes such as the wrong firm name. I would also recommend using this time to do your firm research and get up to date with the current legal issues facing national and international legal markets. Also use this time to create a ranked list of firms you would like to clerk with – this will help you ensure you finish all your applications with the requisite level of effort (in accordance with their rank) and will also assist with decision time. Ensure that you avoid overlapping your top preference to avoid having to turn one down.
Tip 1: Prepare your cover letter, CV and firm research early and rank those firms!
Applications Open (eeeeek!)
Once applications open, the pressure truly does intensify. Most firms will ask you to answer additional questions to finalise your application such as: • What do you think is the biggest issue facing the legal profession? • Why are you interested in pursuing a career in commercial law? • Why do you think you are suited to a career with us / why are you interest in this firm in particular? Intimidating right? It can be hard to think of these answers on the spot to make sure you give yourself enough time to research, draft your answer and proof. It may be helpful to draft your answers in a word document to make sure you can set out properly and run proper grammar checks.
Tip 2: Leave adequate time to draft and research your application answers! I also recommend creating a spreadsheet to record applications completed or incomplete and a folder on your desktop with subfolders for each firm, holding the CV, Cover letter and answers to your questions and a copy of your final application (so you can refer back should you get an interview).
Lastly, many firms utilise psychometric testing. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to finish you tests in a quiet environment!
Tip 3: Keep a record of your applications so you can refer back!
Interviews & Cocktail Nights (SCARY)
Usually, a fortnight after applications are due firms will begin inviting candidates for interviews. Most years, a Whirlpool.com page gets set up for the Perth clerkship applications. Students will post in that forum when they receive an invitation to interview from a particular firm, and as such you can monitor which firms you should have heard from and which ones are yet to notify (Keep record of this in your spreadsheet). Cocktail nights can be one of the most intimidating nights of the entire process. I recommend ensuring that you arrive on time and with a friend, so you have someone to bounce off in conversation. However, avoid getting stuck in large groups for extended periods of time, use the night as a chance to get to know people from the firm and try and glean the types of people already employed – these could be your future colleagues and give great insight into firm culture.
Tip 4: Make sure you find a buddy to bounce off at the cocktail night! If you are lucky enough to get an interview, make sure that you book in early to get the most convenient interview time for you! Give yourself adequate time to get from interview to interview and make sure you write down the correct times in your calendar. Further, make sure to research your interviewer and become familiar with their practice area. Practice some generic interview questions, however, don’t overdo it – you don’t want to come across as a rehearsed robot!
Tip 5: Schedule your interviews in your calendar and ensure adequate travel time!
Offers day (OK KEEP CALM)
By the time offers day comes around, you may feel like a permanently exhausted pigeon, however, don’t fret it is almost over – keep calm and carry on. Prior to offers day, reflect on the ‘vibes’ you
received from each firm and re-assess your ranked list firms – this will help you determine which offers to accept should you receive multiple offers on offers day. Also create a large calendar listing all clerkships you are eligible for and their respective periods, this will also assist in avoiding accepting offers that overlap.
Tip 6: Re-asses your firm rankings! Come offers day, make sure that you have your phone fully charged and monitor your emails. Some firms will notify you by email or text to let you know that they will be calling you to make an offer. Additionally, monitor the Whirpool.com forum to see any firms which may have already notified others. Keep your phone by you all day as you may receive a call much later in the afternoon as other students make their decisions.
Tip 7: Keep your phone with you all day! If you receive an offer, most firms will be accommodating and understand that you may be waiting to hear from other firms before accepting an offer. If you just let them know that you would appreciate some time to make your decision, they will likely let you have some time to think. When you accept – make sure that your clerking periods do not overlap and that you execute your acceptance before the cut off time!
Tip 8: Keep calm and ask for time to consider your options! I hope that these tips and tricks will help keep you sane during the clerkship application process. Keep in mind that as much as this process is for firms to assess whether you are the right fit for their culture, it is also an opportunity for you to determine if they will fit into your lifestyle and satisfy your developmental needs. I thoroughly enjoyed my clerkship experiences and wish you all the best with your applications.
Sarah Payne Final Year Murdoch Law Student
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Practice Areas Areas of Law & Types of Work 60
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Which practice area should I clerk in? When you complete a clerkship, you will generally work in one practice area or group. Before beginning your clerkship you will have to preference a few practice areas where you think you would like to work. This section aims to broaden your understanding of the areas that most commercial firms practice in. The information here provides you with the basic understanding of the work done in each practice group. This will come in handy when meeting a partner from a certain practice area to also choosing the type of firm that serves your interests and career ambitions. However, this section is not an exhaustive list To find out a particular firm’s practice areas check their website to find tailored information to that firm.
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BANKING & FINANCE Banking and finance law is an area of law that is not specifically covered at law school. The reason for this is that it is made up of a number of different areas of law, with the key areas being contract, trusts, property and corporate law. Banking and finance does not require any background in commerce and it is quite a theoretical area of practice. A banking and finance lawyer’s role is to create legal structures that protect a financier to enable it to recoup money it has provided to a borrower in circumstances where a borrower is in financial difficulty and may not be able to repay the debt. This usually involves the taking of security and other contractual restrictions imposed on a borrower. It is a great area to work in if you enjoy front-end transactional work that is dynamic, varied and fast-paced. A typical banking matter will involve a finance transaction between any number of parties that will take place in a varying commercial environment. For example, the security and security structure will vary, the borrowing, guaranteeing or lending parties may be Australian entities or foreign and may be companies (private or listed on a stock exchange), individuals, funds or trusts and the commercial terms and objectives will differ with each transaction.
Typical banking and finance transactions can be project finance (for example, the creation of assets such as mine sites, LNG facilities, airports, hospitals, football stadiums etc), leveraged finance (a structure used when a company acquires another company, whether via a takeover or through other means), corporate finance (the provision of funding to a company for working capital or acquisition finance purposes), property finance (the development of apartments and office buildings) and other areas such as asset and trade finance. These structures are applied internationally and are not just common to Australia. Banking and finance is a practice area with a lot of opportunities for junior lawyers to rapidly gain first-hand experience and develop their skill-set with drafting finance and security documents, sending emails and considering and responding to client’s concerns and participating in calls and emails with clients and other parties involved with the transaction. It is also an area of the law where cross-border transactions are frequent, such that junior lawyers will gain experience working on transactions with overseas counsel, clients or counterparts. Banking and finance lawyers are very much in demand internationally and it is one of the most transferable areas of law to both UK and US firms in overseas financial hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, New York, San Francisco and other offshore jurisdictions.
COMPETITION & REGULATION The basic aim of competition law, and of the Australian regulatory authority (the ACCC), is to ensure that markets function effectively on the basis of fair and open competition. The main piece of legislation is the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), which addresses anti-competitive agreements (such as price-fixing chattels) and the behaviour of individual companies - particularly those who dominate their market.
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PROJECTS & CONSTRUCTION Construction lawyers are generally involved at the start or the end of a construction project. At the start, they draft contracts for developers and construction companies to begin projects (“front end” work). At the end of projects, they assist in contractual disputes (“back end” work). Clients include principals, subcontractors, engineers, architects and surveyors. Major projects are located worldwide and projects lawyers hail from every major jurisdiction.
Type of work Non-litigious competition work commonly takes the form of merger control advice and clearance for Mergers and Acquisition deals or advice on structuring commercial agreements. Litigious work refers to disputes, which have a competition element, while work defending companies against regulatory investigations (such as cartel investigations, abuse of market dominance cases, or industry investigations) falls somewhere in between. Competition lawyers traditionally specialise in either litigious or non-litigious work. However, these days, they have to be expert in both in order to be fully effective. Competition law requires the lawyer to gain a thorough understanding of how industries and their markets operate. The ACCC has broad powers under the CCA to root out anticompetitive behaviour. Work includes web research, ‘market’ research, talking to clients about their business and economists about economic theory, honing drafting skills and developing gut instincts. The work involves the exercise of advocacy skills, both written and oral. If you enjoy constructing an argument for an essay and then expressing it clearly, backing up your points with the necessary evidence, you’re already on the right road.
Type of work Front end construction work involves developing the contractual arrangements prior to the commencement of the project. This might involve a single construction contract, or multiple layers of contracts involving contractors and their various subcontractors. Further, contracts can be merely for construction, for design work and construction, or some other functions. Back end construction work involves resolving disputes between parties to construction contracts. Most construction contracts include dispute resolution clauses that dictate the procedure to be followed in the case of a dispute between the parties (for example as to payment, the quality of work, or the length of the project). Most construction disputes are heard in arbitrations rather than court proceedings. Many seminal legal decisions have arisen out of construction disputes - they deal with complex relationships between parties, which define the boundaries of contract and tort. Construction projects vary from oil pipelines to Private Finance Initiative prisons in WA. The exact nature of the legal work depends on the type, size and location of the project and the needs of the firm’s clients. Often, a firm will act for the project entity - usually a special purpose vehicle established to build, own and operate a power station, for example. The project entity is often a joint venture between a numbers of sponsors who contribute equity to part-fund the project.
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As projects can go on for years, you need to build and manage relationships with those involved. As major projects are often internationally owned or financed, this will require establishing and maintaining relationships with clients, funders or other stakeholders from different jurisdictions.
CORPORATE Corporate teams are important in commercial law firms, as they often develop relationships with their clients that ultimately lead to additional work flowing to other teams in the firm (such as employment or litigation). Type of work Corporate teams engage in three broad areas of work: • mergers and acquisitions (M&A); • equity capital markets (ECM); and • corporate advisory. Mergers & Acquisitions M&A work involves assisting clients as they acquire and sell businesses and companies. Lawyers are heavily involved in these kinds of transactions, and the work often involves: • providing advice on the transaction structure; • conducting ‘due diligence’; and • negotiating and drafting transaction documents.
Project sponsors, for example, could include the manufacturers of the gas turbines installed in a power station, the construction company that will erect the plant, and the power company that will buy the electricity. The project entity could also be partly owned by a government body or banks. Other times, it could be a trust that wants a new hospital or a foreign government that wants a M&A work can provide junior corporate lawyers with a large degree of responsibility, as junior privately financed motorway. lawyers are often responsible at first instance for Lawyers working on any of these contracts must co-ordinating the work of various other practice understand the big picture and appreciate how groups. For instance, a due diligence can involve changing one contractual term may have a knock lawyers from intellectual property, employment, property, environment and tax (to name a few) on effect throughout the entire project. working together to prepare a report identifying If you enjoy the challenge of working on the the risks associated with a company. delivery of a large-scale project and figuring out all its possibilities and pitfalls, this may be the right area for you. The ability to work with a team of people, whether they are your own colleagues and clients or other lawyers and professionals, funders or subcontractors, is crucial.
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Equity Capital Markets Corporate lawyers play an important role when companies wish to raise money by issuing shares as it is a heavily regulated activity. Lawyers are normally engaged by the company seeking to raise money, sometimes by the firm engaged by
the company to manage the capital raising, and more rarely by incoming investors. ECM work involves: • providing advice on the transaction structure and relevant laws; • conducting ‘due diligence’ or otherwise overseeing a due diligence process to minimise potential liability; and • reviewing (and sometimes drafting) offering documents. Corporate advisory Corporate lawyers also assist their clients with various other corporate tasks, such as preparing and reviewing ASX announcements, liaising with regulators and preparing, reviewing and interpreting contracts relevant to their the business of their clients. Types of clients Typically, larger firms act for ASX-listed companies and offer the opportunity to undertake more specialised tasks, while smaller firms act for private companies and some smaller to mid-sized ASXlisted companies. One of the main areas that clients often approach WRES teams for is assistance with the management Skillset required of employees, including in redundancy and Corporate lawyers have to be a jack-of-all-trades restructuring situations and in the management of and have a diverse skillset to provide legally and poor performance, misconduct and ill and injured commercially minded advice. The deadlines are employees. In addition to this, WRES lawyers sometimes tight, but corporate lawyers get to represent clients in dismissal matters both in enjoy the satisfaction of helping their clients grow relation to claims of unfair dismissal and adverse and develop their businesses. action made pursuant to the Fair Work Act (Cth) 2009 and with respect to common law contractual disputes in the District and Supreme Courts.
WORKPLACE RELATIONS, EMPLOYMENT & SAFETY
WRES law incorporates all aspects of workplace law, including both contentious and non-contentious matters. It is an appealing area to practice in if you enjoy matters with a human element, as the instructions frequently involve the day to day issues of individuals working in their jobs, rather than issues purely at a corporate level.
WRES is a practice area that is in high demand, particularly in advising clients on policies and procedures as well as assisting manage any safety incidents that occur. Practicing in such an area of law involves representing clients in safety prosecutions brought by mining and safety regulators.
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In attending to WRES matters, you may advise on industrial relations matters, including enterprise agreement making, navigating industrial disputes and driving workplace change. It is common to appear in the Fair Work Commission in industrial matters and to have the opportunity to work with industrial relations barristers in matters in the Federal and Supreme Courts around Australia. WRES advice and assistance is required by all employer clients, which can provide opportunities for junior lawyers to gain experience with clients of all sizes across all industries.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Intellectual property (IP) law is an all-encompassing term for creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary or artistic works, designs, symbols names and images used in commerce. IP law is based around the laws of copyright, patents, trademarks, designs, passing off, domain names and the law of breach of confidence. IP law enables individuals to claim exclusive rights and financial gain from what they invent or create, which is a benefit to both creators and the public. Type of Work IP is a burgeoning field of the law, which can at times deal with challenges of the intersection between law and technology - such as the control of online piracy and the enforcement of international patents. IP lawyers may be required to apply existing laws in novel ways to resolve complicated and novel disputes. This makes IP law a stimulating specialisation, which involves a range of clients, some of whom may be household names including large national and international manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech, engineering, pharmaceutical and agrochemical products, leading brand owners, universities, scientific institutions and media clients. Clients also include start-up businesses and individual artists who require assistance to protect their IP to ensure they can make an impact in the marketplace.
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IP work can be litigious or non-litigious. Disputes usually revolve around arguments of infringement or the existence and ownership of an invention, a literary or artistic work, a trademark or a product. Patent litigation, in particular, can be very complex, with cases running for years, usually with a lot at stake. Non-litigious work tends to focus on the development or commercialisation of IP. The development of IP can involve determining the ownership of the IP and the particular circumstances in which that IP may be used. Commercialisation of IP may be achieved by numerous means, such as the sale or licensing of the IP. IP licensing provides the purchasing party (the licensee) specific rights to use the IP, typically for a limited time or specified use, and does not confer ownership rights. The licensor usually benefits from the payment by the licensee of a royalty or licence fee.
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION Unlike what is portrayed in the media, working in commercial litigation rarely involves silver-tongued lawyers cross-examining thin-lipped corporate sharks and shouting “objection!”. Many disputes never reach a trial, and clients are generally interested in resolving disputes and reaching beneficial outcomes, rather than having their ‘day in court’.
Even once court proceedings have commenced, parties often make attempts to settle proceedings throughout the course of the action. In fact, mediation is a standard step in Supreme Court of Western Australia case management, and very few matters can progress without having been mediated. Type of work General commercial litigators handle a variety of disputes, but the majority of cases encountered when practising in a large commercial firm are contractual, encompassing anything from a dispute over the sale of a multi- million dollar business to an argument over the meaning of a term in a tenancy agreement, insurance policy or private contract.
In litigation, the best approach is often to reach a commercial settlement as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. In fact, court proceedings are often a last resort in attempts to resolve a dispute. Parties will usually exchange correspondence to attempt to settle the matter, which may be followed by formal or informal alternative dispute resolution, such as informal conferences, or mediation before an appointed mediator. Disputes that involve highly technical areas such as mining and construction may also go to arbitration as an alternative to court proceedings, as technical experts in the given field can be appointed as arbitrators.
Some litigators also deal with regulatory issues such as companies’ contentious dealings with ASIC or the ACCC, disciplinary proceedings or investigations against individuals by professional bodies for example in the field of medical negligence, administrative review proceedings, insolvency related court proceedings, and appeals. Commercial litigators also generally possess a broad skillset that can handle a wide variety of other dispute-related matters such as enforcement of judgments and general strategic advice. Litigation also involves advice work: advising companies about their obligations under contracts, emerging disputes, obligations under regulatory regimes and minimising risk. Litigators also often draft correspondence to other parties, such as business partners or regulators, on behalf of their clients. Some litigators specialise in certain industry sectors, such as construction, insurance, intellectual property or media. Each of these can generate its own subset of work. For instance construction disputes can involve international arbitration, while intellectual property litigation is a highly technical and specialised area. When court proceedings are commenced, there are standard procedural steps that are common to nearly all actions: pleadings, disclosure of
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of documents, lay and / or expert evidence, various procedural applications and ultimately trial preparation. In the major cases, this process can take several years. In complex litigation the litigator’s role can be as much about project management as it is substantive legal work. This looks set to increase with the increasing use of technology in legal work.
PROPERTY & REAL ESTATE The scope of work in Real Estate is varied and can range from straightforward settlements of residential properties to complex transactions involving significant developments, multiple parties and financing arrangements. Likewise, a property lawyer’s clients may include the average homebuyer, national and international corporations, investment funds and financial institutions. Working in real estate demands contact with third parties from day one - a typical day would usually include liaising with statutory authorities, agents, financiers, clients, the counterparty and their representatives. A real estate team in a larger firm often works closely with other practice groups as part of the same deal, including banking and finance, environment, planning, corporate, and construction. A property lawyer must not only be able to advise on government and statutory requirements for each transaction - they must also advise on competing land interests, encumbrances, risks, and issues affecting the land that their client is looking to sell or purchase. Depending on the lay of the land, property lawyers may also need to deal with advice and requirements with respect to native title and mining tenure which overlay the property tenure. In that regard, property lawyers require good attention to detail and need to keep themselves abreast of current and relevant developments the legal, tax and commercial sphere. That, coupled with a good understanding of the client’s business, will allow them to provide tailored commercial advice for the client.
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TAXATION A tax lawyer’s primary role on transactions is to advise on the tax implications of transactions, ensuring that the structure is both efficient and involves minimal risk to the client. Tax work is highly client focused - a good deal of the work is for repeat clients who invariably want quick and commercial answers to complex questions. Tax lawyers also advise on disputes with revenue authorities. In recent times, these authorities have demonstrated a willingness to take on taxpayer positions on contentious areas of law which are open to interpretation.
Type of work The voluminous and ever evolving nature of tax law requires constant attention to black letter law and revenue authority rulings and administrative practice. There is a wide variety of tax work on offer - transactional, litigious and general advisory - not to mention an increasingly international aspect to the transactional work in particular, where the relevant laws of a number of jurisdictions need to be considered. Tax lawyers will frequently work with their counterparts in other jurisdictions.
Tax law is not always as boring and monotonous as it is stereotyped to be. A typical day involves researching law, advising on deals, and advising on how to structure business activities and will typically involve interacting with a wide range of external clients but also colleagues in other practice areas.
Tax is a crucial component of every major deal undertaken by commercial firms. Whether the matter is corporate, finance or property-related, you can be sure that tax lawyers will be among the key advisors.
There is a huge quantity of law relevant to the area and, then giving advice, practitioners need to take into account not only tax legislation and cases, but also other areas of law that might be relevant. This requires significant collaboration between tax lawyers and colleagues in other legal departments (e.g. finance lawyers, corporate lawyers and commercial litigators).Tax law evolves at a far greater rate than the majority of other practice areas, so you’ll need to be constantly on the lookout for change.
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Firm Directory
Who to apply for? 70
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The Firm Directory The following section includes information on multiple commercial firms which run clerkships in Perth. Completing a clerkship at a commercial firm gives you the opportunity to access various practice areas and develop skills and knowledge that go beyond what you learn at university. You can also learn more infomation about the below commercial firms by visiting their websites or by attending careers fairs.
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Face up to the challenge. Put the competition behind you. Make it to the top together.
IT’S TIME.
careerClerkship in Law | Australia 2020 72 A MSLS Guide 2020
Visit www.allenovery.com/en-gb/global/careers/australia
IT’S TIME. Hit the ground running You’ve got talent and tenacity, it’s time you got the kind of exciting, challenging career that you deserve. There’s no such thing as a typical Allen & Overy candidate. We’re open-minded and are interested in people who share that quality. Naturally we are looking for individuals who can demonstrate strong academic performance. Throughout each stage of your application we’ll assess you against the characteristics that make up our competency framework. These are the personal attributes that we believe make people successful at Allen & Overy. What we can offer you
How to shine at interviews
During your three week placement at Allen & Overy; you will participate in real transactions as well as specifically designed exercises that provide a valuable insight into the role of an Allen & Overy lawyer. Bespoke training is provided by some of our leading lawyers in Australia, in addition to access to international training sessions. As your career progresses with Allen & Overy, you will be given a range of choices to develop your expertise, such as taking up the opportunity to spend time working in another office, whether that’s a rotation as a junior lawyer, a longer term secondment or a permanent transfer.
– The interview is an opportunity to substantiate what you have said about yourself in your application.
What our selection process looks like 1. Applications to include: cover letter, CV, academic transcript/s and completed online questionnaire. 2. After the closing date, we will review applications and contact successful students for an interview. 3. Interviews will be held with one of our partners and our human resources manager. We will discuss your application, skills and knowledge, reasons for applying and commercial awareness. 4. Prior to interviewing, one of our lawyers or current graduates will take you out for a coffee. Here, you can have an informal chat with one of our team as to why they joined Allen & Overy and they will be able to answer any further questions you may have about the program, firm or their own path in law.
– Revisit your application before the interview. Interview questions are likely to include details on school and university, interests and achievements, work experience and why you have chosen this career. – University careers services may offer mock interviews – book one if you can. Getting feedback on this process can be really helpful before the event. – Expect to be asked about topical, commercial or business issues. Be prepared to discuss your opinions. We want to find out what you think and why you think that way. – Dress appropriately, smile, maintain eye contact and offer a confident handshake. If you have been invited to an interview, we already think you have potential, so remember this. – An interview is a two-way process so this is also your opportunity to see whether the firm is right for you. Prepare questions to ask at the end of the interview covering genuine interests. – If you are unsuccessful at interview, ask for feedback so you know where to improve. Key dates for our Summer Clerkship 2020/2021 program Monday 13 July 2020 Applications for summer clerkship open Sunday 9 August 2020 Applications for summer clerkship close at 5pm
To apply for our Summer Clerkship 2020/21 program, please visit: allenovery.com/en-gb/global/careers/australia Reception: +61 8 6315 5900 Human Resources: australian.recruitment@allenovery.com
*Offers for summer clerkship must be accepted or declined by 1pm.
Monday 10 August to Friday 18 September 2020 Applications reviewed and interviews conducted Friday 25 September 2020 (9am)* Offers for summer clerkships will be made Program One 23 November – 11 December 2020 Program Two 18 January – 5 February 2021
A career in Law Visit allenovery.com/en-gb/global/careers/australia
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18 A L L E N & O V E R Y | I T ’ S T I M E
What we look for. MENTAL AGILITY
CHANGE AGILITY
Critical thinking
Innovation
Intellect
Adaptability
Numeracy
Intellectual curiosity
PEOPLE AGILITY Collaboration
SOLUTIONS AGILITY
Emotional intelligence
Organisation Technology awareness Drive & motivation Resilience
M E N TA L A G I L I T Y
CHANGE AGILIT Y
PEOPLE AGILIT Y
SOLUTIONS AGILIT Y
Applies a sharp and insightful mind to work challenges. Accurately analyses information, including numerical data.
Thrives on change and actively instigates innovative improvement. �s passionate about learning and keen to develop skills and knowledge to enhance performance.
Builds consistently excellent working relationships with clients and colleagues. �ses deep understanding of others, from all backgrounds, to adapt in�uencing style. A supportive colleague and team-player.
Highly energetic with keen focus on results. Persists to overcome obstacles. Delivers work in an efficient, effective, timely and technology-savvy way. Meets deadlines and has a �ne-tuned detail and �uality �radar�.
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26 ALLEN & OVERY | IT’S TIME
Benefits at A&O
� variety of �time out� opportunities including community service, religious, volunteer, cultural, house move, marriage leave & extended unpaid leave
Focus on your health & wellbeing � �nnual �u vaccinations, massages, skin care checks, executive health checks, health & wellbeing activities throughout the year
Communitas� �pportunity to undertake pro bono and community initiatives
Confidential counselling to staff and their immediate family �employee assistance program�
�mployee referral bonus scheme
Further education support including study leave. �ndustry memberships
�lobal training and secondment opportunities
�ife and total permanent disability insurance
�aid parental leave �over and above the government scheme�. Maternity coaching and parents support
Personal accident insurance & salary continuance insurance
�ealthy snacks and fruit�gym membership subsidy�firm sponsored running events
Flexible working arrangements
Subsidised sporting activities including participation in corporate challenges, subsidised ski trip and weekly personal training
�ots of social events i.e. themed monthly events, end of year dinner, Christmas parties etc
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TESTIMONIAL
from an Allen & Overy graduate I started my career at Allen & Overy after graduating with a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia in June 2018. Having spent the remainder of that year, and the early parts of 2019 travelling, I wasn’t sure how I would adjust to life as a law graduate. Luckily, our year began with a week of graduate training in Sydney. This was a great opportunity to meet other colleagues from across the network and receive valuable training (including a much-needed refresher on Microsoft Word!) My first rotation was in our Banking & Finance team. Having had almost zero exposure to this area of law during my studies, I quickly realised that binge-watching Suits and Law & Order was not going to prove adequate preparation. Thankfully, my new team was very welcoming and provided me with many opportunities to learn and develop my technical and soft skills. During my rotation, I worked on a variety of domestic and international financing transactions and worked with colleagues from across our global network. I have always been drawn to Allen & Overy for its ‘small office, big firm’ culture. There are more than 2800 Allen & Overy lawyers across the network, and around 40 based in our Perth office. This means that it is easy to get to know everyone in the office (no more smiling politely at the lifts), whilst having the opportunities and calibre of work associated with working in a large international firm. The collegiate culture allows junior lawyers and graduates to quickly become key members of the team and gain great hands-on exposure to some amazing work. I felt this after my first rotation but this was certainly affirmed during my second rotation in our Litigation & Arbitration team. In my second rotation, even as a junior lawyer, I have worked directly with clients and witnesses, whilst working on some of Perth’s (and Australia’s) largest and most complex international disputes. Allen & Overy also provides wonderful opportunities to travel and work in one of our many offices. I was about to take advantage of such an
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opportunity on my third rotation, where I was to move into our International Arbitration team in Hong Kong. While the COVID-19 outbreak prevented me from relocating to Hong Kong, my secondment has nonetheless continued as a “virtual secondment”. Despite not being in Hong Kong, I am still working closely with the team on a number of large-scale and complex international disputes. For example, I am currently assisting on a multi-billion dollar commercial and investment treaty arbitration, as well as an M&A dispute relating to potentially fabricated contracts. I work with colleagues across our network including our London, Madrid and Singapore offices. During the first month of my secondment, I have been tasked with liaising directly with our foreign law expert, preparing submissions and participating in e-hearings. One advantage is that I can do all of this while wearing my most comfy trackpants. Apart from the work, there many avenues for the graduates to further integrate into the firm. For example, each graduate is tasked with organising one social event for the year. Mine was a night of ten-pin bowling (sans bumpers and ramps – apparently adults aren’t allowed to use them, I asked). The graduates also organised and ran charity events for the firm, raising money for our local and global charity partners. A highlight of my graduate year would be when my graduate group successfully persuaded the firm to acquire a table tennis table (there was a proposal and all!). This now consumes most of my lunch breaks and afternoons, which is good and bad, depending on whose shoes you’re in. I am really glad I chose to start my career at Allen & Overy. The endless supply of Tim Tams and Shapes in our kitchen area has also been great – although, the extra few kilos I have gained might suggest otherwise!
Kenneth Chan
Law Graduate at Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy is an international legal practice with approximately 5,400 people, including some 550 partners, working in over 40 offices worldwide. Allen & Overy LLP or an affiliated undertaking has an office in each of:
Abu Dhabi Amsterdam Antwerp Bangkok Barcelona Beijing Belfast Bratislava Brussels
Bucharest (associated office) Budapest Casablanca Dubai Düsseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City
Hong Kong Istanbul Jakarta (associated office) Johannesburg London Luxembourg Madrid Milan Moscow
Munich New York Paris Perth Prague Rome São Paulo Seoul Shanghai
Singapore Sydney Tokyo Warsaw Washington, D.C. Yangon
Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Allen & Overy LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC306763. Allen & Overy LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales. The term partner is used to refer to a member of Allen & Overy LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the members of Allen & Overy LLP and of the non-members who are designated as partners is open to inspection at our registered office at One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD.
allenover��com�careers © Allen & Overy LLP 2020. This document is for general guidance only and does not constitute definitive advice. This brochure has been printed with vegetable-based inks on paper which uses wood pulp from sustainable, managed, commercial forests� �erti�ed environmental management s�stem ��� ������
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About Allens
Clerkships
What areas of law does your firm practice in?
Do you only take students in their penultimate year?
Allens is a major corporate firm with practice areas across almost all sectors. Here in Perth, however, our focus is primarily: Banking & Finance Corporate Disputes & Investigations Projects & Development
What is unique about the firm? This is a time of unprecedented change. At Allens, we’re ready. With a legacy that spans 200 years, we’ve pioneered significant change. It’s a part of who we are. Our people go further to support our clients, using sharp commercial insight and creativity to enrich longstanding relationships and build new ones. And we go further for each other and our community, too. We’re people you want to work with, generous with our time and ready to help. No matter what the future holds, we’re in it together. With us, you’ll be one step ahead. Great change is here. Are you ready?
Contact details Rachael Bloom, Graduate Resourcing Consultant T: 08 9488 3883 E: Student.Careers@allens.com.au graduates.allens.com.au
How many clerks do you take?
Applications are open to students who are in their penultimate or final year of their law degree.
When are your clerkships held? We offer three-week clerkship programs in summer and winter, to coincide with university holidays.
Does your firm make graduate offers to the open market, or just through clerkships? We typically recruit our graduates through our clerkship program; however, from time to time we will recruit graduates from the open market. We adhere to the open market recruitment dates set out by the guidelines.
How and when should students apply? Perth clerkship applications open on Monday, 13 July 2020 and close on Sunday, 9 August 2020.
What kind of work can a clerk expect to do? You’ll work with some of the most experienced lawyers in Australia and experience first-hand the type of work you could do as a lawyer with us. You’ll get to work as part of a team on real matters for our clients. If you’re driven, make the most of the opportunity and get to know our people, you’ll thrive during a clerkship with us. Your development supervisor and buddy will be there to support you and help you grow. Our clerkship program is a stepping stone to bigger things. Many Clerks go on to become Graduates with us.
Approximately 35
How many graduate jobs do you offer? Approximately 10
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MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020 Ready for great change? Find out how to apply via allens.com.au/yourcareer
Great change is here. Shape the future with Allens At Allens, we’re focused on equipping our people with the skills and experience they need to be the lawyers of the future. We’re ready to define tomorrow. Are you? MAINTAINING WELLBEING DURING THE CLERKSHIP PROCESS Navigating the clerkship process can be overwhelming and stressful, especially when you’re juggling multiple applications, university assignments, work and personal commitments. While it’s completely normal to feel like this, it’s important to ensure you are looking after yourself first and foremost. Here are some of our top tips to help you stay healthy during the clerkship process:
PREPARE EARLY AND BE ORGANISED Start researching and gathering information on different firms as early as possible. Once you have decided which firms are of interest to you, write a list of those you will be applying to, the requirements of each application and use a calendar to keep track of key dates (i.e. application deadlines, interview dates, cocktail nights etc.). Knowing exactly what needs to be completed will allow you to manage your time effectively and minimise unnecessary stress from the mad rush to submit applications or complete interview preparation. It will also give you a great sense of accomplishment as you work your way through the list and cross off each completed task.
DON’T TAKE ON TOO MUCH To avoid burning yourself out, try not to jam pack your day with multiple commitments (networking/cocktail nights, interviews, part-time work etc.). Where possible, try to limit or reduce your commitments to free up time to fully focus on the clerkship process and on yourself.
MAINTAIN A DAILY ROUTINE Creating a structured routine will help you feel organised, incontrol and set you up for a productive day. Remember the basics of self-care Get a good amount of sleep each night, eat well and make time for exercise. This will help to improve your mood, manage stress and allow you to focus on the tasks that need to be completed. Healthy body, healthy mind!
MAKE TIME FOR YOU! Give yourself a break from anything clerkship-related. It’s important to do the things you enjoy, whether that’s spending time with your family and friends, catching up on your favourite Netflix show or going on a hike. You have made it this far, so remember to acknowledge your hard work and efforts and reward yourself!
2020atMSLS Clerkship Guide Find out more allens.com.au/yourcareer Allens is an independent partnership operating in alliance with Linklaters LLP.
18217D
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Great change is here. Shape the future with Allens At Allens, we’re focused on equipping our people with the skills and experience they need to be the lawyers of the future. We’re ready to define tomorrow. Are you? With us, you’ll be more than a lawyer. Our people are technical experts, but they’re also trusted business advisers who think bigger, more broadly and more strategically. Together, we solve complex legal challenges, and collaborate across practice areas and disciplines to guide our clients.
We work across borders too, thanks to our alliance with Linklaters. This provides opportunites for our firm and our people, including annual rotations in Linklaters London, Hong Kong and Singapore being available to our graduate lawyers.
An early legal career at Allens includes highly tailored training through the Allens Academy. Developed in partnership with the Australian National University, our Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice will help you transition from law graduate to legal expert and trusted business adviser.
In a rapidly changing world, we seek opportunities to innovate, embracing creative thinking, new approaches and emerging technology. We don’t just seek opportunities to benefit ourselves and our clients, we believe strongly in driving positive change to do right by our community too, as demonstrated through our strong pro bono practices.
Our teams are open, inclusive and encouraging, giving you the opportunity to learn and grow while feeling supported. You’ll have the flexibility to drive your own career, and we’ll recognise your achievements and hard work as you progress through the firm. Are you ready to begin?
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MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020 Allens is an independent partnership operating in alliance with Linklaters LLP.
CLERKSHIP PROGRAM A clerkship at Allens is the first step in a rewarding legal career, and will give you invaluable insights into our work and culture. With support from a buddy and development supervisor, you’ll work on real matters for real clients and be involved in a variety of projects. The programs: run from three to 10 weeks; are available at our Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth
and Sydney offices;
feature ongoing support, including a buddy system; and include exposure to one or two practice groups.
GRADUATE PROGRAM In each rotation, you’ll gain a depth of experience that comes from seeing matters through to the end, and get exposure to stimulating legal challenges. At Allens, we don’t work in silos, meaning you won’t be limited to working with only one partner or by your practice areas. You’ll work alongside a range of partners and lawyers, giving you exposure to a wide variety of tasks. Working with different teams and leading organisations, you’ll grow a solid skills base and develop the agility needed to thrive in our ever‑changing world. The programs include: two 12‑month rotations in your areas of interest; secondment options in London or Asia, via our alliance
with Linklaters;
ongoing supervision, coaching and mentoring; completing a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
(via Allens Academy); and
a 12‑month weekly legal seminar series
(Cornerstone Program).
Find out more at graduates.allens.com.au 18217D
Make the difference at Ashurst As a global law firm with a rich history spanning almost 200 years, we’ve established ourselves as a leading adviser to corporates, financial institutions and governments, on all areas of the law including finance, M&A, disputes and competition. We’re renowned for helping our clients navigate through a complex and constantly evolving global landscape. With 28 offices across the world’s leading financial and resource centres, we offer the reach and insight of a global network combined with deep local market knowledge. Our people are our greatest asset. We bring together lawyers of the highest calibre with the expertise, industry experience and regional know-how to provide the incisive advice our clients need. As a global team we have a reputation for successfully managing large and complex multi-jurisdictional transactions, disputes and projects.
Ashurst around the globe
Glasgow London Paris Madrid
Brussels Frankfurt Munich Milan Luxembourg Abu Dhabi Jeddah Riyadh
New York Beijing New Delhi Mumbai
Dubai
Tokyo Shanghai
Los Angeles
Hong Kong
Singapore Jakarta
Port Moresby
Perth Melbourne
Brisbane * Sydney Canberra * Brisbane has two office locations
10
time zones
16
countries
Begin now at ashurst.com/students
28
offices
3,660 people
1,583 lawyers
412
partners
Connect with us on
2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 81
Tips for clerkship success Be self-aware and remember that first impressions count
Remember to request feedback after completing tasks
• In locations with multi-clerkship opportunities, a 3.5 to 4 week clerkship is essentially a long interview for a graduate position
• A clerkship is a great opportunity for you to learn and develop your legal knowledge and skills
• Consider your personal brand and how you want to be perceived and remembered in terms of your strengths and fit with firm
• Take the time to follow up your work providers and get their thoughts on the work you have completed - however be aware of their workload and the timing of asking for feedback
• A great attitude, enthusiasm for any sort of task and the ability to quickly build rapport with others goes a long way
• Acting on this feedback is a great way to demonstrate your ability to learn quickly – a key skill for junior lawyers
Show initiative and seek opportunities
Develop your networks – speak to as many people as possible
• What do you want to get out of your clerkship? What do you want to learn about the firm and what work do you want to get involved in?
• As well firms looking at your abilities and fit to the firm, it’s also your opportunity to find out if this is the place you want to start and establish your career
• Take the initiative to get to know your team as well as other practices across the firm, meet as many people as possible and try to get involved in different types of work, projects and activities
• Take every opportunity to meet people from across the firm to learn about the practice groups and if they are people you would like to work with in the future
Keep your supervisor updated on workload and schedule
• Lastly, take the time to get to know your fellow clerks – you may be colleagues one day
• Communication is key in a law firm. Take on a variety of work for different people across the team, but don’t forget the importance of managing your priorities and keeping your work providers up to date • Clerkships involve a number of training sessions and other activities so it’s important to keep people informed as to where you will be if you are away from your desk for a long period of time
Connect with us on
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My Clerkship Experience Kristyna, Seasonal Clerk
Studied: Juris Doctor, University of Sydney Rotations: Environment & Planning and Tax
1. WHY ASHURST
4. CAREER DEVELOPMENT AT ASHURST
Ashurst’s excellent reputation in both international and domestic markets is a clear drawcard. Beyond that, the firm ranks first-tier in a number of practice groups that interest me which translates into attracting top talent and working with the best clients on impactful deals. However, what truly set Ashurst apart for me was the firm culture and down to earth people that I met throughout the application process. Further, with technological advancements creating unprecedented change in the legal industry, I was drawn to Ashurst’s commitment to innovation by becoming the most progressive global law firm.
From day one it was clear that Ashurst was committed to supporting our career development and investing in our future legal careers. As clerks we had a number of weekly training sessions in wide-ranging areas including technical skills, networking and resilience. I particularly enjoyed the support given to me by my assigned “buddies” and growing my network across the firm with individuals at all levels.
2. YOUR WORK AS A CLERK The work during my rotations was quite varied. I had the opportunity to draft advice to clients, research various areas of law (including considering how legislative amendments might impact client matters which Ashurst is advising on), prepare briefs to Counsel and correspond with clients. The lawyers I worked with took the time to thoroughly explain each task which greatly enhanced my learning experience. The work varies across the different practice groups, but as a clerk you can expect to be involved with research, reviewing documents, occasionally attending court and sitting in on meetings.
5. ASHURST IN THE COMMUNITY Ashurst takes great pride in its commitment to pro bono and corporate social responsibility. The firm sets a yearly target for every lawyer to complete 50 hours of pro bono work and clerks were presented with opportunities to get involved from the first day. There is even the option to clerk in the Pro Bono practice. I found it incredibly fulfilling to assist on various matters that directly support community organisations.
6. WHO SHOULD APPLY I would recommend a clerkship at Ashurst to anyone seeking work that is intellectually challenging and shapes society, with some of the most talented people in the legal industry.
3. SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE CLERKSHIP As well as being given work that is both challenging and engaging, a key highlight are the social activities on offer. The clerks participated in weekly inter-firm sport, a clerk cruise, group dinners, Christmas parties, networking coffees and post-work drinks. Our cohort even organised a weekend away to the Central Coast. Each experience allows you to build meaningful relationships to carry throughout your future career.
2020ashurst.com/students MSLS Clerkship Guide 83
Your journey to a world-class career begins here
Baker McKenzie is Australia’s first global law firm. We’ve been developing global lawyers in Australia for more than 50 years – each started out as a law student, just like you.
Natalie Mascarenhas +61 3 9617 4349 natalie.mascarenhas@bakermckenzie.com
Become a world-class lawyer. Join the firm that was born global.
www.bakermckenzie.com/australia#careers
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MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020 Find us at @BakersAUS
Ready to explore our world?
Find us on Facebook
Your journey begins with a world-class Seasonal Clerkship
Real client work. Invaluable coaching. A tailored development program. A genuine insight into working with our Firm – while building great friendships. Plus, we offer the unique opportunity to build your global knowlege and network – through an International Clerkship.
Ready to explore our world? Natalie Mascarenhas +61 3 9617 4349 natalie.mascarenhas@bakermckenzie.com
Become a world-class lawyer. Join the firm that was born global.
www.bakermckenzie.com/australia#careers Find us at @BakersAUS
Find us on Facebook
2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 85
Your journey continues with a world-class Graduate Program
Market-leading work ‒ across borders. And a global approach to development. Our Graduates want the best foundation for their career ‒ just like you. We’ve been developing our Graduates into exceptional, global lawyers for more than 50 years. Become a world-class lawyer. Join the firm that was born global.
www.bakermckenzie.com/australia#careers
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MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020 Find us at @BakersAUS
Find us on Facebook
Ready to explore our world? Natalie Mascarenhas +61 3 9617 4349 natalie.mascarenhas@bakermckenzie.com
BORN GLOBAL At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. Like no other law firm, we were born global. Baker McKenzie has been thinking globally in Australia for more than 50 years. In 2014, we opened our Brisbane office making our Australian practice the fourth largest in our network of 76 offices with more than 80 Partners and 220 lawyers across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In Australia, we act for leading multinational and domestic companies on market leading local and global transactions. Founded in 1949, Baker McKenzie is one of the world’s largest law firms by markets, revenue and headcount. We offer our clients and lawyers the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a leading firm and a distinctive way of thinking, working and behaving as a passionately global and genuinely collaborative firm. We understand the challenges of the global economy because we have been a global law firm from the start.
Our Clerkship Program
Right from the start, our Clerks get involved in real work. You will be exposed to our Australian and international clients through client meetings, shadowing, research and other everyday activities within your assigned practice group. Our Clerks work closely with other lawyers, are guided by a Supervising Partner and enjoy the extra support of an experienced Associate “Buddy”. You will develop practical and legal skills through our national learning program and by attending workshops specifically designed for Clerks, as well as Firm-wide sessions. In Melbourne, we have three Clerkship intakes, each for four weeks – late November to late December, February and late June to late July. Clerks who accept a Graduate role with Baker McKenzie are eligible to apply for an International Clerkship, with the opportunity to work in one of our overseas offices in the year following their Clerkship.
Our Graduate Program
Over the course of the program, Graduates gain experience in different areas of law before they join a particular practice group as an Associate. You will be supervised by a Partner and have an Associate “Buddy” in each rotation to oversee your on-the-job and formal learning.
Develop globally
At Baker McKenzie, we have a deep commitment to development. We work with each Graduate to create a tailored development plan and career goals. To help you reach your goals, we provide targeted learning opportunities — from seminars on core legal topics to practical skills development in areas such as communication, drafting and presenting. We work hard to facilitate on-the-job learning and the many ways it happens — through informal mentoring relationships, client secondments, involving Graduates in global teams working on international deals and in managing their own files for our award-winning Pro Bono Program. We also bring Graduates from our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offices together to help our people foster networks across the Firm, and support professional development by covering the costs of Practical Legal Training and your admission.
Our regional practice group structure means many of our lawyers attend regional training in our Asia Pacific offices. Once Graduates complete their Graduate Program, they will attend a regional orientation program with other mid-level Associates from the Asia Pacific region. The Firm also offers opportunities for lawyers at varying stages of their careers to work directly for clients or with our other offices globally.
What does the Firm look for?
Baker McKenzie looks for people who genuinely want to work with us and who understand Baker McKenzie's unique offering, values and position in the market. We look for well-rounded, motivated individuals who share our global perspective; who are intellectually curious and have sound academics; who display business acumen and are practical in their approach; who enjoy a challenge and seek new opportunities; who take responsibility and use their initiative; who act with integrity and honesty in all of their dealings, decisions and actions; who express themselves confidently while staying open to new ideas; who strive to provide excellent service to their clients; who seek a friendly, diverse, and inclusive culture; and who take seriously our role in making a difference to our local and global communities.
Thrive in a culture of inclusion
Quality and excellence along with team work, integrity and responsiveness are central in delivering outstanding service to our clients, as you would expect in a top tier law firm. The values that make us a unique and great place to work are deeply embedded and you will notice our difference in all of your interactions with us, in Australia and across the globe. We are passionately global, and leverage our global expertise for our clients.
We actively encourage and support contribution to the community, through our pro bono and community service programs. We want everyone at Baker McKenzie to reach their potential so we invest in global, regional and local world-class development and mobility programs for our people. Our award-winning diversity strategy, initiatives and programs are focused in six areas: BakerWomen – gender equality and supporting the progression of women BakerDNA – ethnic, indigenous and cultural diversity BakerBalance – supporting carers and parents, and workplace flexibility BakerWellbeing – commitment to mental health and wellbeing BakerLGBTI & Allies – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex diversity BakerIndigenousEngagement – commitment to engagement with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
How to apply
Applications for Clerkships can be submitted via www.bakermckenzie.com/careers/Australia. Applications should include a cover letter, as well as details of your work experience, your extra-curricular activities and interests, and your academic results. Applications for Clerkships open at 9.00am on 6 July 2020 and close 11.59pm on 16 August 2020. Natalie Mascarenhas Talent Management Consultant +61 3 9617 4349 natalie.mascarenhas@bakermckenzie.com
We strive to stay ahead of the curve and encourage entrepreneurship. We have a strong culture of friendship and collaborative working style. We are commercial pragmatists who simplify issues for clients.
Our key areas of practice Banking & Finance Commercial Real Estate Construction
Corporate (including Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets and Private Equity) Dispute Resolution Employment and Industrial Relations
Energy, Resources, Infrastructure and Corporate Environmental Markets IPTech
www.bakermckenzie.com/careers/Australia 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 87 Baker & McKenzie, an Australian Partnership, is a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International.
STAY TRUE.
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I am a daughter of Vietnamese migrants who came to Australia in the late eighties in search of a better future. My parents have always struggled with the English language so it’s really been my role to help them navigate their way through filling in forms dealing with Government departments and various legal issues. From a very young age this experience made me realise that it was likely there were many more people in a similar position to my parents. I wanted to help those people the same way I’d helped my parents and that’s when it clicked that becoming a lawyer was the thing for me. I am now a full time pro bono lawyer at Clayton Utz. This means that I help to implement the firms pro bono strategy by co-ordinating pro bono matters for our lawyers supervising our pro bono files and working on pro bono cases myself. A large part of my role in the pro bono team is to help our lawyers manage challenges… To listen to Hai-Van’s full story, go to: claytonutz.com/graduates Academic brilliance certainly counts, but graduates who thrive here have something extra – a natural passion for connecting with people and a strong sense of self. That’s what staying true is all about. If you have these qualities, Clayton Utz is for you.
https://graduates.claytonutz.com/ Clayton Utz is a leading Australian law firm, known for the strength of its independent culture and its confident and engaging approach. We welcome people who are smart, client focussed and ready to tackle problems together. We want people to bring their whole self to work and stay true to who they are. At Clayton Utz, we've built a team of down-to-earth, collaborative lawyers. Core to our commitment to client service is exercising a sophisticated understanding of client needs. We have grown, cultivated and offer the sharpest legal minds. We deliver the clearest advice that cuts through the complexity so our clients can concentrate on the things that really matter. With 165 partners and over 1,700 employees across six offices, we continue to build on our reputation for confident, innovative and incisive legal advice. We have over 14 different practice areas: Banking & Financial Services; Commercial Litigation; Competition; Corporate/M&A/Capital Markets; Environment and Planning; Forensic and Technology Services; IP and Technology; Majors Projects and Construction; Public Sector; Real Estate; Restructuring and Insolvency; Tax; Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety; and Pro Bono. Clerkship Program If you're a law student in your penultimate year, our Clerkship Program will introduce you to the fast pace of a full-service commercial law firm. Here you will see and experience the law in action. You'll work under the guidance of the sharpest legal minds in Australia. You will tackle and problem solve on challenging, complex and high-profile transactions and matters. You'll have access to partners and lawyers as mentors who are leaders in their fields. And you will be part of a firm where individuality is embraced and continuous innovation is expected. Our Clerkship programs are the firm's future pipeline for its Graduate Program. The Clerkship programs give you a feel for what it's like to be a Graduate and they are a great place to start your career. There is no set routine. Allocated work will largely depend on the practice group and its specific needs at the time. As an overview expected responsibilities may include: research, writing clients memos/letters, attending client meetings and court with lawyers, pro bono work, liaising with internal colleagues and assisting with the preparation of matters for hearings. We hire most of our Graduates from our Clerkship Programs. Occasionally, additional opportunities may arise. These opportunities will be listed on our website. Key Dates Clerkship Applications Open: Monday, 13 July 2020 Clerkship Applications Close: Sunday, 9 August 2020 Offers Made: Friday, 25 September 2020 Clerkship Dates Summer 1: 16 November 2020 - 11 December 2020 Summer 2: 25 January 2021 - 19 February 2021 Winter: 21 June 2021 - 16 July 2021 Primary HR Contact Alison Tassiou Graduate Resourcing Consultant careers@claytonutz.com
2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 89
GET TO KNOW US What areas of law do we practice?
How many graduate jobs do we offer?
Across Australia, our core areas of focus are Corporate, Banking & Finance, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Antitrust & Competition.
Sydney: 4 – 6
Why are we different? Firstly, our collaborative and adaptable culture. We work together across borders, languages and legal systems, sharing insights and expertise to achieve our clients’ commercial goals. Secondly, we’re pioneers, working on many ‘first of a kind’ deals. Finally, it’s the nature of our people. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, they embrace our culture of learning and are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.
Your contacts Kelly Byrnes, National HR Manager & Melissa Urquhart, HR Advisor Grads.Australia@CliffordChance.com
Clerkships Students must be at least penultimate year and eligible to participate in the 2022 Graduate Program
When are our clerkships held? Our Clerkship program in Sydney runs in Summer; in 2020, it will run from 30 November, 2020 – 12 February, 2021. Our Clerkship program in Perth runs in Summer; in 2020 it will run from 30 November – 18 December.
How many clerks do you take? Sydney: 4 – 6 Perth: 4 – 6
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Perth: 2 – 4
Do we make graduate offers to the open market, or just through clerkships? Graduate offers are primarily made from the clerkship pool however applications from students unable to complete a clerkship program are still accepted and considered.
How / when should students apply? Sydney
Perth
Applications open: 9 June, 2020
Applications open: 13 July, 2020
Applications close: 5 July, 2020
Applications close: 2 August, 2020
What kind of work can a clerk expect to do? Our clerkship program is designed to provide you with a real insight to life at Clifford Chance in Australia. Throughout the program, you will work alongside all levels of lawyers, including partners, while you assist with real-time matters. You will have two seat rotations, allowing you to experience two different teams. Throughout the clerkship you will hear from various departments across the region, helping you to develop a comprehensive understanding of life in a magic circle law-firm.
DOING THE DEAL Mergers & Acquisitions
Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and Acquisitions (more commonly referred to as M&A) are transactions in which the ownership of whole or part of a company or other business structure such as a trust, are transferred or consolidated with other entities. From a legal point of view, a merger is a legal consolidation or partnership of two separate entities, whereas an acquisition occurs when one entity acquires an interest in another entity or its assets. In essence, M&A is a strategic commercial decision for any entity. It can enable enterprises to grow or downsize, and changes the nature of their business or their competitive market position.
So why Clifford Chance?
Clifford Chance was an obvious choice for me. It is one of the few truly international firms in the Australian market, and one of the world’s pre-eminent leading law firms with thirty-two offices across five continents. In Australia, the firm has offices in Sydney and Perth, with four broad practice areas in Corporate, Banking and Finance, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Antitrust and Competition. Clifford Chance embraces innovation and collaboration in working with clients across our global network, whilst also recognising the importance of responsible business, community and pro bono initiatives. Clients include leading businesses from various commercial and industrial sectors, governments, regulators, trade bodies and not-for-profit organisations, that operate across a variety of markets, cultures and languages. Clifford Chance prides itself on its diversity and quality of cross-jurisdictional work, combining local knowledge with the breadth of the firm’s global network and providing clients with astute domestic and international expertise. As a lawyer, you are encouraged to grow your global network by working in various offices and collaborating with colleagues from around the world.
Being a Corporate Lawyer at Clifford Chance
The M&A team is a transactional group in the Corporate practice area. To work at Clifford Chance means working at the forefront of some of the most significant and complex global transactions. Our clients are leaders in their respective fields and seek out Clifford Chance to provide innovative, highly strategic and commercially sound advice. The Corporate team attracts a large and diverse client base, including private equity firms, investment banks, large privately-owned companies and listed companies. At Clifford Chance, a corporate lawyer must have a passion for understanding our clients. As our deals have a profound effect on the growth prospects of businesses, it is critical that our clients’ goals are at the core of our work. M&A also typically raises complex financial, regulatory and operational issues within the business, so being able to identify these issues and work closely alongside other external advisers and bodies is critical.
A Junior Lawyers Role
As a junior lawyer you are expected to support your team and assume significant responsibility on transactions. This can involve matter management, external-facing tasks such as correspondence with the client and opposing counsel, legal drafting and research tasks. A great team will encourage you to be invested in your work, develop personal relationships with colleagues and take advantage of career opportunities, such as running a particular workstream. Globally, Clifford Chance prides itself on its approachable, collegiate and team-based way of working. As a junior lawyer, I am encouraged to be keenly inquisitive and proactive in my legal interests and thoroughly enjoy working with my colleagues in both the Sydney office and across the globe.
Isabelle Cameron
2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide Associate at Clifford Chance91
Be exceptional. Your journey from outstanding graduate to exceptional lawyer begins at Corrs.
From your first day at Corrs you will have the opportunity to accelerate your career in a high-performing and supportive environment. Our lawyers work together across practice groups to deliver exceptional results and support you in building your future, wherever you want to take it.
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2020
Be exceptional.
About us
Number of seasonal clerkship programs
Corrs Chambers Westgarth is Australia’s leading independent Australian law firm. We’re known for delivering legal excellence, exceptional client service and outstanding results.
In 2020/21, Corrs Perth will offer three, three-week clerkship programs held in either summer or winter. Each program will have approx. 8–10 clerks.
Through our long-term relationships with leading international law firms, we advise on the most significant global matters and connect with the best lawyers internationally to provide clients with the right team for every engagement. For almost two centuries, we’ve been advising clients on their most complex challenges. We’re the firm of choice for many leading organisations – including large corporations, governments, banks and financial sponsors.
Main practice areas We specialise in the following areas of law: Arbitration, Banking & Finance, Commercial Litigation, Corporate/M&A, Employment & Labour, Energy & Natural Resources (ENR), Projects, Property & Real Estate, Restructuring, Insolvency & Special Situations (RISS), Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT).
Number of offices Our offices are located in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Moresby.
Our seasonal clerkship program You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside some of Australia’s leading lawyers on high-profile work for major clients. Our clerkships give you the opportunity to connect with partners and lawyers across the firm and learn what a ‘day-in-the-life’ at Corrs is like. You’ll be exposed to a broad range of interesting matters and get the chance to conduct research; review and present documents; attend client meetings, court hearings, mediations and settlements; and shadow partners and lawyers in everyday activities.
Applying for the seasonal clerkship program Applications must be submitted online via the firm’s website or through cvMail. Applications from non-penultimate students are welcome. You’ll be required to submit a resume and academic transcript along with your online application. Successful applicants will also complete online psychometric assessments during the recruitment process.
Interviews and information evenings Interviewees are invited to our information evening, which is an informal cocktail event. Attending interviews and information evenings can be daunting and being nervous is understandable! That’s why we take a relaxed approach to both activities. We’re looking for candidates who can build rapport and articulate their experience. Tell us why you applied to Corrs and what you know about our firm. We want to get to know you as a person, so talk about your hobbies and interests outside of the law too.
What we look for in a seasonal clerk We look for well-rounded individuals with exceptional academic performance, evidence of work experience (law or non-law related) and experience in leadership positions, volunteering or community service.
Seasonal clerkship recruitment dates Applications open: Monday, 13 July 2020 Applications close: Sunday, 9 August 2020 Offers made: Friday, 25 September 2020 (9am – 1pm)
Contact us Corrs Chambers Westgarth Level 6, Brookfield Place Tower 2, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth corrs.com.au/graduates
Jennifer Jacobs – People & Performance Consultant +61 8 9460 1666 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide jennifer.jacobs@corrs.com.au
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Be exceptional.
About us Corrs Chambers Westgarth is Australia’s leading independent Australian law firm. We’re known for delivering legal excellence, exceptional client service and outstanding results. Through our long-term relationships with leading international law firms, we advise on the most significant global matters and connect with the best lawyers internationally to provide clients with the right team for every engagement. For almost two centuries, we’ve been advising clients on their most complex challenges. We’re the firm of choice for many leading organisations – including large corporations, governments, banks and financial sponsors.
Main practice areas We specialise in the following areas of law: Arbitration, Banking & Finance, Commercial Litigation, Corporate/M&A, Employment & Labour, Energy & Natural Resources (ENR), Projects, Property & Real Estate, Restructuring, Insolvency & Special Situations (RISS), Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT).
Number of offices Our offices are located in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Moresby.
Our graduate development program Our graduate development program is your first step towards a successful career. As part of our 18-month program, you’ll have access to on-the-job training from partners and senior lawyers; structured learning; mentoring and regular feedback. You’ll complete three six-month rotations through a variety of our practice areas and you’ll also be involved in pro bono opportunities. Our Graduate Academy is a highlight for graduates every year. We bring all our graduates together for a multi-day experience, where you will meet your peers, learn and
have fun. You’ll also commence your Practical Legal Training studies and local orientation.
Applying for graduate positions Previous clerks will be eligible to receive a priority offer for 2021 graduate positions. Corrs contacts eligible clerks in June, with priority offers made in late July. Corrs may open applications to the general market after the priority offer process.
International opportunities for graduates Our International Study Scholarship supports the continuing professional development of exceptional lawyers. The Scholarship provides financial support for the completion of further study at Oxford, Cambridge or a US equivalent (full-time on campus). Over the last seven years, we’ve sent 44 secondees to 14 countries worldwide, including to leading firms in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore, China, Spain, France, India, Germany, Brazil, Indonesia and Hong Kong.
Pro bono opportunities for graduates We perform around 20,000 hours of pro bono and volunteer work each year. Pro bono secondments form part of our graduate development program, so you’ll be involved in contributing to these matters from early in the program. Our Perth graduates work specifically with the Employment Law Centre of WA, the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA or the Street Law Centre.
What we look for in a graduate We look for well-rounded individuals with exceptional academic performance, evidence of work experience (law or non-law related), as well as experience in leadership positions, volunteering or community service, and extra-curricular activities. Our ideal candidate is genuine, hard-working and has great communication skills. They’re also keen to learn, open to receiving feedback and continually strive for excellence.
Contact us
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Corrs Chambers Westgarth Level 6, Brookfield Place Tower 2, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020 corrs.com.au/graduates
Jennifer Jacobs – People & Performance Consultant +61 8 9460 1666 jennifer.jacobs@corrs.com.au
ARE YOU READY TO BE BOLD? Not all corporate law firms are the same. If you’re up for the challenge of working with Australia’s most innovative corporate law firm, learn more via gtlaw.com.au/bebold
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WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? The G+T clerkship experience is open to students in their penultimate year of study, as well as final year for our Sydney office. We’re not a prescriptive firm when it comes to our people; we invite individuality and diversity. We also hold ambition, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in high regard. Our people are collaborative, passionate and dedicated – but most of all they enjoy what they do and never forget to have fun. We seek clerks and graduates who will complement our practice groups and don’t feel the need to take themselves too seriously.
WHAT WILL YOU EXPERIENCE? Depending on your location, you’ll complete two, four-week rotations across the firm’s practice areas in summer, or a seasonal clerkship over a number of weeks in winter or summer. All clerks are assigned a supervising partner, mentor and buddy to assist with on-the-job training for each rotation - an immediate support network to help smooth the transition from university and assist with your professional development. While your main focus will be corporate work, everyone has the opportunity to assist on pro bono matters, innovation projects and participate in firm-wide activities.
HOW WILL YOU LEARN?
WE’RE BIG ON BOLD Standing up for what you believe in and standing out in the crowd. Having the confidence to take risks and the courage to say no. Trusting in the tradition of embracing innovation. Being adventurous, spirited and unexpected. At Gilbert + Tobin, we believe in being bold.
During the clerkship you’ll take part in our customised in-house training, and cover topics such as research, analysis, drafting, developing technical skills, interpersonal effectiveness, teamwork, business development and client orientation. As you progress through your rotations you’ll develop invaluable skills and knowledge and gain first-hand experience of our various practice groups. Understanding the mechanics of legal practice through research, drafting memos, attending court and meeting clients will all help to build your confidence. And we’ll encourage you to contribute ideas and your own fresh perspective.
GRADUATE PROGRAM Our summer clerk program is the primary pathway for graduates at G+T, however we also invite interest from graduating students who may have clerked elsewhere or taken up other opportunities in their penultimate or final year of studies. Keep an eye on our website for active graduate vacancies.
KEY DATES OFFICE
APPLICATIONS OPEN
APPLICATIONS CLOSE
Sydney
9 June
12 July
Melbourne
6 July
16 August
Perth
13 July
2 August
CONTACT LISA HAROLD
HR Manager
+61 8 9413 8411 | lharold@gtlaw.com.au
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GTL AW.COM.AU/BEBOLD
BE BOLD BE PART OF THE ACTION Gilbert + Tobin is a leading transactions, regulatory and disputes law firm, committed to outstanding citizenship. We guide our clients through defining moments in their business and are renowned for our ability to get things done.
We employ a diverse mix of talented and ambitious people who are attracted to the firm because of its entrepreneurial spirit, creative approach and capacity for change. These are the reasons we enjoy a reputation as the most successful corporate law firm to emerge in Australia in many years. We advise many of Australia’s and the world’s leading organisations and focus on the most dynamic sectors. Our clients and projects span Australia, Asia and emerging African markets. Our Perth office employs some of Australia’s leading practitioners in Corporate Advisory, Energy + Resources, and Disputes + Investigations. We also practice in the following areas nationally: + Banking + Infrastructure
+ Real Estate + Projects
+ Competition + Regulation
+ Technology + Digital
+ Intellectual Property
+ Tax
+ Pro Bono If you want to challenge your thinking and stretch your abilities, this is the firm for you. There has never been a better time to be a part of our story and enjoy the stimulating challenge of working with Australia’s most innovative corporate law firm.
Find out more at www.gtlaw.com.au/bebold
WE DELIVER ON OUR PROMISE TO PROVIDE REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER. WE PROVIDE THE CHANCE TO BE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN INTERESTING, CHALLENGING WORK MUCH EARLIER IN YOUR CAREER, ACCELERATING YOUR OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCE. DANNY GILBERT, 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 97 MANAGING PARTNER
G+T STAYED TRUE TO ITS REPUTATION AS A PLACE WHERE ITS PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED AND CAN THRIVE NO MATTER WHAT.
My clerkship with Gilbert + Tobin will undoubtedly be a memorable experience. Throughout the entire application process, it was always my number one – for both its market-leading work and its positive culture. However, it was always going to be hard to say no after my first-round interview with partner Tim Gordon. Having DJ’ed in his youth, as I currently do, and being from Canberra, where I study, we had a lot in common from the get-go. Our interview was the easiest and still by far my favourite throughout the entire process. Socially, the clerkship was fantastic. I’ve genuinely made great friends with some of my fellow clerks and I’m excited to stay in touch with them all as we continue our journeys. During induction week, we had a fun pasta making class, not to mention capping the week off with the firm-wide Christmas party (in which the clerks went as 90’s Rock). December was an awesome month to be in Corporate, with a Christmas-related lunch or party every week throughout. It was absolutely unreal. Clerk sport during the clerkship was also great fun, especially to see friends and meet people across the firms. I rotated through the Corporate Advisory and Disputes + Investigations practice groups. I chose to preference these groups as I wanted to see both sides of the firm (i.e. transactional and litigious). My team in Corporate, under Tim, was fantastic. I was able to contribute meaningfully to the team, especially as they entered the back-end of a massive year. A highlight would be drafting governance advice to the board of a major international payments company. However, my favourite part of the rotation was sitting in on a variety of telephone conference calls with clients and attending completion meetings for a couple of deals (which I even did on my first full day). For me, these were the best moments of my clerkship – seeing the lawyers in their absolute element. Through these, I was able to gain incredible insight into what it is that a corporate lawyer does and the interactions they have on a dayto-day basis. It was especially interesting to sit in on completion meetings, as I had never encountered the concept of completion (separate to signing) before. Rotating through Disputes was also very interesting. In particular, it allowed me to strengthen my legal research skills. It was fascinating to review the statement of claim for a major class action and to learn about the current Australian regulatory environment around financial services. It was also really interesting to learn about how Investigations matters operate, having never realised this is also a major piece of work that litigation lawyers undertake at G+T. Ultimately, I have absolutely no regrets with choosing G+T. For me, it was a firm I felt I genuinely understood and culturally, it absolutely met my expectations. G+T stayed true to its reputation as a place where its people are welcomed and can thrive no matter what. I’m extremely grateful for having the opportunity to be a Summer Clerk here and I would absolutely recommend it for anyone interested in a career in corporate law. ROCKY LAGUDI, 2019 SUMMER CLERK
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Discover extraordinary opportunities We are HopgoodGanim. A leading legal and advisory firm that helps achieve exceptional outcomes. From Perth and Brisbane with clients in all corners. We solve the big problems for large corporates, private business, government and private clients.
HopgoodGanim enjoys a reputation as a firm where people love to come to work. We nurture a working culture that acknowledges there is life outside the law. We also offer our people challenging and interesting work with a national and international client base and the chance to learn from industry-leading practitioners who are experts in their fields.
Find out more hopgoodganim.com.au/careers Search HopgoodGanim Lawyers on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook
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I commenced full time employment with Jackson McDonald as a Law Graduate in early December 2019 and I am currently also completing the Practical Legal Training Program with the College of Law. My situation may be slightly different to other graduates as I have been working at Jackson McDonald (in various capacities) for nearly 16 years. This goes to show that I hold Jackson McDonald in high regard, and I believe it is a wonderful and supportive place to work. When I finished my law degree at Murdoch University in November 2019 and changed roles from Paralegal to Law Graduate less than one month later, I was concerned that my role may not alter very much, and I would continue to work on the same matters in much the same capacity. However, I am pleased to say that this has not been the case. Instead, I have been provided with exposure to a vast array of matters within the tax and corporate commercial team. This included some quite technical matters, where in addition to researching the area of law, I also drafted the advice for the clients (with a lot of mentoring and assistance by the partners involved!).
There have also been opportunities for me to assist other sub areas of the corporate commercial team, including some corporate governance work in the Indigenous arena. Both teams have been mindful to not overload me but to provide enough challenging work to assist me with my growth over this period from a Law Graduate to a Solicitor. Jackson McDonald encourage members of the firm to set goals, continue learning in a wide array of areas, attend seminars, assist with pro bono work and join internal and external committees where possible, which I have been doing. Over all, I have definitely been stretched out of my comfort zone in the past few months in my new role as a Law Graduate. However, I have found that my team members at Jackson McDonald, and the firm in general, have been very supportive of my journey and have mentored me along the way. This has made my journey so far not only achievable but also enjoyable and exciting.
Kylie Pritchard Cameron Law Graduate at Jackson McDonald
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Welcome to a new dimension of Law careers.kwm.com/en/graduates-australia
As an elite international law firm headquartered in Asia, we are reshaping the legal market by challenging our people and our clients
Your role
to think differently about what a law firm can be today, tomorrow and
Clerks usually work in one or two different practice groups, depending on the length of the clerkship.
beyond. We thrive on exceeding the expectations of our clients, and as such the world’s leading organisations turn to us to unlock their
You’ll be allocated a supervisor in each of your practice groups and you’ll work closely with the partners, senior associates and solicitors in that team. It’s a hands-on role, so you won’t just be watching from the sidelines.
biggest opportunities and deliver clever solutions to their most vexing challenges. Where others see limitations, we see possibility. With ambitious thinking and innovation in our DNA, we partner with
GRADUATE PROGRAM We offer a unique future-focused training experience and invest heavily in development to support you to fulfil your potential. You will benefit from a bespoke comprehensive learning and development program tailored specifically for our graduates.
our clients to bring to life pioneering solutions which will help them to adapt, reinvent and grow. We believe innovation comes from giving our people room to grow, and as such actively encourage input and ideas from all levels of the firm.
As a graduate you will take part in graduate technology bootcamps. These bootcamps will provide you with exposure to the many different types of emerging legal technologies, which are available at our firm. These skills will help prepare you for the future and ensure that we continue to evolve to meet our clients’ changing needs.
Our people are encouraged to shape their own career path, supported at every step of the way, with world-class training, coaching and hands-on experience. There is no ‘one size fits all’ career model, and we offer multiple opportunities for our lawyers to
We also offer a Practical Legal Training (PLT) course with the College of Law to our Australian Law graduates, ensuring that you meet the requirements for admission to legal practice.
gain experience and thrive.
KEY STATISTICS • #1 ranked law firm in Australia and China* • Top 15 global elite brand** • 28 international offices; • One of the largest international legal networks in the Asia region with 500+ partners and more than 2000 lawyers; • Our clients range from a mix of global financial and corporate powerhouses through to new industry-makers and all levels of government • With an unmatched ability to practise Chinese, Hong Kong, Australian, English, US and a significant range of European laws under one integrated legal brand, we are connecting Asia to the world, and the world to Asia. *Source: Chambers and Partners 2020 **Source: 2020 Acritas Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index GLOBAL REACH The King & Wood Mallesons network extends across the following regions: • Asia Pacific (Australia, Mainland China including Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore) • Europe • Middle EastNorth America
OUR PROGRAMS SEASONAL CLERKSHIP PROGRAM Applications open: 13 July 2020 Applications close: 9 August 2020 How to apply: Via our online application system at kwm.com/careers We offer clerkships to give you a clear picture of what it’s like to be a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons. You’ll get to know our people, the way we like to work, our culture, practice areas, clients and more. During your clerkship, you’ll learn: • The day-to-day skills to get you started – taking instructions, meeting with clients, drafting memos and documents, managing your practice and professional relationships.
The program also promotes and supports the mobility of our staff across our offices by giving you the opportunity to apply to go on exchange in one of our interstate or overseas offices. Through this, you can access a greater choice and variety of destinations and on-the-job experience. VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAM Wherever you are in the world you can now experience what it is really like to be a lawyer at KWM with our Australian-first legal virtual work experience program (VEP). Originally launched in 2017, the platform features two programs – ‘Intro to Law’ and ‘Advanced Law’ – which each include five learning modules curated by KWM based on real life firm matters and activities. Through this program you can build real skills and the confidence to excel in a commercial law career before you even step into one of our offices.
• The core practice teams at King & Wood Mallesons – who they are, what they do, how they’re structured, the clients they work for, and of course, your role within them. • Our culture – working within your team, you’ll be exposed to (and encouraged) to get actively involved in the many activities and events that help create our unique culture. • Our people – you’ll find that people from every part of the business will help you by sharing their knowledge and ensuring you have everything you need to succeed.
SHENAE DJULBIC People & Development Advisor, Perth +61 8 9269 7643 shenae.djulbic@au.kwm.com
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Clerkship Profile careers.kwm.com/en/graduates-australia
THE CULTURE:
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LAW GRADUATE KING & WOOD MALLESONS
SUMMER CLERK INTAKE: 2017/18 AREAS OF ROTATION: Projects and Banking & Finance UNIVERSITY: University of Notre Dame DEGREE: Bachelor of Law (First Class Honours) & Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Journalism) THE APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS: The clerkship application process firstly involved uploading your cover letter, resume and answering a few additional questions. You then had an interview which was extremely relaxed and conversational. I felt like the interviewers genuinely wanted to get to know me rather than it being an interrogation. There were a few events throughout the clerkship process which meant I had a good feel of the firm by the time clerkship offer day came round. THE WORK: KWM’s client base means that the work is always interesting, engaging and relevant. I like that whatever matter I am working on will have some impact on the market or the broader community. The work at KWM makes you think of both legal and commerical solutions to your 104 MSLS Clerkship Guide clients.
The word ‘culture’ is thrown around so much throughout the clerkship process but often it is what differentiates firms! KWM has a friendly, inclusive and energetic culture where everyone is approachable, down-to-earth and hard working. It was the culture and people which made me choose KWM.
WHY I CHOSE KING & WOOD MALLESONS: I chose KWM because it is not only a firm which has a great reputation, involved in really interesting work and has high profile clients, I also felt comfortable during my clerkship and genuinely enjoyed spending time with everyone who worked there.
THE SUPPORT: I always felt extremely supported throughout my clerkship and it is no different throughout the graduate program. Everyone, at all levels, are approachable and willing to take the time to invest in your development and learning. As KWM is an international firm, you have great access to resources, whether it be technology or research support.
MY CLERKSHIP VS. MY EXPECTATIONS:
PRO BONO AND COMMUNITY:
Anyone who is after the support, training and experience of an international commerical law firm with friendly, hard working people and plenty of opportunities to socialise.
It was really important to me to join a firm which has a strong pro bono practice and is heavily involved in the community. In just a few months of being at KWM, I have already worked on numerous pro bono matters and will shortly commence a secondment to Street Law Centre WA. There are also opportunities to get involved in pro bono work during your clerkship.
THE SOCIAL LIFE: There are always plenty of social events happening around the firm, including Friday Night Drinks, Chinese New Year, the End of Financial Year Party and the End of Year Party. A huge amount of time, resources and energy are put in to making every event different to the last! 2020
I found that the clerkship provided a very real insight into what day to day life at KWM is like. My perspective of the firm during my clerkship is not at all different to what my daily life as a graduate is like now. WHO WOULD I RECOMMEND A KWM CLERKSHIP TO:
What Does Innovation Mean For Lawyers Today? At KWM, we view innovation through the lens of “change that makes a positive impact”. I often view there being two aspects to innovation – the micro and the macro. The micro changes are the little things here and there that add up to make your life easier and help you get out of the office in time to get to the beach after work. Then there are the macro changes that involve the introduction of new technology and processes which directly affect the way we do our work, and lead to improved client outcomes. Both aspects are equally important. Some recent examples of legal technologies that have brought about positive changes at KWM include: • automated processes to generate high-volume, pro-forma documents; • an online platform to allow clients and lawyers to track the progress of conditions precedent for a deal so that they do not need to continually ask for updates; • a program to coordinate verification of disclosure documents so the different parties can work across one document rather than several versions; • artificial intelligence (AI) to review a suite of contracts to identify common provisions; and • AI to assist in document review processes, reducing the number of documents reviewed in person by approximately 80%.
As a result of implementing the above, I have found it is easier to maintain work/ life balance and focus on more interesting work streams instead of spending time on version control and document management, and have spent less time on document reviews that used to take months (a huge result!). At KWM this ultimately means that lawyers are happier, more stimulated and engaged at work and we are also able to deliver greater value for our clients. While some law students and graduates worry about AI taking over the role of junior lawyers and that we should all fear the rise of AI, I think the opposite is true. It is something to be embraced. AI does not replace the role of junior lawyers, it assists junior lawyers and makes them more efficient, which frees them up to spend more time on more intricate legal problems. This is one reason why the upskilling of graduate and junior lawyers, particularly in relation to legal technology, is so important at KWM.
we design a legal technology training experience to enable graduates to thrive in their teams and build productivity enabled practice skills. I was involved in the sprint from the dispute resolution perspective, which involved travelling to a number of KWM offices to conduct a series of interviews with colleagues across my practice group to map the key technologies applied now in each practice team and understand the motivations and blockers to adoption. The sprint culminated in a design workshop utilising a number of innovation tools and techniques to design our practice specific bootcamps.
“KWM has comprehensively reimagined what graduate training looks like.”
With this in mind, KWM has comprehensively reimagined what graduate Alongside this training to develop technical training looks like. Alongside the usual ability among KWM graduates, is a cultural graduate induction training, there is now a shift that ensures KWM graduates and focus on upskilling graduates with specific junior lawyers feel comfortable to suggest legal technology training relevant to their new ways of utilising technology and practice groups. This training, in the form promoting changes that make positive of face-to-face training and a bootcamp impacts. Coupled with the removal of in the Sydney office, is designed to billable hour targets for graduates, KWM ensure KWM graduates develop deeper graduates are encouraged to pursue their understandings of legal technology. This curiosity and develop their confidence training is repeated in each practice to explore different ways of utilising group that graduates rotate through, so technology to deliver changes that have that by the end of the graduate program, a positive impact, for themselves, the firm KWM graduates have developed a broad and our clients. understanding of the technologies and can think laterally about how certain legal Patrick Mackenzie is a Solicitor in technologies can be applied in a different the Dispute Resolution (General way in a different practice group. The Commercial) and Restructuring and new approach to graduate training was Insolvency practice groups in King & informed by feedback from an innovation Wood Mallesons’ Perth office, and one ‘sprint’ that took place late last year to 2020ofMSLS Clerkship Guide 105 KWM’s Innovation Guides. tackle the design challenge of: How might
DISCOVER Looking for a law firm that really is different? Where you can be empowered to DISCOVER quality work and clients, DEVELOP through opportunities to learn more while growing your career, and THRIVE in a diverse and inclusive culture? Then join our global community of talented visionaries. To learn more about how you can discover, develop, and thrive in a dynamic global law firm, visit klgates.com/careers.
THE K&L GATES EXPERIENCE. K&L Gates LLP. Global legal counsel across five continents. Learn more at klgates.com.
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A Day in the Life of a
Clerk
Every day of my clerkship was varied, which allowed me to experience a huge range of things that I could get involved in at K&L Gates. The most consistent thing about my clerkship was that every day I built relationships with the people of K&L Gates. This could be through presentations, where you get to deep dive into a particular practice area or group. It could also be through doing activities outside of the office like having a coffee with your buddy. While these things are fun and exciting, I also found it really useful to get to know people and how they work on a day-to-day basis. Most days involved some form of training or presentation which meant I had the chance to be involved with my team and to show them my abilities, yet also have time to learn about the interesting aspects of the firm. While I was clerking at K&L I was able to assist on a range of tasks for my team. These tasks included: • Researching law and formatting the information into diagrams for quick reference guides that the team would use; • Reviewing contracts and flagging any potential clauses that were problematic; • Research tasks for specific legal issues on client files; and • Sit in on meetings to learn from the senior lawyers.
I also got involved in a range of fun activities. These activities included: • Saw a live Fringe show at the office; • Attended morning teas and Friday night drinks to get to know everyone; • Received presentations from different partners/lawyers about initiatives of the firm; • We went to a brewery and assisted in bottling beers; • Assisted in the Christmas decorating competition; and • Attended the end of year Christmas party.
My top tips, tricks or a piece of advice for the clerkship process would be: 1. Talk to everyone you can. It is so important clerks get a feel for the K&L Gates people and what we are about, as you need to know who you will potentially be spending your days with! 2. If you have a particular interest in an area of law or a matter you hear about - say something and make it known that you want to be involved. 3. And, at the risk of sounding like a broken record - just be yourself. Clerks put a lot of pressure on themselves during the clerkship process, which is completely understandable. However, it is so important that you show your real personality and interests, as they will have to come out eventually!
Sarah Herford
Law Graduate at K&L Gates
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MinterEllison has given me great exposure to different teams and access to a diverse range of experiences – from transactional, to advisory, to litigious work. That has allowed me to find out what type of law I want to do and where I want to do longer term.� William Vu Lawyer
MinterEllison is a leading law firm. But we think beyond the law. Why? Because we have big ambitions to grow our firm in a world of relentless disruption. Because now is the time to reimagine the future so that we can create lasting impacts with our clients, our people and our communities. Never underestimate the power in you to make an impact.
Your future. Your choice. Choose to make an impact.
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Your future. Your choice. Choose to make an impact. Our clerks and graduates become well-rounded, technically excellent lawyers who help to solve some of our clients’ most complex challenges. But we’ll empower you to be so much more. Never underestimate the power in you to make an impact We’re driven by a strong sense of purpose: to create lasting impacts with our clients, our people and our communities. As one of Asia Pacific’s leading law firms, our clients look to us to help them address their most complex legal challenges. But we know, in a world of relentless disruption, we also need to think beyond the law. We’re driving digital transformation and embedding a culture of curiosity and innovation. We’re investing in adjacent consulting capabilities that enable us to provide seamlessly integrated solutions to our clients. And our people are committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities they live and work in.
We support you to succeed Our award-winning clerk and graduate programs will expose you to a wide variety of business areas, skills, teams and challenges, helping you to understand where your strengths and interests lie. You’ll accelerate your legal and business acumen by working alongside high-performing partners, lawyers and professionals in a diverse, collaborative and innovative environment. You’ll have the opportunity to gain international exposure through our broad network of offices and industry partnerships.
Your success is our success We celebrate and invest in our people. We’re committed to helping our people achieve their best and progress in their careers. Our development programs and initiatives are second to none. We’ll work with you to provide you with challenging and career-building experiences, and we’re always working to open more doors for you.
Contact Sandra D’Souza Talent Business Partner sandra.dsouza@minterellison.com graduates.minterellison.com Clerkship positions Number of positions available: 7-8 Opening date: Monday 13 July 2020 Closing date: Sunday 9 August 2020 Method of application: graduates.minterellison.com
MinterEllison Virtual Internship Want to experience a true-to-life day of a MinterEllison lawyer? Our interactive virtual internship offers you an insight into the commercial work we undertake here at MinterEllison. Curious?
graduates.minterellison.com
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My Clerkship Launch Program at MinterEllison This past summer, I had the opportunity of clerking at MinterEllison as part of their ten-week clerkship program. I completed two rotations in the Workplace and Dispute Resolution teams. MinterEllison were dedicated to making my clerkship an invaluable experience, in which they succeeded. My work was challenging, diverse and extremely interesting. In each of my teams, I assisted colleagues, from graduate to partner level, across a variety of matters. In the Workplace team, I was particularly involved in matters surrounding discrimination, unfair dismissal and industrial action. In the Dispute Resolution team, I was exposed to various pieces of commercial litigation on matters of law that I had little familiarity with. Although daunting at first, exploring new areas was very rewarding. I thoroughly enjoyed the sense of collaboration and strategic emphasis of the work. Some of my tasks included conducting legal research, assisting with discovery, creating proofs of evidence and drafting correspondence to clients. I was invited to attend court hearings and sit in on client meetings, which although may have been slightly stressful for the lawyers, was very exciting for me. The team at MinterEllison made my experience even more memorable. They were friendly, approachable, and always willing to share their knowledge. No question was ever a silly question, and I had a great mentorship system. In both teams, I was assigned a buddy and supervisor who made a conscious effort to share feedback with me and assist me with any queries. MinterEllison place a great deal of importance on making their clerks part of the team, and I found that everyone was eager to get to know me. Being the summer
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and Christmas period, the clerks were invited to all the various social events. The multiple Christmas parties, networking evenings for young professionals and the table tennis competition were all fantastic opportunities to network with the rest of the team. The ten-week duration of the program was an ideal period to get immersed in the teams’ most intriguing matters and allowed me to really get a feel for how they operate. There were also several information and training sessions that spanned across the entire clerkship. These ranged from seminars about teamwork to learning how to create ChatBots. We were even involved in a ChatBot building competition with the MinterEllison clerks from other states. Unfortunately, Perth did not take out the Crown, so hopefully the 2020/2021 clerks can make up for it! My advice to anyone participating in a clerkship would be to be yourself, don’t feel like you need to know everything, and enjoy every minute of it. Clerking is an invaluable learning opportunity that gives you insight into the operation of law in reality, while also being a way to meet new people and work on the skills that will assist you for the rest of your career. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you have them and show an interest in the areas you think you might enjoy. MinterEllison is a great firm to begin your career. Good luck! Hanneke Wiersma 2019/2020 Vacation Clerk For information and to apply visit graduates.minterellison.com
Back End: Litigious Work
Penny Bond, Lawyer MinterEllison
As a graduate in MinterEllison’s Projects, Infrastructure and Construction (PIC) team, I’ve experienced interesting and varied work. Our PIC team in Perth is made up of one Partner, two Senior Associates, one Associate and three lawyers. While our team deals with a mixture of front and back end matters, most of my time is spent working on major project and construction disputes (litigious work). We assist our clients with large disputes (claims over hundreds of millions of dollars), which are usually resolved through Supreme Court proceedings or arbitration, and disputes over smaller sums (claims over a few hundred thousand dollars to a few million dollars), which are often resolved through adjudication or mediation. While no two days are the same, a “normal day” would see me attending meetings with Counsel or our client, taking witness statements (statutory declarations), drafting advices on discreet points of law, drafting correspondence and Court documents and preparing briefs to Counsel.
graduates.minterellison.com
One of the things I enjoy about litigation is that it enables you to work as part of a big team. When acting for clients on large disputes, we often work with our colleagues in other offices, such as Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, and with Junior and Senior Counsel. Complex matters usually involve an internal “task list” and teams will hold regular meetings to discuss next steps. As a junior, this means you will always know how your work fits into the bigger picture. This has given me unique insight into the steps, strategy and tactics that go into running a complex dispute. It has also allowed me to build relationships with my colleagues around the country. Another thing I enjoy about litigation is that it is incredibly practical – because every claim must be supported by evidence, you have to think critically about what evidence is required to make your client’s case. As a junior lawyer, you’re often responsible for the evidence (in the context of commercial law, this generally means documents). My Partner takes the time to explain the importance of certain pieces of evidence, which gives me insights into our client’s case. On the smaller claims side, junior lawyers at MinterEllison are given significant responsibility and autonomy. We are often responsible for running smaller matters under the direct supervision of a Partner. For example, I am currently responsible for a dispute before the State Administrative Tribunal. As lawyer at MinterEllison, you are constantly learning and working collaboratively with your colleagues. While no two days are the same, I would encourage you to undertake a litigation rotation if you enjoy research, civil procedure and working as part of a team. For information and to apply visit graduates.minterellison.com
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Be One of Us Be commercial. Whether they are household brand names that have changed the way we work, live, shop or play, or start-ups just about to shake things up all over again, our clients are clever, creative and commercial. So are we. You will learn how to adapt what you’ve learned about the law to real-time scenarios. Be connected. From day one, you will be part of our global office – working alongside lawyers across the country and all around the world. Be committed. Our culture emphasises and rewards collaboration, accountability and responsibility. We support our clients, our teams and our community. Be empowered. From the very start we give you the tools, know-how and options you need to set your own challenges and define your career path. If you want to be part of the fastest growing global law firm in Australia, be smart and talk to us about career opportunities at Squire Patton Boggs. Be one of us.
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Squire Patton Boggs Careers
Swati Gupta graduated from Murdoch University in 2019 and joined Squire Patton Boggs as a graduate earlier this year. Here she shares her experiences working in a global law firm in extraordinary times, and some key tips for other soon to be graduates. The Graduate Programme Right from day one, when I joined the real estate team, I have been involved in a diverse range work and feel that my contribution has been truly valued. I have drafted advice on complex legal issues, worked on pro-bono matters and will soon be presenting a webinar in collaboration with our global data privacy team. These opportunities have helped build my commercial awareness and given me a solid foundation for a career as a lawyer.
The Firm Our Perth office has approximately 55 lawyers which offers the best of both worlds, in that it is a “global boutique” law firm. I am exposed to large, cross-border transactions and regularly work with colleagues from all around the world. However, the team size means that I’ve been entrusted with a larger share of work and responsibility, and I have had the opportunity to work one-on-one with industryleading partners and senior lawyers.
squirepattonboggs.com
As crazy as it may sound, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted what a great culture the firm has. Shortly after the outbreak of the virus, we quickly transitioned to a remote working plan, where the majority of our staff work from home. While this required some adjustment, with incredible support from everybody at the firm, from our office managing partner to my fellow graduates, our transition to working from home was almost seamless. Initiatives such as virtual Friday night drinks, virtual cooking-classes and virtual quiz-nights mean that although we work in separate locations, we are never really alone!
My Tips The learning curve from being a law student to a graduate at a global law firm can be daunting. To help bridge that gap, immerse yourself in the law as much as you can throughout university. Whether you volunteer at a community legal centre, join a social committee or clerk at a firm, you will learn something from every opportunity, which will help you become a competent and well-rounded lawyer in the long-term. Lastly, and as cliché as it is, don’t be afraid to let your personality show! Being a good lawyer doesn’t mean that you have to fit a certain mould. Rather, it is difficult to do well when you’re pretending to be someone that you’re not. Good luck!
Interested? Get in Touch If you would like to find out more about available graduate opportunities, please contact HR coordinator Hannah Robins at hannah.robins@squirepb.com.
Squire Patton Boggs
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Squire Patton Boggs Perth
Connect with us... tglaw.com.au Thomson Geer
ADVICE | TRANSACTIONS | DISPUTES Domestic & Cross Border
@ThomsonGeer
www.tglaw.com.au Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide
ARRIVE... at a large Australian corporate law firm We have more than 560 people, including 116 Partners operating out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. We are one of the 10 largest law firms operating in Australia, and the 5th largest independent Australian law firm. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work, and our transparency. We are driven by our clients’ needs. Our industry coverage & client work is diverse and we are regularly engaged on challenging, complex, commercial work.
OUR KEY PRACTICE AREAS IN WA Our Perth office has a particular focus on:
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WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT? We provide our lawyers with exposure to excellent work while maintaining small teams where each lawyer gets to develop and learn from senior lawyers, including Partners. These smaller teams and flat structures mean that our junior lawyers get involved in the bigger picture of matters and can see their meaningful contribution to our clients. Our clients are at the center of everything we do; so it is not only the openness we demonstrate in our dealings with each other, but also the wellestablished and trusting relationships we have with our clients, which makes Thomson Geer a great place to work. We have also made a strategic investment in TG Endeavour Public Affairs, a Canberra-based Government Relations Consultancy, giving our people the ability to work with a team with specialist knowledge and experience of government and the public sector at the highest levels.
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Property
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Corporate & advisory
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Environment & planning
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Construction & infrastructure
ARRIVE... AT THOMSON GEER
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Litigation & dispute resolution
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Health, aged care & retirement living
To find out more about Thomson Geer and what it’s like to work for us, please visit our website or contact us - hr@tglaw.com.au.
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MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020 Transport & logistics.
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Connect with us... tglaw.com.au Thomson Geer
ADVICE | TRANSACTIONS | DISPUTES Domestic & Cross Border
@ThomsonGeer
www.tglaw.com.au Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide
ARRIVE... at a large Australian corporate law firm We have more than 560 people, including 116 Partners operating out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. We are one of the 10 largest law firms operating in Australia, and the 5th largest independent Australian law firm.
Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Adelaide
Our industry coverage and client work is diverse and we are regularly engaged on challenging, complex commercial work.
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK FOR US The law is an incredibly rewarding profession, but we recognise it can be demanding. For this reason we create an environment that is flexible, friendly, personable, collegiate & professionally stimulating. Our clients are at the centre of everything we do; so it is not only the collaborative, supportive relationships we have with each other, but also the well-established, trusting relationships we have with our clients, which make Thomson Geer a great place to work. Wellbeing has a significant impact on motivation, morale and performance at work. Our wellbeing@work program supports employees to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Our employees love to get involved in mixed sporting teams and they enjoy healthy breakfasts and snacks.
ARRIVE... AT THOMSON GEER To find out more about Thomson Geer and what it’s like to work for us, please visit our website or contact us hr@tglaw.com.au
We also have an active social committee, providing lots of opportunities to develop close relationships with your colleagues.
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Connect with us... tglaw.com.au Thomson Geer
ADVICE | TRANSACTIONS | DISPUTES Domestic & Cross Border
@ThomsonGeer
www.tglaw.com.au Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide
ARRIVE...
Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Adelaide
at a large Australian corporate law firm
FINALIST
Some of our recent Summer Clerks talk about their time with us...
Most popular clerkship employer award
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I applied with Thomson Geer because it is a large Australian corporate law firm that is continuing to develop even further. I very much wanted to be a part of that growth and development. The depth and nature of work was also MSLS Guide 2020 signifiClerkship cant.
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I felt included and part of the team from day one which made me feel like I could be comfortable being myself, and made it a pleasure to come to work.
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The application/recruitment process interested me. It seemed like a fresh and interesting process as opposed to a stock standard interview, especially the networking night, which allowed me to speak to multiple members of the firm and learn about different practice areas.
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AFR 2019
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What I most valued about my clerkship with Thomson Geer was the people. Everyone was fantastic to get along with and were always happy to engage in conversation at any point. The other clerks were fantastic too and I have enjoyed my time at the firm immensely. Thank you for the opportunity!
Activate your career. ‘Lecturers were both knowledgeable and approachable, but importantly they had relevant experience. I received practical guidance on everything from legal matters to business structures – advice I still heed today.’ Ojo Osaigbovo Solicitor, Kirkeby & Co Graduate of the Practical Legal Training Program
Learn more at collaw.edu.au/PLT 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide
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We believe that Practical Legal Training should be just that — practical. Build more skills and confidence with a program you won’t find elsewhere.
Enrol now
Get more from your PLT with Leo Cussen • More Career Support Dedicated Careers Advisor to support your job placement and preparation. • More Mentoring Receive comprehensive feedback and personalised support from your lawyer mentor, with regular one-onone feedback as you work. • More Confidence Build your confidence through continuous practical assessment and individual feedback on your progress. No exams.
• More Legal Skills Experience thorough and personalised training in client communication, negotiation and advocacy. • More Business Skills Learn effective client engagement, management of deadlines and client billing, just like you’ll need in practice.
Practical Legal Training Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Fast track your career with our simulated file program, designed to teach you how to run client matters from beginning to end. Learn e-files, e-conveyancing and investigate how new technologies are impacting legal practice. Stand out by gaining superior skills in client communication and advocacy through our unique program. Start PLT before finishing your law degree If you have 1 or 2 law degree electives outstanding, you can apply for approval to start your PLT while concurrently completing your electives. This means accelerating your pathway to admission.
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1300 039 031 MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020 enrolment@leocussen.edu.au
Enrol now
WA PLT intakes Mode
Course starts Course
Online
February
Full-time
Online
July
Full-time
leocussen.edu.au/enrol
Leo Cussen
Centre for Law Our course is available entirely online in 2020.
Practical Legal Training | PLT
Graduate Diploma In Legal Practice The Leo Cussen experience enables law graduates to learn how to practise law in a professional, friendly and engaging environment. Leo Cussen’s Practical Legal Training (PLT) course is chosen by legal employers across Australia as the comprehensive course that supports law graduates to transition from student to practitioner. Our PLT is thorough and challenging with a simulated client file program designed to instil in our graduates a deep grasp of all components of the work of a newly admitted lawyer, so they can ability to rapidly commence working with supported autonomy. Successful completion of the PLT course entitles you to apply for admission to the legal profession as an Australian Lawyer which, in turn, entitles you to practise as an Australian Legal Practitioner in any Australian jurisdiction.
Course Format WA Online full time – designed for those who enjoy self directed learning and a more flexible schedule, including online activities and video content. During 2020 this course will be available wholly online. 21 weeks of coursework, including 13 days face-to-face (attended online in 2020), and four weeks’ professional placement**. Starts July. **Requirements for professional placement may be adjusted due to the coronavirus
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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT
THE PIDDINGTON SOCIETY We like justice and we like collegiality, we love to bring them together
1 2 3 4 5
We offer Practical Legal Training (PLT) We deliver a high-quality, work-ready course taught by working lawyers and judges on a bedrock of ethics and justice. Graduates spend significant time with tutors, mentors and lecturers to ensure they have practical skills, understand legal ethics and are ready to face the demands of practice. We are more interested in a supportive and collegiate cohort than we are in box-ticking or busy work. Piddington PLT provides law graduates the opportunity to develop the core skills and competencies required for admission with the support of leaders of the profession, fellow graduates, and the wider Piddington community
We exist to promote collegiality in the profession Our beginnings in 2011 were focused on improving relations between practitioners. We continue to run social events and all of our professional development is teamed with collegial activities, particularly over cheese and wine. At our events we regularly see junior practitioners talking with some of the most senior. We make sure Piddington events are a place where meaningful professional relationships are made.
Our CPD will help you once you're in practice Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a requirement of all practitioners. We offer a full suite of CPD sessions throughout the year, including our First Friday series, ad hoc events and our conferences. We work hard to deliver the most relevant sessions for practitioners from some of the best lawyers we know. We regularly take our CPD program on the road with events in regional WA, including Margaret River and Broome, as well as Bali.
Being a lawyer is hard, take time to relax We all need a good laugh. Being a lawyer can be hard and stressful work. We can let off steam in a few different ways, one is to laugh. Our social media pages are filled with the freshest memes and inspiring quotes from senior practitioners. We do this show that everyone is human - even High Court judges and the silkiest of silks.
Access to justice is a driving force for us Our commitment to access to justice runs through everything we do. Piddington PLT places new law grads in community legal centres, Piddington CPD provides discounts for CLC lawyers and the Society directs funds to CLCs. Access to justice is one of the most pressing issues facing our profession, and each year Piddington's programs facilitate thousands of hours of legal advice for those who otherwise would not receive it and thousands of dollars for community legal centres on the front-line of justice.
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@PiddingtonSoc
WHO IS THE PIDDINGTON SOCIETY?
THE PIDDINGTON SOCIETY The Piddington Society is an association of lawyers. We like justice and we like collegiality, but we love to bring them together. Since 2010 we have hosted quality social and continuing professional development (CPD) activities for lawyers. We now offer a comprehensive program of interesting CPD sessions throughout the year, regularly featuring judges, senior counsel, leading advocates and experts in their areas. At the end of every CPD event we host drinks for attendees to engage with each other, especially encouraging junior
lawyers to meet with senior practitioners. We also continue to run social events for the profession. Current law students are welcome to attend any of our events. Each year our access to justice programs deliver thousands of dollars and thousands of hours of legal advice to the community legal sector. The Piddington Society is where professional development, collegiality and advancing justice converge and where junior and senior practitioners meet.
"Piddington PLT is creating work-ready law graduates that are ahead of the pack from day one. The course helps new graduates build supportive professional relationships from the start, an essential part of any career."
WHAT IS PIDDINGTON PLT?
Catriona Macleod (LLB Hons, Murdoch) | Director, Cullen Macleod
Connect with us
The Piddington Society has been providing PLT focused on access to justice, ethics and collegiality since 2016. We initially delivered the Australian National University course. In 2018 our own course was approved by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia, only the third ever.
The course was born out of a recognition that new law grads need pathways to admission and community legal centres (CLCs) need finance and human support. Most people completing the course complete hours in CLCs. Piddington PLT is the only course that is designed to support access to justice.
Piddington PLT is a high-quality, workready course which is delivered on a bedrock of justice, ethics and collegiality.
The course has removed box-ticking exercises and focuses on contemporary skills needed to be a good lawyer. Many assessments are done “on the job” and with reference to access to justice.
We developed this course in consultation with senior members of the profession about what a modern lawyer needed. We are proud that these people, including judges, silks, firm partners and directors, continue to support the course and teach in it.
piddingtonsociety.org
Piddington PLT is not an extension of law school – it focuses on developing core skills as well as building the support networks necessary to sustain you throughout your career.
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The Actual Clerkship
What to do once you’ve secured the clerkship 122 MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
Useful Clerkship Skills Now you’ve got the clerkship, but ultimately the end goal is securing a graduate job. This section will take you through some general tips on how to perform on your clerkship and impress the firm you’re clerking for!
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CONFIDENCE
Be confident in the work you produce and stop doubting yourself! One of the most important assets at your disposal during your clerkship is the work you have completed. Your work is ultimately what you hand up to your supervising lawyer, which will probably be a memorandum, small research note or draft email to a client. This also requires you to show your ability to research, understand and synthesise information, and to present that information in an appropriate way for the intended audience. Some clerks still worry that their work product isn’t good enough, despite the fact that they won out against hundreds or thousands of other applicants. Use this knowledge to your advantage – give everything your best shot, and be confident in your ability to create top notch work. If a partner is confident in your ability to do the job right then it makes their life easier. They want to have confidence in you, so give that to them.
BE INVOLVED
At the end of the day, firms want to hire people who they enjoy working with and who “fit in” to the workplace. Law firms want well-rounded individuals who contribute to not only the work the firm produces but also its culture. It sounds horrible but making people like you should be the aim of you clerkship. This means that you should be enthusiastic and try to meet and engage with as many people as possible. There are lots of activities to get involved in, which are a great way to have some fun, meet different people from across the firm and get a real sense of the firm’s culture. Learn to say ‘YES’ – whether it be to a coffee, some pro bono work, a charity event or filling in for the firm’s footy team. Make sure you also take some time out to ask questions, observe and learn from the lawyers. And if you have a particular interest in a particular area, even if it’s outside your immediate practice group, speak up – your genuine interest will be appreciated and rewarded. People love to talk about their work, and will gladly tell you all about it over a coffee.
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COMMUNICATE
One of the hardest things about a clerkship is managing competing commitments (and sometimes you will intentionally be given extra tasks just to test you). It’s very common to have competing commitments as a junior lawyer and you will frequently need to discuss new timeframes with your supervisor. This is fine, as long as you communicate EARLY. It helps to think of it from your work providers perspective – if they get notice early, they can manage the situation by asking someone else to help, but if they get notice too late, then it limits their options. That means that they might have to deal with an annoyed colleague or client. So communicate early and often, because before you know it, you’ll be out of time. And definitely speak up if you have suddenly been given five pieces of work by five different people. In this situation, you should go back to your supervising partner and ask them how they want the tasks prioritised. Always shift the onus onto a partner in this situation – the rest of the lawyers will accept their wishes.
maintain balance in your mental wellbeing. Here are some tips to maintain an excellent standard of wellbeing: Manage your time It is really important to divide your day up into small chunks. Try and allow 8 hours for sleeping, 8-10 hours for work, and another 5-6 hours for your own pursuits. Make sure that you take regular breaks when you’re working so you don’t get burnt out. Managing your time this way will ensure you work effectively and do not feel drained. Use to do lists As mentioned, managing competing deadlines can make the clerkship feel very stressful very quickly. Write out a list of the tasks you need to complete and when they are due. This will allow you to prioritise the tasks which are most urgent.
ASK FOR HELP
There will invariably be a time where you get a task that is a bit over your head and you have no idea what to do. First of all, don’t stress! Take some time to think about the task, prepare a plan and then make a start. If you’re still stuck then don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your supervising lawyers are there to help you. Go back to the lawyer that assigned you the task and ask for some clarification. This sort of communication is generally valued. At the same time, don’t over do it – lawyers are busy and if you keep going back to ask for help it can become annoying. If your assigning lawyer is busy, you can also ask a junior lawyer for some help. Its even worth talking to another clerk and asking for their general thoughts. Sometimes talking through a problem will help clarify things.
Maintain your support network Jumping into full-time hours, when you may not have worked an 8am-5pm job before, can take its toll on you and the first thing to go will be your hobbies and extracurricular activities. However, it is important to maintain your sporting pursuits, and catch-ups with friends and maintain outsideof-work interests. Regularly interacting with friends and family can help reduce stress and maintain wellbeing. If you feel you are overborne with certain tasks it is always good to chat to someone who you trust.
STAY IN TOUCH
You’ve been given an opportunity that so many people have been denied – so use this to establish some contacts in the profession. Networking plays such an important role in creating opportunities for yourself, and not many clerks make use of the post clerkship period to network! Add the people you’ve met on LinkedIn and reach out to them for a coffee. You should be reaching out to both junior lawyers and senior lawyers. You many feel like you’re bothering them, wasting their time or fear that it might be awkward. However, most lawyers Both the clerkship application process as well as love coffee and love catching up with students – its the clerkship itself can be one of the most stressful a win-win! times in law school. Therefore, it is essential to
WELL-BEING
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Other Opportunities Experience Beyond Legal Clerkships 126 MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
What other work can I do? If commercial law isn’t for you or you’re an eager pre-penultimate year, there are other avenues to gain work experience.
1. Accounting/Finance Internships Similar to clerkships, accounting firms, finance firms and banks often run a vacation scheme available to penultimate year students. If you don’t have a commerce background, don’t worry – these internships encourage applicants from all displines!
2. Community Legal Centres Community Legal Centres, Legal Aid and even SCALES at Murdoch University are a great way to gain hands on legal experience. If you have a stronger interest in criminal law or family law, gaining experience at CLCs or the like might be just for you!
3. Government Internships The Office for the Director of Public Prosecutions and the State Solicitor’s Office both run a clerkship program for penultimate year students. If you loved the criminal law or constitutional law units, definitely consider clerking at the DPP or SSO.
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Accounting & Finance Internships
Banks
Internships at banks also generally run during the summer months and can vary from eight to twelve weeks. At banks, students have the opportunity to intern in a particular division such as retail and commercial banking, agribusiness banking, financial markets Accounting Firms and corporate and institutional banking.WestPac, Macquarie Group, Internships at accounting firms or banks ANZ, CommBank all run internship are usually between three to eight weeks programs. in duration and typically run during the Semester 2 summer break. Firms such Interns at banks or accounting firms are as Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Ernst also more likely to apply quantitative & Young, KPMG, Deloitte, all run a and financial skills than clerks at law vacation scheme. firms Therefore, a commerce or finance background may be beneficial, but it is Like most law firms, the accounting firms certainly not necessary. have a broad focus in popular practice areas such as taxation, litigation, international disputes, mergers and acquisitions, trusts and commercial law. Therefore, accounting firms often seek students with a strong desire to practice commercial and taxation law. Alternatively, you can also complete an internship in a non-legal team.
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Key Dates Application Dates for Accounting Firms & Banks Below outlines the clerkship application schedule that most big accounting, finance firms and banks follow. Accounting firms will typically open applications earlier in the year, while banks open applications at a similar time to law firms. However, the application process will vary with every firm and bank, so ensure you check their websites for the specific dates.
Accounting Firm Application Dates Applications open
February 2021
Applications close
March 2021
Interviews and Assessement Centres
March to August 2021
Offers made
September/October 2021
Banks Application Dates Appplications Open
July 2020
Applications Close
August 2020
Review & Interview
September/October 2020
Offers made
October/November 2020
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STEP 1 WRITTEN APPLICATION As outlined above, the accounting firms follow the same process as the law firms when submitting your application. You are required to submit a cover letter, CV and academic transcript.
STEP 2 ONLINE ASSESSMENTS/ TESTS Some firms and banks ask you to complete an online assessment similar to the psychometric tests used by law firms. Others may also ask you to complete a personality questionnaire.
STEP 5 IN PERSON INTERVIEW
STEP 3 VIDEO INTERVIEW Some firms and banks ask applicants to complete video interviews where applicants record their answers to a series of questions.
STEP 4 ASSESSMENT CENTRE Assessment centres usually involve a group exercise where 4-6 people discuss a problem or scenario and work together to reach a solution. Assessors will observe how you interact within the group setting.
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Much like law firms, accounting firms and banks will interview their applicants in person. The interviewers are typically HR representatives and partners.
STEP 6 OFFER If successful, you will receive an offer. An internship at an accounting firm or bank opens the opportunity to be recruited as a graduate!
CLCs & Non-for-Profits Community Legal Centres
List of CLCs in WA
Community Legal Centres (CLCs) are a fantastic avenue for students to gain exceptional and practical legal experience. Depending on the CLC nearest to your residence, some CLCs are advertising for volunteers all year around. Clerkships or paralegal roles are commonly awarded on a voluntary basis, provided the individual is willing to commit enough time to satisfy the CLC. Typically, volunteers are expected to volunteer at least one day per week, usually over a 6 month (sometimes longer) period.
Perth CLCs • Aboriginal Family Law Services • Citizens Advice Bureau • Consumer Credit Legal Service of WA • Employment Law Centre of WA • Environmental Defender’s Office (WA) • Mental Health Law Centre • Street Law Centre (WA) • Sussex Street CLC • Tenancy WA • The Humanitarian Group • Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service • Women’s Law Centre of WA • Youth Legal Service
CLCs have a focus on criminal and family law matters. They often provide advice and representation to individuals in the local magistrates courts. However, there are also a number of specialist CLCs. These types of CLCs have a specific focus of legal practice. For example, Tenancy WA provides advice on leases and other property law matters, especially the rights and obligations of tenants. CLCs are an invaluable source of legal experience. For students intending to clerk in future years, undertaking some volunteer experience at a CLC is very beneficial.
Native Title Bodies • • • • • • •
Central Desert Native Title Services Ltd Cross Country Native Title Services Goldfields Land and Sea Council South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation
Area specific • Fremantle CLC • Gosnells CLC • Midland Information, Debt • and Legal Advocacy Service • Northern Suburbs CLC • Peel Community Legal Service • SCALES CLC Regional CLCs • Albany Family Violence • Prevention Legal Service • Goldfields CLC (Kalgoorlie) • Kimberley CLC (Broome) • Pilbara CLC (Karratha, Newman, • Roebourne, & South Hedland) • Regional Alliance West (Geraldton) • South West CLC (Bunbury) • Wheatbelt CLC (Northam)
WA Non-for-Profit Services • • • • • •
Aboriginal Legal Service WA Law Access WA Legal Aid WA Red Cross Relationships Australia WA RSPCA WA
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Opportunities at
MURDOCH SCALES The Southern Communities Advocacy Legal Education Service (SCALES) is aligned with the School of Law at Murdoch University. As a prerequisite, students must have completed all part 1 units in the LLB program and BJU200 Skills for Legal Practice before they can participate with the SCALES centre. Students who are interested in this opportunity have the option to enrol in the following units: • LLB390 - Clinical Legal Education • LLB386 - Family Law Clinic • LLB387 - Human Rights Clinic At the Rockingham clinic you can apply for either the general or family law clinic. In a general clinic, you deal with clients predominantly in criminal law, public housing and tenancy, Centrelink, criminal injuries compensation, equal opportunity claims, consumer, contract, debt and civil law. In the family law clinic, you work with clients in family law and have the opportunity to assist clients in the Specialist Domestic Violence Unit. At the Murdoch clinic you can apply for either the human rights or Indigenous legal issues clinic. Students in the human rights clinic will deal with clients predominantly in immigration and refugee law. Students have the opportunity to work with experienced solicitors and conduct meaningful legal work. Additionally, these types of programs are viewed favourably by employers when they are conducting graduate searches.
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Legal Internship Unit At Murdoch University, we are privileged to have the opportunity to apply for a range of internships through the legal internship unit LLB301. The unit is designed to encourage students to participate in work-integrated learning by gaining practical experience. Internship opportunities vary depending on the need from legal service providers. The internship positions can range from international commercial law firms, family law practices to community legal centers.
GOVERNMENT OPPORTUNITIES Various government departments at both the State and Commonwealth levels have vacation clerkship opportunities which can lead to full-time Australian Public Service employment. These opportunities offer clear, challenging and dynamic career paths in a wide variety of government bodies and statutory authorities. Careers in the practice of law are not the only thing on offer here; policy graduates analyse, develop and implement government policy and strategy in everything from international security to aged care. Below is a sample of some of the opportunities available, for a comprehensive list of government departments please see australia.gov.au.
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (‘ODPP’) is the independent prosecuting authority for the State of Western Australia, responsible for the prosecution of all serious offences committed against State criminal law. The ODPP offers a number of vacation clerkships during the mid-year (winter) and end of year (summer) University semester breaks. Vacation clerkships are offered to law students who are typically in their last year, or penultimate year of study. During the two week clerkship period, students will be provided with an opportunity to learn about the nature of the work that the ODPP performs. Vacation clerks are placed either during the Summer 2019/2020 or Winter 2020 period.
State Solicitor’s Office The State Solicitor’s Office (SSO) represents the West Australian Government in the majority of its legal proceedings. The SSO offers vacation clerkships each summer and winter for law students to gain practical legal experience with a leading law office. Applications usually open in July of each year for the coming summer and following winter vacation periods. Generally, 12 three-week summer clerkships are offered, with a further 12 winter clerkships of two weeks duration being available. Vacation Clerks have two week long rotations in their practice areas which include: Specialist Advisings, Native Title and State Lands, Commercial and Litigation. Please note that no interviews are held for Vacation Clerkships at the SSO. Clerkships are selected based on academic excellence combined with a genuine interest in law pertaining to Government.
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PRE-PENULTIMATE OPPORTUNITIES Allens Dive In Day
Allens’ ‘Dive In’ day is an introductory program for first to third year undergraduate law students. The program offers students a taste of life in a top-tier commercial law firm with a look into the type of work to expect, details about Allen’s business and areas of practice. The ‘Dive In’ day also gives participants practical tips and tricks for preparing for work in a large firm as a clerk, paralegal or intern. To apply for for this program, look out for the advertisement for applications in early semester 1 on their website, the Law Community page and the ‘MSLS Careers and Educations Notices’ Facebook page.
HSF One Day Workshop
Herbert Smith Freehills (‘HSF’) often holds an interactive ‘One Day Workshop’ for penultimate students in their first semester and keen prepenultimate students. The workshop gives students the opportunity to see the world through HSF’s eyes. Students will network with HSF lawyers, learn about life at HSF and their clerkship program. To apply for this program, look out for the advertisement for applications in early semester 1 on their website, the Law Community page and the ‘MSLS Careers and Educations Notices’ Facebook page.
KWM Insight Program
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) Insight program is aimed at law students who are not yet able to apply for a seasonal clerkships. It will give you a high level overview of how KWM is structured, what areas of law we practice and the type of clients we work with.
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You will also get an in-depth look at particular matters in the firm and a chance to listen to some of our staff talk about their experiences as legal professionals, including; undertaking further study, working in one of our off shore offices and going on a client secondment. Apply NOW at https://careers.kwm.com/en/ graduates-australia/insight-program. Applications close 31 July.
InsideSherpa
Many commercial law firms run virtual internships on InsideSherpa. Participants will be briefed via video on work by partners and lawyers on legal task in various practice areas. Examples of tasks you may be asked to complete includes reviewing a share purchase agreement, writing advice to a client regarding a settlement offer, amending a dispute resolution clause and gathering evidence from a witness. For more information and to enrol into a virtual program visit: https://www.insidesherpa.com/
The Annual Perth Law Careers Fair is a great opportunity to network with firms and learn more about the legal profession. Representatives from top-tier commercial firms, mid-size firms, non-for-profits and government bodies will be attending. Whether you’re a first year, applying for clerkships or graduating, this event is just for YOU. Simply search “Perth Law Careers Fair” into Facebook to find out more!
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Student Experiences Hear from previous clerks 136 MSLS Clerkship Guide 2020
Testimonials & Tips The following section includes testimonials from either current or past law students who have already been through clerkship process and successfully secured one or more clerkships. Each student details the type of work they completed during their clerkship, giving insight into what its actually like being a clerk at a commercial firm. They also share their top tips for the clerkship process and the advice they have for students applying for clerkships this year.
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Allens I clerked at Allens in the Summer 2 period of 2020 in the M+A and Capital Markets team (MAC). What work did I do? The Summer 2 period can often be quieter in terms of the amount of work available since we’re coming just off the Christmas period. This meant that the type of work I did was structured around one overarching task I worked on for a large portion of my clerkship, and then a variety of smaller tasks as needed. My large project included drafting a part of an asset sale agreement which involved developing a decommissioning structure for a significant mining asset. I did a variety of work, including researching tax memorials and the requirements around issuing shares and assisting with a due diligence report. Although the work was challenging, it was incredibly interesting, and there was a lot of support and people to turn to for advice if I got a bit stuck. I was given work from everyone in the team, from the partners to the graduates, who were all excellent at providing feedback for each piece of work I completed. Advice for obtaining a clerkship I think one of the biggest tips is to make sure you start preparing early. The written applications are your first impression, and so they’re really important to get right if you want to be selected to interview with a firm. They also take up a lot of time, and they aren’t something you can do overnight. Majority of the firms require you to submit a one-page cover letter, so if you can, I would start on these as soon as possible! Overall, I had a great time at Allens, and would highly recommend applying for a clerkship there.
Brianna Dos Santos 2019/20 Summer Clerk
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Ashurst In November 2019, I had the opportunity to undertake a clerkship at Ashurst as part of the clerkship program. I clerked in their Dispute Resolution team. My experience at Ashurst provided me with an invaluable insight into life at an international commercial firm. I completed a wide variety of work from everyone on the team, from partners to the graduates. I really enjoyed the diversity of work I received which included work at various points of a legal dispute. I also was given the opportunity to work on some substantial and complex matters. While the work was challenging at times, it was that challenge which made it enjoyable, and I always felt guided and able to ask for help when I felt I was stuck. I also found the clerkship program more generally to be really well structured and developed. We were provided two days of training to familiarise ourselves with the firm and the resources available to us to do our best during the clerkship, from a diverse range of legal databases, to our graduate buddies. One aspect of the clerkship I found particularly useful was the “Team Insight Series�. These sessions basically involved members from every team at the Perth office, giving a talk to all the clerks about their practice group. These sessions gave me an understanding of what the different teams do at a commercial firm. In addition to the work and the clerkship program, I was able to experience the firm’s culture and values. Everyone at the firm, including people in other teams, were interested in making me feel welcome and took a genuine interest in me and my clerkship experience. There were a number of social opportunities where everyone was very approachable and willing to have a chat. I strongly recommend to anyone applying for clerkships to read up on the firm and consider applying for a clerkship at Ashurst.
Hussein Al Asedy 2019/20 Summer Clerk
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Baker McKenzie By undertaking my Seasonal Clerkship in the Dispute Resolution team, I was able to appreciate some of the Firm’s other strengths - the way that senior lawyers invest in and mentor junior lawyers, the ‘real’ work junior lawyers undertake on a daily basis, the Firm’s extraordinary client base and, most importantly, the incredibly friendly and supportive people in the Melbourne office. Following my Clerkship, I undertook a Paralegal role with the Dispute Resolution team and was able to continue working on the exciting matters I’d experienced as a Clerk. Shortly after receiving my Graduate offer, I was awarded an International Clerkship an exciting opportunity to learn about the Firm’s global business and experience how another office operates. I received my top preference for my International Clerkship and was fortunate to be placed in the Dispute Resolution team in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa is such a beautiful country and I took every opportunity to immerse myself in the stunning scenery, wildlife and culture! As the largest financial centre in Africa, Johannesburg is also an exciting jurisdiction in the legal world. The team was lively and busy - and I immediately experienced the supportive, friendly culture that Baker McKenzie is renowned for. Working in a foreign jurisdiction at such an early stage in my career was both exciting and challenging. One day, it was understanding the tendering process for state-sponsored major projects, and the next day it was physically attending court to enrol matters. I was involved in researching and drafting compliance advice for key multinational clients across 17 jurisdictions in sub-Saharan Africa, and conducting comparative national and international research in administrative law for high profile national clients. I also experienced the Firm’s strong client base, undertaking research for state commissions, attending meetings with advocates and conducting anti-corruption and bribery work. I felt like a member of the team pretty quickly and was motivated by my level of responsibility. Under the tutelage of generous pro bono mentors, I was able to attend meetings, prepare briefs of evidence and conduct research into potential claims for two animal rights organisations. Additionally, I assisted the team in seeking an injunction on behalf of a pro bono client to prevent the deportation of protected wildlife species for commercial exploitation. A significant highlight for me was connecting with trainees and Associates in Johannesburg. I was fortunate to experience the office’s month-end drinks (coupled with a very entertaining night of office karaoke!). Upon returning to Melbourne, I am still in contact with my colleagues in Johannesburg and hope to return to work with the team in the future. In the meanwhile though, I look forward to experiencing a fantastic Graduate year and to continuing to build my global network in the years ahead.
Ellen Leishman Graduate at Law
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Baker McKenzie Following a fantastic Seasonal Clerkship at Baker McKenzie, I was delighted to receive a Graduate offer to commence in March 2020. I also received information about the Firm’s International Clerkship program. I applied, and was fortunate to receive, an offer to undertake an International Clerkship with the Firm’s London office. For those who are learning the “Bakers lingo”, this means going to the London office for a monthlong secondment with the Firm covering the costs! I was very excited to be placed in the Corporate M&A team in London. In an office that has nearly 1000 employees, M&A is one of many teams in the broader Corporate Markets practice group. London’s M&A team specialises in large-scale, cross-border deals and is particularly renowned for its expertise in “carve-outs”, which are the divestiture of part of a company. Given the size of the Firm’s global network, it is uniquely positioned to offer multi-jurisdictional support for large, complex deals of this nature. My work included assisting with the restructuring of a global consumer goods company and assisting with a piece of advice on the enforceability of electronic signatures across European jurisdictions. I was also able to work with the Dispute Resolution practice group on a matter involving parties in England, Italy, China, South Korea and Kuwait: all in a day’s work at a global firm like Baker McKenzie! Outside the office, I had a fantastic time exploring London. I saw several West End shows, an English Premier League game and found the time to visit friends in Oxford and Portugal. I was also fortunate to be at the office for the first ever Corporate Trivia Night, where I found myself on the winning team (as much as I would love to take credit for the win, my trivia ability was nowhere near the prowess of my teammates). This was a great opportunity to socialise with everyone outside of work, and to gain an entertaining insight into the team! The International Clerkship was a truly fantastic experience, both professionally and personally. It is very unique for a Firm to provide international training opportunities for junior employees, and the International Clerkship program is a reflection of Baker McKenzie’s personal investment in their Graduates. I am incredibly grateful for this experience and am very excited to continue learning and developing at Baker McKenzie.
Matthew Jarrett Graduate at Law
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Clayton Utz I was fortunate enough to undertake a clerkship at Clayton Utz (‘CU’) in June/July 2019. The CU clerkship program is run over four weeks instead of the usual three, which gives you a great opportunity to experience two practice groups and get to know more people around the office. The first few days consist of training and activities to welcome the new clerks to the firm. Various other workshops are sprinkled throughout the four weeks which give you a good feel for the firm’s culture as a whole. Some of the social highlights for me included attending the end-of-financial-year party, and the CU clerk basketball tournament (we were only told afterwards that some of our supervisors were watching from afar!). Workwise, my time at CU was both challenging and exciting as I got hands-on experience in the realities of commercial legal practice. During my clerkship, I rotated through the Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets team and then Commercial Litigation. My responsibilities were mainly legal research and editing tasks, however both teams got me involved in some big matters so I could see the ‘exciting’ side of the job. This included attending court hearings, shareholder meetings, and meetings with barristers. Although it is daunting when you are given your first task, CU has great support structures in place so you always have someone to turn to. Your ‘buddy’ is your best friend - they can help you with any concern you may have, from how to approach the team, receiving instructions, prioritising work, social etiquette, and tips and trick for working well with your specific team. Another wonderful resource is your secretary/PA - they know the firm and the team inside-out and are all-round lovely people. For me, the people I interacted with were one of the best parts of the whole four weeks. My main advice for prospective clerks is to be ready and willing to give everything a go, ask questions if you’re unsure or just want more information, always carry a notepad and pen, and enjoy getting to know the firm and the people. CU is a wonderful firm and offers you invaluable involvement in some high-profile matters, so I highly recommend applying for their clerkship program!
Natasha Perry 2018/19 Winter Clerk
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Clifford Chance I clerked with Clifford Chance in December of 2019. The clerkship at Clifford Chance was slightly different to my experience at other firms. The selection process involved a two-stage interview process, however, there was no cocktail event. The clerkship itself is three weeks with only one intake run in December but you should check to see whether this will be affected by COVID-19 restrictions. In the Perth office, there are three teams for each of the office’s main practice areas: International Arbitration, Litigation, and Banking and Finance. Although traditionally a banking and finance firm, Clifford Chance has a focus on complex cross-border matters, which makes for interesting work. In particular, the Perth office has a very strong practice in the area of international arbitration and investor-state dispute settlement. In the three-week clerkship I was first rotated into the International Arbitration team and then the Litigation team and was exposed to a range of matters and new areas of law. Clifford Chance is a global firm, and this translates into real opportunities for international exposure. For example, as a part of the graduate program you are guaranteed an international secondment to one of the offices in the Clifford Chance network – usually in the Asia Pacific region, Dubai or London. As a result, if you have any international experience or language skills these are great assets to draw attention to in your cover letter or interview. It’s also important to express intellectual curiosity; if there is a specific area of practice or region that you’re interested in, don’t be afraid to ask questions about how Clifford Chance’s work relates to it. I had a great time clerking at Cliffod CHance and would strongly encourage anyone interested in international law or working overseas to apply.
Kate Thresher 2019/20 Summer Clerk
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Deloitte In January 2019 I was fortunate to intern at Deloitte within the Deloitte Legal team, which is a subset of their Tax branch. Structure My internship was for four weeks as part of the Deloitte Vacation Program, which included students from many other disciplines. We had weekly trainings and social events organised to ensure all the vacation students stayed connected. Within the Deloitte Legal team I was assigned a Buddy, a Supervisor, and a Partner for general supervision. I had frequent catch ups with each of these mentors who all provided great advice and really made the experience more enjoyable. My buddy was particularly great; she showed me where to find the best coffee and there was no question too silly to ask (a HUGE comfort). Work While in the Deloitte Legal team, the focus of my work was tax law. At the time the team had two foci: corporate tax advisory and property tax advisory (as general descriptors). During my time I was fortunate to work with each member of the team, which provided a great insight into both areas. As I worked with team members of all levels of seniority, I received comprehensive feedback and saw an improvement in my technical skills. I was also exposed to a variety of work which included attending client meetings, assisting with drafting and amending trust deeds, reviewing corporate R&D applications and more. If interested in tax law, this is definitely a great experience and I would highly recommend Deloitte’s Vacation Program. Overall, it is incredibly well structured, the work is really interesting and varied, and the support available is invaluable. To make the most of this experience I would definitely recommend getting to know the team and taking advantage of every opportunity offered to you. Being genuinely interested in the people and the work available will go a long way.
Aideen Myles 2018/19 Summer Clerk
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DLA Piper My Clerkship Experience I was fortunate enough to obtain a clerkship during the first summer period at DLA Piper. The clerkship began with a couple day of training at DLA Pipers Sydney office with the clerks from the other states. This was as surprising and awesome as it sounds. I was then flown back to begin work in the disputes team. Over the 4 weeks I was DLA piper I worked on case summaries, research task on points of law, chronologies and some administrative tasks. During the clerkship I also had to complete an assignment with the other seasonal clerks. These assignments are pretty common place and really shouldn’t be worried about, they just serve to give a point of comparison between clerks that will do vastly different work during the clerkship. My Clerkship Advice My main piece of advice for clerkship applications is to really just go for a shotgun approach. Some of you may know where you want to work and many of you, like myself, will not, so the best bet is just to chuck an application in everywhere you can think. It does admittedly take a while but after it becomes easier, as you can adapt answers you gave to one firm to other firms application questions. Plus even if you really know where you want to go it’s worth trying multiple places, because you could get through the initial application but then still botch the interview. My best advice for an actual clerkship to try be as clear and concise as possible. In University assignments it is often the case that you want to put as many words down as possible, diving into theory and contentious issues, but the real focus in practice is on demonstrating a succinct communicable understanding.
Joshua Scoles 2019/20 Summer Clerk
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Gilbert + Tobin In November/December 2019, I had the opportunity to complete a 3-week clerkship at Gilbert + Tobin in the Corporate Advisory team. On the first day of the clerkship we were assigned a buddy, supervising lawyer and supervising partner who are your first points of contact for receiving work, asking any questions and gaining feedback. We were also assigned a topic which we had to present on in the last week of the clerkship. While this was initially daunting, we were all given lots of support and it meant you always had something to work on. The first week flew by as it was packed with lots of useful training and information sessions including G+T drafting, research training, networking and personal branding, presenting with impact and about G+T innovate. I was exposed to a variety of work throughout the three weeks including drafting a G+T precedent Share Purchase Plan, researching changes to the Listing Rules, summarising the terms of an Underwriting Agreement, ensuring a Consent to Act was compliant and even some pro-bono work. If you don’t know what any of the above means – don’t worry because I didn’t either and even better, no one at G+T expected I would. It can feel overwhelming going into a clerkship without knowing what a corporate lawyer actually does on a day-to-day basis, but the purpose of the clerkship is to learn just that and to determine if that practice area is the right fit for you. Your buddy will have been in the same situation as you not so long ago so they are the best person to ask any questions to. I found that the G+T clerkship had a good balance between receiving interesting work, training and social events. The social events, including lunch with the grads, Friday night drinks and the Christmas party, were a perfect time to get to know people within the firm in a more casual, informal setting. It is important to get to know people from all practice groups but don’t get too stressed or caught up on how many coffees with partners you (or the other clerks) are going on. Everyone at G+T were super approachable and supportive and it was obvious they really cared about our clerkship experience. Good luck and enjoy!
Shay Kiriakidis 2019/20 Summer Clerk
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Herbert Smith Freehills In January/February 2019, I had the opportunity to clerk at Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) as part of their vacation clerkship program. I clerked in the Disputes team, headed by Elizabeth Macknay- a fellow Murdoch alumni. Elizabeth’s practice focuses on regulatory disputes. HSF stood out to me as a firm due to its varied expertise, global reach and reputation for being forward thinking. The firm’s full-service Perth office has various teams including: corporate, projects, banking & finance, technology, disputes and employment. This provides a great opportunity for juniors – especially if you are unsure about the type of work you’d like to do as a lawyer. As a clerk, you don’t know what you don’t know! So it’s always best to keep your options open. My first day began by meeting the 11 other clerks in the HSF lobby. We were addressed by the managing partner and the graduate recruitment partner before spending two days in training. As a clerk in the Disputes team, I was given mostly legal research tasks on substantive and procedural issues. I found litigation really interesting as the work is extremely collaborative and strategy based. I was tasked with collating cases, researching the case law that formed the basis of submissions, as well as researching the legal consequences of aspects of a negotiation strategy. Needless to say, the work was very intellectually stimulating! A highlight for me was attending a mediation hearing where the team briefed a high-profile barrister as counsel. I would strongly encourage penultimate students to apply for a clerkship at HSF. The firm has a great culture and houses technically skilled lawyers who attract interesting work! It’s a great place to start your career.
Kashmirra Thevar Law Graduate
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Johnson Winter & Slattery I was one of two Summer clerks at Johnson Winter and Slattery (JWS) in February 2019. I am very happy that my clerkship was a success and I am now a law graduate in the Perth office of JWS. JWS is a national firm with a focus on complex commercial transactions and disputes. In the Perth office, the team practices in energy and resources, corporate, and dispute resolution. On my first day as a clerk, I was allocated a buddy in the disputes team and a supervising partner in the energy and resources team. During my clerkship, I was involved in a wide variety of work and participated in firm social events. I noticed that throughout my clerkship, team members took an active interest in my progress and wanted to get to know me through going for a coffee, catching up before discussing a task, Friday drinks or just coming over to say hello. My mentor, buddy and I went to lunch at the end of my clerkship to celebrate. The JWS experience was a very genuine one with the firm not expecting me to jump through certain clerkship “hoops” to be successful in obtaining a law graduate role. One of the many benefits of clerking at JWS is that you are not placed into one practice area. I had the opportunity to work with partners and senior associates across all of Perth’s practice areas. If you have an interest in a particular practice area not in the Perth office, you are encouraged to reach out to partners in other offices. Although it may seem intimidating to email a partner directly, at JWS it is part of normal practice and everyone is very approachable. The partners at JWS are very hands-on meaning that from a junior level you are able to work directly with partners and learn from their experience. Even at a clerk level, the majority of my tasks were given directly from partners. This continues to be the case as a law graduate; I work across all the practice areas in the Perth office and with partners from the eastern states every day! My top tip for clerkships is to try to genuinely get to know the people you are working with as they may be your future co-workers! If you have an interest in a range of practice areas and would like to learn from experienced practitioners within a supportive environment, then I highly recommend applying to JWS. I wish you the very best for you upcoming clerkship applications and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me (louise.dinnie@jws.com.au).
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Court Clerkship I had the privilege of being selected for the Summer Court Clerkship that took place in November and December of 2018. Students are attached to two judges, my judges were Chief Justice Quinlan for the first week in the Supreme Court, and Judge Glancy for the second week at the District Court. A lot of the clerkship was spent sitting in court, hearing different advocates and seeing the process. In the Supreme Court I got to sit in on some of the mega litigation that’s happening (Day 1 and 2 of a 12 week trial) and in the District Court I was involved in a hearing from start to finish, a bit of sentencing, and a bit of bail applications and breach of bail conditions. We also had a variety of seminars each week that talked to us about different court’s functions and processes within the court (things like the Registrars of the Federal Court talking to us about its native title program). I also was involved in some of the work the associates were doing – like proof reading judgments and some research for future judgments. It was a fantastic experience to understand the ins and outs of the courts. I would highly recommend applying!
Isobelle Smith 2018/19 Summer Clerk
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State Solicitor’s Office In January 2020, I was lucky enough to be chosen to complete a three-week clerkship program with the State Solicitor’s Office. I applied for this position as I had recently completed Administrative Law and was interested in exploring whether public law and might suit me as a career. I was completing my clerkship at the same time as two other students. We were initially inducted, where the main functions of the State Solicitor’s Office were explained to us. We were informed that during our clerkships we would be completing week-long rotations in three teams. The teams that I was allocated included Native Title and State Lands (NTSL), Advice, Policy and Public Law (APPL), and Civil Litigation. My work while at the SSO consisted largely of research memo tasks. Usually, I would be fed through tasks by the practice group leader to ensure that I was never overwhelmed with the quantity of the work I was given. I was surprised by the sheer breadth and depth of the tasks allocated – they allowed me to strengthen my research skills, and never felt boring or repetitive. The solicitors also gave very useful feedback, which was fantastic. It was very clear immediately upon beginning my clerkship at the SSO that the people working there are extremely friendly and approachable – I was never made to feel like a nuisance when asking questions. I had a buddy in each practice group, and it was clear that there were many other people that were eager to help me feel comfortable at the SSO (many told me that this is a by-product of working for government, rather than going private). While completing my clerkship, I was also exposed to several court appearances. My buddy would try to expose me to a mix of work completed by both graduates and lawyers, ranging from Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal hearings to Supreme Court Appeals. I also had the opportunity to attend an industrial mediation relating to unfair dismissal, and the interviewing of witnesses for an Inquest at the Coroner’s Court. The SSO clerkship program was structured and organised without being overbearing, which I very much enjoyed. The culture was fantastic, everyone seemed very supportive of each other despite their own massive workloads. In short, I loved my time at the SSO, and would strongly recommend any capable law students applying for a clerkship there.
Yasmin McCann 2019/20 Summer Clerk
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Office for the Director of Public Prosecutions Clerking at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) was an experience I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. I was assigned to one of the many trial teams in the ODPP. Being the only vacation clerk assigned to that trial team, there was no buddy system. However, the entire office was incredibly friendly, welcoming and willing to share their knowledge. On my first day, I met most of my trial team and got to my desk. Two hours into the clerkship, I was accompanying a prosecutor to a court. During my time at the ODPP, I went to court almost every single day. If you enjoy attending trials and hearings, this is definitely your clerkship. My days at the ODPP usually consisted of a matter at the magistrates/district court with a prosecutor in the morning, and then returning to the office in the afternoon do legal research and write memos. For most of the first week, I attended sentencing trials, trial listings, committal mentions and directions hearings. Attending a trial in the second week was probably the most memorable experience for me. Prior to this, I had never attended a criminal law trial from start to end. I got to witness every aspect of the trial, from jury selection all the way till the final jury decision. It was also very helpful to talk to the lead prosecutor and discuss how he would conduct his evidence in chief and cross examinations. I found myself writing trial plans to visualise and anticipate each counsel’s trial strategy. Trial in real-life isn’t always fast-paced or riveting like a John Grisham novel, but there is still so much to observe and learn. It was very interesting to witness criminal law from the prosecution’s point of view. It helped debunk many misconceptions I had about the way prosecutions worked. Unlike in every legal book or TV series, prosecutors do not try to convict someone at all costs. Quite on the contrary, I was impressed by how much emphasis was placed on acting in public interest. The prosecution’s role is to present the State’s case. They may prosecute even if there are low chances of conviction, but they can also opt not to prosecute, based on several considerations. Outside court, I also worked on legal research, compiling evidence, and wrote internal memos recommending cases proceed/not proceed with prosecution. I learnt a lot from being able to view the evidence myself, be it in video, pictures, in writing etc. It is one thing to learn all the different elements of an offence in a classroom setting. It is quite another to try applying these theoretical elements, before realising the issue in contention is in fact a more pragmatic human factor (eg. whether the suspect can be clearly identified). I enjoyed my time at the ODPP. The work was intellectually intriguing, and the staff were all so welcoming and willing to share their knowledge. If you enjoy criminal law and court work, I strongly recommend a clerkship at the ODPP.
Chen Da Tan 2018/19 Summer Clerk 2020 MSLS Clerkship Guide 151
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