Why did you choose Mills Oakley Lawyers?
Did you attend a cocktail evening? How did you approach these events?
I chose Mills Oakley Lawyers because of the firm’s friendly culture, diverse practice groups and its reputation as a rapidly growing, leading law firm.
Before the evening, I did some research on the different practice groups of the firm and thought of a few questions that I could ask to begin conversations. During the course of the evening, I networked with not only the partners but also grads or lawyers and other prospective clerks.
How do you think your application stood out?
TANYA THOMAS Mills Oakley Lawyers
My legal experiences and volunteer work helped my application to stand out. It is important to include non-legal achievements in your application such as your knowledge of a second language or involvement in a society at university. This creates an interesting application overall and also generates topics for discussion in interviews. What were some of the questions that were asked during the interview? The questions I was asked during my interviews ranged from those about my interest in commercial law and my work experiences to questions that determined my cultural fit within the firm. Some questions were: ‘Why did you choose to study law?’ ‘Why have you chosen commercial law?’ ‘What do you see yourself doing five years from now?’ ‘Tell me about ‘x’ on your resume’ ‘What drew you to this firm?’ ‘If you could have lunch with any person/ famous personality, who would it be and why would you choose them?’ ‘If you could go anywhere on a holiday where would it be and who would you take with you?’ Did you ask any questions at the end of the question? If so, what? I asked questions about the growth of the firm and how it would be developing in the coming years. I also found this a good opportunity to ask the interviewing partner about his practice group and the kind of work he is involved in. Finally, I also asked both my interviewers why they chose Mills Oakley and what it is they love most about the firm.
Macquarie University Law Society
Describe a typical day as a clerk. A typical day as a clerk is largely dependent upon the practice group in which you are completing your rotation. I completed my rotations through Mills Oakley’s Property and Toxic Torts groups in the Sydney Office. During my first rotation, I was reviewing property contracts, researching recent amendments to certain legislation, preparing case briefs and drafting letters to clients. During my second rotation I was attending court and sitting in on mediations. Practice groups ensured that the clerks were gaining wide exposure to a range of experiences and it was common for us to be invited to attend presentations or seminars given by partners as well as client meetings. Mills Oakley also organised training and induction sessions for the clerks to familiarise us with the systems and practice groups of the firm. The social aspect of the clerkship involved events like the Christmas party and the awards night. There were also social activities organised by individual practice groups like a lawn bowls afternoon and client lunches. Any last advice? When writing applications, think about what it is that sets you apart from the rest. It could be your fluency in another language, international volunteering experiences or your enthusiasm. Find what is unique about yourself and highlight it in your applications and interviews. It is also important to remember that firms are looking for well-rounded individuals who have a diverse range of skills, so do not hesitate to discuss non-legal experiences in your interview. Finally, try to link your skills back to what you can bring to the firm and how it fits with the firm’s culture and values. Good luck!
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