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This is the 2012 edition of The Full Bench published by the UTS Law Students' Society.

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Page 1: 2012 Clerkship Guide

summerclerkshipguide

scg

Page 2: 2012 Clerkship Guide

2 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CONTENTS

CO

NTEN

TS

EDITOR

Isabelle DUGGAN

CONTRIBUTORS

Katherine AGAPITOS

Helena ASHER

Codie ASIMUS

Jessica AYE

Tess COOK

Kathryn CROSSLEY

Jamesina McLEOD

Natalie NASTEVSKA

Professor Paul REDMOND

Amy SIMPSON

Michelle SMERDON

Maryanna VASILAREAS

Emma WHITE

Ingrid WOON

DESIGNER

Linda HOANG

ACTING DEAN OF LAW

Professor Lesley HITCHENS

UTS LSS PRESIDENT

Emma BECHARA

UTS LSS VP (SPONSORSHIP & CAREERS)

Amy SIMPSON

WITH THANKS TO

Kwik Kopy Neutral Bay

Copyright and Disclaimer

© UTS Law Students’ Society.

This publication is copyright. Except where permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this

publication may be reproduced or stored by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specifi c

written permission of the UTS Law Students’ Society.

Disclaimer:

The articles and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Law

Students’ Society, the Editor, or the UTS Faculty of Law. Although the editor and authors have

taken every care in preparing and writing the guide, they expressly disclaim and accept no liability

for any errors, omissions, misuse or misunderstandings on the part of any person who uses or

relies upon it. The editor, authors and UTS Law Students’ Society accept no responsibility for any

damage, injury or loss occasioned to any person or entity, whether law student or otherwise, as a

result of a person relying, wholly or in part, on any material included, omitted or implied in this

publication.

The user of this guide acknowledges that he or she will take responsibility for his or her actions

and will under no circumstances hold the editor, authors or UTS Law Students’ Society responsible

for any damage resulting to the user or anyone else from use of this publication.

03. MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

04. MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

05. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

06. GLOBALISATION AND THE LARGE AUSTRALIAN LAW FIRM

08. AN INTERNATIONAL CLERKSHIP EXPERIENCE

11. UTS LSS CLERKSHIP SCHEDULE

THE FIRMS

14. ALLEN & OVERY

17. ALLENS

20. ASHURST

23. BAKER & MCKENZIE

26. CLAYTON UTZ

32. CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH

37. DIBBS BARKER

38. DLA PIPER

41. FREEHILLS

44. GADENS

49. GILBERT & TOBIN

53. HENRY DAVIS YORK

56. HERBERT GEER

58. JOHNSON WINTER & SLATTERY

59. KING & WOOD MALLESONS

63. LANDER & ROGERS

64. MIDDLETONS

65. MINTER ELLISON

68. NORTON ROSE

71. WEBB HENDERSON

TIPS FOR APPLYING

72. THE APPLICATION

76. THE COVER LETTER

77. THE CV

80. THE INTERVIEW

86. CONDITIONS WHEN APPLYING

87. PARTICIPATING LAW FIRMS

UTS Law Students’ Society

C/- Faculty of Law UTS

P.O Box 123

Broadway NSW 2007

Australia

P: +61 2 9514 3448

Page 3: 2012 Clerkship Guide

3LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

3LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

And so another year group of law stu-

dents brings with it another year of

clerkship applications. For many law

students the lure of the shiny glass tower com-

mercial law fi rm is all but impossible to resist,

but it is important to realise your law degree

opens doors to endless opportunities, from a

career as a commercial lawyer to working in

international human rights, as a public pros-

ecutor or even in management consulting. Ad-

ditionally, there has also been the shift towards

the globalization of some large Australian law

fi rms, thus changing the legal environment in

which as graduates we will enter.

It is worth thinking closely about the direction

you want your law degree to take you when

deciding where to apply for a summer clerk-

ship. The culture of every fi rm is different and

as much as it seems to be about the law fi rms

choosing law students, it is equally, if not more

important that law students choose the right

fi rm or fi rms to apply to.

What areas of the law interest you? What do

you value? Make sure you apply to fi rms that

refl ect this - whether it is important to you

that a fi rm has a large pro-bono practice or

is known for their excellence in capital mar-

kets. Each fi rm is very different and each has

their own culture and legal specialisations.

This Guide contains introductions to and clerk

experiences at some of the fi rms running sum-

mer clerkship programs this year. However I

would also encourage you to attend the Clerk-

ship Networking Evening and the Clerkship

Seminars run by the LSS to fi nd out more

about the individual fi rms, and how they might

be a good fi t for your personality and interests.

As well as this make sure you talk to current

graduates and past summer clerks about their

experiences at different fi rms. All of this will

hopefully aide your decision making process

in those crucial last few days before applica-

tions close.

Finally, some general tips. Be yourself. Make

a positive fi rst impression. Let your application

refl ect the very best of your hard work and

extracurricular activities. Don’t forget to proof-

read and save your applications every few

minutes. The interview is your opportunity to

elaborate on the points made in your applica-

tion and to let your personality shine through.

In this Guide we have included tips about writ-

ing a great application and being a star in the

interview amongst other essential information

to ensure you are ready to attack the applica-

tion process ahead.

Remember, a summer clerkship is not the

be-all and end-all. Plenty of law students

have been disappointed in missing out on a

place, but other opportunities always open

up, for example in social justice organisations,

government, or even boutique law fi rms. The

Careers Guide released in early September will

showcase the very best of the variety of dif-

ferent careers a UTS law degree can lead to.

The possibilities are endless so keep an open

mind. And some students choose to not do

any of that and just travel the world for a few

months, which is pretty attractive too.

Whatever path you choose to pursue, I hope

you fi nd your passion somewhere. I also hope

you fi nd the Guide helpful in navigating a hec-

tic clerkship season.

Best regards,

Isabelle Duggan

Careers (Publications) Director

UTS Law Students’ Society 2012

MESSAGEFROM THE EDITOR, ISABELLE DUGGAN

Page 4: 2012 Clerkship Guide

4 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING DEAN

4 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

The Summer Clerkship Guide produced

by the Law Students’ Society is a valua-

ble resource whether you are planning

to apply for a summer clerkship or perhaps

are still thinking about whether or not this

experience is for you. It will provide you with

information about the fi rms, the process, tips,

and you can also read about the experiences

of former summer clerks. The Guide will also

provide you with information about the proper

procedures to be followed. You should make

sure that your applications follow the require-

ments of the scheme and the fi rms to which

you are applying.

Applying for clerkships can be quite an intense

experience from the application stage through

to interviews and fi nally offers. However, it is

important to keep this in perspective. The

clerkship program and the fi rms engaged in

the program represent only a very small share

of the career and employment opportunities

which will be available to you as a graduate.

According to the Law Society of NSW’s 2011

Profi le of NSW solicitors, only about 22% of

NSW solicitors employed in private practice

work in fi rms with 40 or more partners and

law fi rms with more than 20 partners repre-

sent only 0.5% of all law fi rms in NSW. And,

of course, of those in practice, around 30%

will be employed by Government or by cor-

porations. Your law degree will equip you for

a diverse range of careers which may or may

not involve the formal practice of law – not to

mention the international career opportunities.

You may not even be aware at this stage of the

diverse possibilities.

UTS Law students are well regarded. How-

ever, the clerkship program is highly competi-

tive and there will be many more applicants

than places. Even if you are not successful

in obtaining a clerkship, the experience can

still be valuable. Preparing your application

can help you to identify your strengths and

to refi ne how you present relevant informa-

tion about yourself. Interviews provide useful

practice and experience. They will give you an

idea of what is expected of a law interview and

a chance for you to see how you manage the

interview. Take time after the interview to re-

fl ect on it: what went well and what could have

been improved. Use the tips in this guide as

an aid for that refl ection (as well as a guide

to preparing for the interview). But don’t be

too hard on yourself, we can all look back on

interviews and wish we had said something

differently! So whether or not you decide to

participate in the program, and whether or

not you are successful, the clerkship period

can assist you to refl ect on what type of career

you want and/or improve your application and

interviewing skills. And for those of you who

are successful in obtaining a clerkship, the

experience will also offer you the chance to

consider whether that is the career path you

want to pursue when you have qualifi ed.

And fi nally, good luck with the process!

Professor Lesley Hitchens,

Acting Dean

MESSAGEFROM THE ACTING DEAN, LESLEY HITCHENS

Page 5: 2012 Clerkship Guide

5LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

5LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

Clerkship season is upon us.

I hope this introduction - and this guide

as a whole - provides those of you who

know a great deal about the clerkship process,

with just a bit more information – and arms

those students who know very little about the

clerkship process, with a wealth of information

that will assist you throughout your clerkship

experience.

In brief, a clerkship is a 12-week long “intern-

ship” that students in their second last year

of law school can apply to be a part of, at a

vast range of Australian and international law

fi rms. This period is called a clerkship. At

the end of the clerkship, “clerks” (i.e. those

students who have undergone the clerkship),

are generally invited to attend a fi nal interview

at their fi rm, with the view of being offered a

graduate position at the said fi rm. More often

than not, students are successful in securing

a graduate offer after their clerkships. Clerks

then typically complete their fi nal year of study,

before commencing at the fi rm as a graduate

solicitor. The penultimate year requirement is

applicable to both undergraduate and post-

graduate/Juris Doctor students.

To be accepted into a clerkship program, is a

testament to your hard work and commitment

to your studies, extra-curricular activities and

your work-life balance. It is an invaluable expe-

rience that will provide you with an insight into

both the fi rm you have been invited to clerk

at, and the corporate world generally. The ap-

plication and interview processes are rigorous.

Whilst no two fi rms are the same in terms of

application requirements, they all share two

commonalities: academic transcripts & extra-

curricular activities. If you are considering ap-

plying, I would advise reviewing your CV and

list of extra-curricular activities, to ensure that

you have noted all activities you deem relevant

to your character and experiences. This will

prepare you for when the applications for the

various fi rms offi cially open.

ARE YOU FEELING A LITTLE LOST?

THINGS TO DO:

1. Read this guide – this guide has been pro-

duced for your information and the articles in

this guide will assist you with the fundamen-

tals of the clerkship process;

2. Attend the Clerkship Seminars – these

seminars are an opportunity to meet with

representatives from the various fi rms in a

one-on-one basis, and to learn more about

the clerkship process specifi c to an individual

fi rm; and

MESSAGEFROM THE PRESIDENT, EMMA BECHARA

3. Attend the Clerkship Networking Evening

– this evening will provide you with an oppor-

tunity to network in an informal context with a

vast range of law fi rms, and learn more about

each fi rm – whilst enjoying complimentary

drinks and canapés.

As a penultimate year student, I refl ect on this

guide, and am appreciative of the work and

commitment that the editing committee have

contributed in order to produce this informa-

tive, accessible and assistive book. I thank

the publications team, the contributors, and

particularly, the UTS LSS Sponsors, for whom

without - this publication would not be pos-

sible.

I would like to extend a special thank you to

Isabelle Duggan, the 2012 Careers (Publica-

tions) Director, who stepped so effortlessly into

her role so late into the piece, and made it

her own.

To those of you embarking on the clerkship

journey this year, I wish you the very best of

luck. To those who have a while longer – whilst

I am jealous of the time you have left at uni-

versity, I hope this guide proves informative to

you also.

I trust that this guide will be of assistance to

you all throughout the process.

Good luck - I hope to hear of many UTS:Law

students in their positions of choice in 2012,

whether or not that be as a clerk.

Best wishes,

Emma Bechara

President

UTS Law Students’ Society 2012

Page 6: 2012 Clerkship Guide

6 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

GLOBALISATION AND THE LARGE AUSTRALIAN LAW FIRM

This essay looks at the current global strategies of large Australian

law fi rms as revealed by what is happening at Mallesons, Blakes,

Allens and perhaps Freehills. The essay may help law students

thinking of working in fi rms with an exclusively business or government

clientele (excepting always the odd billionaire or three). This is not, of

course, a booster for corporate over individual client fi rm practice.

The major US and UK law fi rms see Asia as the area of growth in coming

decades, especially in the post-GFC climate with a weakened economic

outlook in Europe where so many of the UK fi rms have sunk resources.

This, after all, is said to be the Asian century. Australian law fi rms have

been competing for the big transaction work in the region for a couple of

decades now. They are well placed by geography and time zone, long

presence and profi le in the region, and the high quality of their lawyers’

training. But they face problems in being big regional players alone. The

governing law of international business is either English or New York

law, not Australian law. In Asia, English law has largely won out and so

participating law fi rms need English law capacity. The major English law

fi rms all have established Asian offi ces and a strong presence to exploit

this advantage and their colonial connection, especially in the major

fi nancial centres of Hong Kong and Singapore.

Australian fi rms have been fl irting with UK fi rms for a while. A major

obstacle to a merger with a leading UK fi rm is the size of the big Austral-

ian law fi rms themselves. Elite UK fi rms fear that their partner profi t

shares, from the higher value and better remunerated transaction work

in London, will be diluted if all those Aussie partners are taken on board

although the strong Australian dollar, the mining and resources work

here and the European downturn restore some balance. Freehills is

Globalisation and thelarge Australian law fi rmPaul Redmond, Sir Gerard Brennan Professor, Faculty of Law, UTS

Page 7: 2012 Clerkship Guide

7LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

GLOBALISATION AND THE LARGE AUSTRALIAN LAW FIRM

reported to be having merger talks with Herbert Smith, a major UK fi rm.

Recently Norton Rose merged with Deacons and the US fi rm DLA Piper

with Phillips Fox. On 23 April 2012 Allens Arthur Robinson announced

they had entered into an ‘integrated alliance’ with the leading UK fi rm

Linklaters under which the fi rms will remain independent save for a

series of joint ventures in Asia.

Other UK fi rms have targeted key people from the big Australian fi rms

to give them a practice base here through smaller local partnerships.

This happened recently with the blue chip Allen & Overy and Clifford

Chance. The focus here is on particular practice areas, principally

banking and fi nance, and the opportunity to leverage UK fi rm expertise.

But these specialist partnerships face formidable competition from full

service, long established Australian fi rms.

On 1 March 2012, two leading Australian fi rms, Blake Dawson and

Mallesons Stephen Jaques, entered into ‘mergers’ with overseas

fi rms, Blakes with Ashurst, an old UK fi rm with global operations,

and Mallesons with the People’s Republic of China fi rm King & Wood.

Blakes has become Ashurst Australia and Mallesons has become King

& Wood Mallesons. Both link-ups have an initial regional focus but are

steps in a wider global strategy.

Blakes and Ashurst have ‘combined their practices in Asia’ with a view

to a full merger in 2014 after a further vote of the partnerships. This

seems a conventional law fi rm merger between two fi rms with a similar

history and culture although with practices in different regions. The next

step seems to be a merger with a major US fi rm.

King & Wood Mallesons is a very different merger, the fi rst between a

Chinese and a western law fi rm. King & Wood was founded in 1993 by

Chinese principals and is the third largest fi rm in Asia by lawyer num-

bers. Chinese law prevents Chinese and foreign lawyers from sharing

profi ts so that, until an exemption or relaxation is granted, King & Wood

Mallesons will keep the bulk of their operations fi nancially separate in

three separate profi t pools, one for Mallesons’ Australian practice, an-

other for King & Wood’s Chinese offi ces and the third for the merged

Hong Kong offi ce. Separate profi t pooling means business as usual for

Mallesons’ Australian operations but will presumably see more staff

moved to Chinese and Hong Kong practices over time. There are sig-

nifi cant implementation risks: three of Mallesons’ four Beijing partners

left for other fi rms within days of the merger announcement. They may

not be alone. Global fi rms generally offer staff better pay and condi-

tions than Chinese fi rms and there are concerns about more intrusive

government and Communist Party regulation of Chinese fi rms. However,

this combination probably makes King & Wood Mallesons more attrac-

tive to a major US or UK fi rm as a potential global merger partner. That

seems the strategy.

What about those large Australian fi rms that remain national? Many

clients, especially governments, do not need global representation. But

most have smallish offi ces in Asia and the competition from global fi rms

there is getting stronger by the day. And cross-border work is often more

intellectually challenging as well as lucrative. The pressure to go global

ratchets up with each new fi rm merger or quasi-merger.

Page 8: 2012 Clerkship Guide

8 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

AN INTERNATIONAL CLERKSHIP EXPERIENCE

8 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

BACKGROUND

Applying for a clerkship at a domestic or in-

ternational fi rm can be a daunting process. In

my experience, this was because of the com-

petitiveness of the application process and the

importance of the clerkship as the primary

gateway to securing graduate employment at

a commercial fi rm. Whilst the application and

interview period will always be challenging, in

this article I hope to assist students who are

considering an international career with Lin-

klaters to determine whether the fi rm is right

for them. I will do this by highlighting the main

factors traditionally taken into consideration by

students when making the ‘domestic vs. inter-

national’ decision, as well as provide an insight

into Linklaters specifi cally, through reference

to my clerkship in the London offi ce of the fi rm

from November to December 2011.

To provide some context, Linklaters is a com-

mercial law fi rm with a diverse range of differ-

ent areas of practice, with 27 offi ces (including

affi liates) spanning across Europe, North and

South America, Africa, the Asia-Pacifi c and

Middle East. Its largest offi ce is in London,

where it forms part of the “magic circle” of top-

tier law fi rms. Fortunately for Australians, the

fi rm conducts an annual clerkship specifi cally

for Australian law students, with those clerks

having an automatic right to an interview for

a two year training contract. If offered a train-

ing contract, the student can choose a com-

mencement date within 24 months of gradua-

tion, depending on whether or not they wish to

defer their commencement. I have accepted

my offer and will be commencing my training

contract in London in March 2013.

If you are offered an interview on the basis of

your application, the interview process takes

place in Australia and involves a Watson

Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, standard

‘HR-style’ interview (e.g. behavioural and

experience-based questions) and a commer-

cial interview focusing on your legal knowl-

edge and commercial awareness. Whilst the

process is rigorous, the reward at the end is

thoroughly rewarding, irrespective of whether

or not you are offered a clerkship, as the expe-

rience itself is highly valuable.

MY EXPERIENCE

The two rotations I completed were in the

Mainstream Corporate and Banking depart-

ments. Despite having worked as a paralegal

for almost four years prior to the clerkship, I

was surprised by how much of the fi rm’s work

was cross-jurisdictional in nature, as well as

the enormous scale of the transactions. For

example, when conducting research for the

Mainstream Corporate department on the

transposition of the EU Solvency II Directive

into domestic legislation throughout all mem-

ber states of the EU, I was able to call other

Linklaters solicitors in Belgium, Sweden and

the Netherlands to obtain immediate answers

for those countries. In the Banking Depart-

ment, the fi rst transaction I worked on was the

refi nancing of a €6 billion facility agreement

involving a 39 bank syndicate for one of the

fi rm’s ‘blue chip’ clients. These are experi-

ences that can only be gained from a truly

international fi rm with a tier-1 ranking across

almost all countries in which it operates.

One of the primary reasons I chose to com-

mence my career at Linklaters is because of

the strong emphasis the fi rm places on com-

mercial education, in addition to substantive

legal knowledge and skills. Throughout the

four weeks I spent on my clerkship, I learnt

more about the inter-operation between dif-

ferent departments within a commercial fi rm

than I had over the previous 46 months of my

experience as a paralegal. The fi rm places a

strong emphasis on its lawyers understanding

the commercial drivers behind each type of

transaction so that its solicitors have industry-

specifi c knowledge and can adapt their legal

advice to suit the commercial objectives of

ANINTERNATIONAL CLERKSHIPEXPERIENCE

CODIE ASIMUSLINKLATERS

Page 9: 2012 Clerkship Guide

9LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

AN INTERNATIONAL CLERKSHIP EXPERIENCE

9LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

their clients. Whilst I am unable to comment

on what commercial education is offered by

comparable fi rms, this was something I val-

ued highly when I chose to accept my offer

of a training contract from Linklaters as the

fi rm’s emphasis on commercial education was

clearly evident to me.

Before my departure to London, I was told by

some of my friends working for the fi rm that

the solicitors adopt a “work hard, play hard”

mentality, which was a cultural description

that held true in my experience. During the

clerkship, we were treated to a social func-

tion every Monday and Thursday evening,

including several dinners, a trip on the Lon-

don Eye, ice skating at Somerset House and

a cocktail making class. Whilst it would be a

mistake in my opinion to choose a fi rm on the

basis of added benefi ts, they are nonetheless

signifi cant at Linklaters. During the clerkship

alone, the fi rm paid me a salary, reimbursed

my return fl ights to London and paid for high

quality serviced apartments in Islington, a vi-

brant area of central London, which was within

walking distance of the offi ce.

BENEFITS OF AN INTERNATIONAL

CAREER AT LINKLATERS

In my view, the primary benefi ts of a career at

Linklaters are:

• CROSS-JURISDICTIONAL TRANSACTIONS: The solici-

tors at Linklaters are exposed to some of the

largest transactions in the world, involving

multinational clients and often requiring

travel and/or cooperation with solicitors in

other jurisdictions. No domestic fi rm can

offer a comparable level of transactions on

the same scale and geographic spread as

Linklaters.

• SECONDMENTS: Secondments can vary in both

duration and location. However, to illustrate

the opportunities available, I met solicitors

during my clerkship who had undertaken

secondments to both clients and other

Linklaters offi ces, between 6 and 24 months

in duration. Whilst there is a very wide range

of potential secondment locations, the cities

of those I spoke to included Hong Kong,

Moscow and New York. The vast majority of

trainees spend at least one of the four six

month rotations in their training contract on

secondment.

• ‘BLUE CHIP’ WORK: Whilst Linklaters services

the most prominent global corporations

and fi nancial institutions, it often advises

clients on emerging areas of law, such as in

relation to new structured fi nancial products

that have never been seen in the market

before. Access to this kind of work is excit-

ing, as it has never been done before, which

is something that in my view should keep

the work stimulating in the long-term.

• DUAL TIER-1 RANKING: Linklaters is the only

‘magic circle’ fi rm with a tier-1 ranking in

both Corporate and Banking, as its competi-

tors each rank in the top-tier in only one of

those areas. This means the fi rm is a safe

option for those who know they have an

interest in commercial law, however aren’t

yet sure of which area they would ultimately

like to specialise in.

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING

WHICH JURISDICTION TO START YOUR

CAREER

Whilst an international career can be exciting

and fi lled with lots of opportunities, it is not

for everyone. A successful relationship will

require a mutual fi t between the fi rm and ap-

plicant, which is dependent upon a range of

factors. That said, it is worthwhile considering

the following questions, as I know they have

been relevant considerations to other students

when making the decision to stay in Australia

or head to London before:

• AM I WILLING TO RELOCATE? Whilst some choose

to move overseas forever and others return

home after a few years, I would recom-

mend not pursuing a career in London

straight after graduation unless you see

yourself working there for a minimum of

4-5 years. This is because you won’t have

any signifi cant skill level in a particular area

of law after the 4 x 6 month rotations that

comprise your training contract.

• DO MY LEGAL INTERESTS ALIGN WITH MY DESIRE TO

WORK IN MORE THAN ONE JURISDICTION THROUGH-

OUT MY CAREER? If you wish to work in more

than one jurisdiction throughout your career

(e.g. the UK and Australia), you should be

conscious of the fact that most areas of

law are not capable of being practised in

multiple jurisdictions. For example, Tax and

Litigation are predominantly jurisdiction-

specifi c, in contrast to Banking, Capital

Markets and Mergers and Acquisitions,

which can be practised globally.

• WHAT ARE YOUR LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL GOALS?

Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?

Do you wish to work in a particular country?

Do you want to specialise in a particular

area of law? You should only choose a fi rm

that is consistent with your career ambitions

and will help you to achieve professional

satisfaction. Having said this, Linklaters is

a globally recognised and re spected fi rm,

which means it is unlikely for you to make

the ‘wrong decision’ by commencing your

career there.

• WHAT RELEVANCE DOES THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

IN EUROPE HAVE FOR MY DECISION? Some adopt

the view that there has been a paradigm

shift to Asia and Australian lawyers are

better placed commencing work in Asia

rather than London or New York, despite

these two cities being the largest fi nancial

centres in the world. Whilst on a long-term

Page 10: 2012 Clerkship Guide

10 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

AN INTERNATIONAL CLERKSHIP EXPERIENCE

10 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

scale there is an undeniable economic

shift, it is important to note that Linklaters

performs strongly in economic downturns,

as evidenced by the fi rm emerging from

the 2008/09 Financial Year as the largest

law fi rm in the world by revenue, at £1.298

billion.

In my opinion, it is important to choose a fi rm

that has strengths in both Corporate and Bank-

ing, and which has a global capability across

existing fi nancial centres as well as emerging

markets, to ensure resilience to global eco-

nomic movements. Not many ‘international’

fi rms satisfy both of these criteria. Whilst the

global economy is a relevant consideration for

students considering an international career,

Linklaters is one of the best-positioned fi rms

in the world to cope with drastic economic

movements due to its dual strengths in Corpo-

rate and Banking, existing coverage of global

fi nancial centres and emphasis on emerging

markets.

Whilst Linklaters is certainly well placed to

withstand any future movements in the global

economy in comparison to its competitors, no

fi rm is entirely impregnable. In this regard, it is

important to remember the widespread lateral

hiring freezes during the last fi nancial crisis.

As a consequence, if you are sure that you

wish to pursue a career in London, whether

on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, I

believe it sensible to attempt to secure a train-

ing contract by participating in the Australian

Clerkship, as the prospect of being recruited

laterally a few years after graduation is uncer-

tain. For this and the reasons above, I view the

training contract as an offer of certainty in one

of the largest legal and fi nancial centres of the

world.

MY DECISION

Different considerations concerning graduate

employment will be relevant to different stu-

dents depending on their career ambitions,

personality and motivations behind becoming

a commercial lawyer. I accepted my offer to

undertake a training contract at Linklaters be-

cause of the exceptional training, commercial

and legal education and cross-jurisdictional

career opportunities the fi rm can offer me in

the long-term. If you have international ambi-

tions in a top ranking commercial law fi rm,

then I would highly recommend considering

Linklaters. However, ultimately the decision of

where to commence your career will be a per-

sonal choice, requiring a mutual fi t between

you and your prospective employer.

Page 11: 2012 Clerkship Guide

11LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE SCHEDULE

11LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

Amongst its other portfolios, the careers

function of the UTS Law Students’ So-

ciety (‘UTS LSS’) is to ensure students

are aware of career opportunities available to

them.

It is because of this that the UTS LSS organ-

ises and facilitates events each year to assist

penultimate year students with their applica-

tions for the Summer Clerkship Program (as

well as students not yet eligible for clerkships

in respect of their future applications).

In 2012, the UTS LSS will be holding:

1. THE CLERKSHIP SEMINAR SERIES

A number of law fi rms will attend UTS in May

in order to hold clerkship seminars which

provide an invaluable insight into life at these

fi rms as a summer clerk, as well as present-

ing a unique networking opportunity with fi rm

representatives, which may include recruiting

partners, human resources employees and

former summer clerks.

These seminars will also provide you with in-

formation you can use to increase the quality

of applications.

Seminars typically run for one hour, compris-

ing of a presentation by the fi rm and an oppor-

tunity to ask questions, concluding with food,

drinks and an opportunity to network with fi rm

representatives.

2. THE CLERKSHIP NETWORKING

EVENING

The Clerkship Networking Evening will provide

you with an opportunity to meet and network

with representatives and lawyers from some

of the top law fi rms in Australia over free

canapés and drinks, as well as ask any further

UTS LSS CLERKSHIP SCHEDULE

questions you may have. In doing so you will

gain invaluable insight into not only the fi rm’s

clerkship process and program, but also tips

regarding your application.

A further benefi t is that you will have an option

to compare fi rms, who are all gathered in the

one location at the one time.

3. THE SKILLS WORKSHOPS

In 2012 the UTS LSS, in conjunction with

certain law fi rms, will be facilitating three

skills workshops: Allen & Overy Networking

Workshop, Minter Ellison CV Workshop, and

Clayton Utz Interview Workshop.

These workshops are intended to provide

you with highly useful information in respect

of preparing your applications, and may also

provide insight as to what commercial fi rms

look for in respect of each skill.

Whilst these workshops are open to all

UTS:Law students, they have been intention-

ally scheduled to coincide with clerkship ap-

plications.

Dates for all of these activities are below and

it is highly recommended that all students

interested in applying for the 2012 Summer

Clerkship Program attend as many of these

events as possible.

Should you have any further questions in re-

spect of these activities, please do not hesitate

to email me at [email protected].

All the best in your applications and I look for-

ward to seeing you at these events!

Emma White

UTS LSS Careers (Activities) Director 2012

Page 12: 2012 Clerkship Guide

12 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE SCHEDULE

12 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

7 MAY 2012

BAKER MCKENZIE CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

11.00am, CM05B.1.14

NORTON ROSE CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

3.00pm, CM05C.1.21

ALLEN & OVERY CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

5.30pm, CM05B.01.13

9 MAY 2012

HENRY DAVIS YORK CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

1.00pm, CM05D.1.14

TRESSCOX CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

3.00pm, CM05C.1.21

ASHURST CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

5.30pm, CM05C.2.44

14 MAY 2012

MINTER ELLISON CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

11.00am, CM05C.2.46

GILBERT & TOBIN CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

3.00pm, CM05C.1.21

16 MAY 2012

ALLENS CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

1.00pm, CM05D.1.14

CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH CLERKSHIP

SEMINAR

3.00pm, CM05C.1.21

17 MAY 2012

ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT CLERKSHIP

SEMINAR

3.00pm, CM05C.1.21

21 MAY 2012

DLA PIPER CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

11.00am, CM05C.1.29

CLAYTON UTZ CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

3.00pm, CM05C.1.21

23 MAY 2012

KING & WOOD MALLESONS CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

1.00pm, CM05D.1.14

GADENS CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

3.00pm, CM05C.1.21

FREEHILLS CLERKSHIP SEMINAR

5.30pm, CM05C.1.29

24 MAY 2012

UTS LSS CLERKSHIP NETWORKING EVENING

6.30pm, Aerial Function Centre (Level 7, UTS

Building 10 – 235 Jones Street, Sydney NSW

2007)

Please refer to the UTS LSS website

(www.utslss.com) for further information

including how to register.

SCHEDULE OF SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES

Page 13: 2012 Clerkship Guide

13LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE SCHEDULE

13LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

4 JUNE 2012

MINTER ELLISON CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)

WORKSHOP

11.00am, CM05B.03.27

Please refer to the UTS LSS website

(www.utslss.com) for further information

including how to register.

ALLEN & OVERY NETWORKING WORKSHOP

5.30pm, CM05C.02.44

Please refer to the UTS LSS website (www.

utslss.com) for further information including

how to register.

6 JUNE 2012

CLAYTON UTZ INTERVIEW WORKSHOP

1.00pm, CM05C.02.40

Please refer to the UTS LSS website (www.

utslss.com) for further information including

how to register.

13 JUNE 2012

Applications for summer clerkships through

the NSW Law Society open.

13 JULY 2012

Applications for summer clerkships through

the NSW Law Society close at 5.00pm.

13 AUGUST 2012

Summer clerkship interviews commence.

21 SEPTEMBER 2012

Offers for summer clerkships can be made.

Please note that this schedule may change.

An up to date schedule for the above events

will always be available on the UTS LSS

website (www.utslss.com) under the ‘Careers’

tab.

Page 14: 2012 Clerkship Guide

14 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE SCHEDULE

Page 15: 2012 Clerkship Guide

15LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

ALLEN & OVERY FIRM PROFILE

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

As one of only a small number of global elite fi rms, Allen & Overy Aus-

tralia offers you something truly different. Joining Allen & Overy means

playing a part in a diverse domestic and international team spanning a

fully integrated network of 39 offi ces in over 27 countries.

We focus on complex and strategic domestic and cross-border transac-

tions for a high profi le client base of market leading private and public

organisations. Our Australian practice has three core groups: Banking

& International Capital Markets, Corporate and Litigation. Within these,

the practice areas are diverse, including Mergers & Acquisitions, Private

Equity, Projects, Structured Products, Investment Funds, Competition,

Asset Finance, Tax, Energy & Resources, Litigation and International

Arbitration. Clients increasingly need global service providers and we

are currently one of the only fi rms in Australia able to provide a fully

integrated domestic, regional and global offering.

Our culture and the values we share inspire the way we work and be-

have: excellence in everyone and everything, dedication to our clients,

helping our people to achieve their potential, respecting and including

every individual, working together as one fi rm, entrepreneurial spirit and

energy.

WHAT TO EXPECT

As a Summer Clerk you’ll complete two rotations within our core prac-

tice groups. You’ll be allocated a supervising partner and will work

closely with that partner and the senior associates and lawyers who

make up the team. You will be exposed to premium quality domestic

and international work and will also participate in various exercises that

simulate real transactions from beginning to end, providing a valuable

insight into the role of an Allen & Overy lawyer. Informal feedback and

guidance will be given to each summer clerk throughout the process.

Uniquely we also offer the opportunity to all our Sydney Summer Clerks

to spend one week of the program working in another of our Asia Pacifi c

offi ces. This will give you a greater understanding of our global network

and a taste of future opportunities available to you at Allen & Overy.

Whilst it’s by no means compulsory, a large proportion of our lawyers

will choose to take up the opportunity to spend time working in another

offi ce at some time during their career, whether that’s a rotation as a

junior lawyer, a longer term secondment or a permanent transfer.

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

OPPORTUNITIES

Allen & Overy is renowned for high quality training and development.

During your career you will have the opportunity to attend comprehen-

sive training both domestically and globally to meet and learn with col-

leagues here and overseas, starting with our “Global Universities” run in

London for lawyers with approximately 2 years of experience.

WHO WE LOOK FOR

There is no typical Allen & Overy lawyer. We realise each person has

their unique skills and qualities. While you should have excellent

academic results, beyond this we want to see evidence of teamwork,

communication skills, planning and organisation skills, problem solv-

ing, commercial awareness, and commitment to a career in law and a

career with Allen & Overy.

We accept applications from overseas students, however applicants

must demonstrate a commitment to starting their legal career in Aus-

tralia and have the right to live and work in Australia.

We invest in hand-selecting our Summer Clerks each year and were

pleased to offer graduate positions to all our Sydney Summer Clerks in

2011 and 2012.

For further information, please visit our website -

www.allenovery.com/careers (select Australia) or contact us at

[email protected]

Page 16: 2012 Clerkship Guide

16 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

ALLEN & OVERYSUMMER CLERK PROFILE

LLB (HONS),BA INT STUDIES(MAJOR IN CHINA)

UTS LAW STUDENTS’SOCIETY PRESIDENT 2009

A&O SUMMER CLERK 2010/2011GRADUATE-AT-LAW 2012AARON KO

Two years ago during the clerkship ap-

plication process, I was looking for a

fi rm that was going to provide me with

excellent training, exciting work and had a

genuine global outlook. Since then, during my

time as a summer clerk, a paralegal and now

as a graduate, Allen & Overy has surpassed all

of my expectations. In addition, I have uncov-

ered a genuinely open and supportive culture

which has proven so vital in the early stages of

my development as a lawyer.

THE CLERKSHIP EXPERIENCE

During the clerkship I was exposed to a wide

variety of local and international transactional

matters as well as the opportunity to work with

several different partners and their teams.

The learning curve was steep, but the work

was enjoyable and help was never far away.

Highlights of my clerkship include my visit to

a client’s coal terminal in Newcastle and my

rotation to the A&O Singapore offi ce. As part of

the clerkship, each clerk rotated through one

of our Asian offi ces including Tokyo, Beijing,

Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok

and Singapore. This was a great experience,

not only in a legal sense, but also experiencing

and appreciating fi rst hand the subtle differ-

ences in work practices throughout the world.

As a Graduate, I have been through a very

comprehensive training program, which in-

cluded everything from legal drafting, work

management and practice group specifi c

skills training to IT and offi ce procedure. Since

training, I have been thrown in the deep end,

but thankfully with a great deal of support.

Just recently I ran a matter with a Senior As-

sociate in which we refi nanced a major inter-

national telecommunications company. This

matter involved six of our international offi ces,

which proved to be an interesting challenge in

managing time-zones and different deadlines;

but from the client’s perspective, A&O was

working on the matter 24 hours a day. Work-

ing so closely with the Senior Associate was a

great learning experience, as he would explain

each of the steps we were doing and why we

were doing them. I felt comfortable asking

any questions I had regarding the transaction,

whether they were specifi c about a task at

hand or just general questions about protocol

or deal structure.

Refl ecting upon my clerkship application and

interview process I remember feeling uncer-

tain about which fi rm would be right for me.

What I can say now that it is all over is that

Allen & Overy is a leading global law fi rm with

a wealth of history and experience that cannot

be understated. The Sydney offi ce draws on

the fi rm’s huge international network of train-

ing and human resources, precedents and ex-

pertise. It is a fi rm large enough to offer you a

leading global experience, yet has a close-knit

offi ce which lets you stand out and feel like

part of the fi rm. A&O also has an impressive

client list, acting for the premier investment

banks, fi nancial institutions, and blue chip

companies all over the world. As globalisation

becomes irreversible and with many Australi-

an fi rms now reaching out to the global market,

A&O is well placed to serve the largest clients

on the largest deals and this makes the work

inevitably interesting.

Page 17: 2012 Clerkship Guide

17LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

ALLEN & OVERY

17717171171717171111111111111111111111711777LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

ALLEN & OVERY

Page 18: 2012 Clerkship Guide

18 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

ALLENSFIRM PROFILE

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE IN THE INDUSTRY?

Allens is a major legal force in Asia, with lawyers and business services

employees working in Beijing, Brisbane, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong

Kong, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Port Moresby, Shanghai, Singapore,

Sydney and Ulaanbaatar. Seventy-seven of Australia’s, and 55 of the

world’s, top 100 companies choose Allens as their legal adviser.

On 1 May 2012, Allens entered into an integrated alliance with leading

global law fi rm Linklaters. The alliance expands the Allens network to 36

offi ces across 26 countries.

Our lawyers unashamedly love the law. We also understand that our

clients want succinct answers that achieve their commercial aims. At

Allens, you will fi nd yourself working alongside colleagues from diverse

backgrounds. Although our teams are made up of people with count-

less individual differences and life experiences, common to each of

them is the ability to distil simplicity from complexity and to provide

clear solutions to our clients.

WHAT OTHER ASPECTS ASIDE FROM

WORK CAN ALLENS OFFER EMPLOYEES?

At Allens, our values are the foundation cornerstone of our culture. Our

people want to make a difference not only in law and business but in

the wider community. This passion to make a difference drives our Pro

Bono, Charity, Footprint and Reconciliation Action Plan committees’ ini-

tiatives. These committees are comprised of a wide spectrum of Allens

staff, who use their involvement enrich their experience at the fi rm. We

offer opportunities for secondments to both clients (including pro bono

clients) and our international offi ces.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN AN EMPLOYEE?

IMAGINATION INTERESTS INTELLIGENCE

At Allens, we want people who want to excel and fulfi l their potential.

We want lawyers who can analyse legal issues from diverse perspec-

tives and arrive at solutions that provide the greatest value. The three

key things we look for are:

CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

Our clerkship programs are run for students in their penultimate year

of study.

The clerks are involved in an intensive orientation program including

library and research skills. Clerks also participate in skills development

seminars, departmental and practice group meetings and informal per-

formance reviews. There is also a social aspect to the program, enabling

clerks to network with internal and external clients.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Allens is committed to ensuring new recruits develop a legal knowledge

of each practice area and get the experience and training to form the

basis of a successful career.

You won’t be waiting years for interesting work and responsibility. Our

lawyers work in teams, and you are part of a team from day one. You

will also have a ‘buddy’ - a junior lawyer who will answer your day-to-day

questions and help you settle in.

We offer a single rotation for the duration of our law graduate program.

Junior lawyers may then undertake two 12-month rotations before spe-

cialisation. We believe that a longer rotation provides a comprehensive

knowledge of each practice area, giving law graduates an opportunity

to develop strong relationships with partners and other lawyers in their

practice group.

We’re looking for people who are passionate about their profession.

Strong academic performance is important, and so is your ability to

think laterally, be fl exible, see the bigger picture and work as part of a

team.

MORE INFORMATION

For more details on all our programs please visit and apply on our web-

site www.allens.com.au/careers

IMAGINATION:

we are a fi rm of multi-dimensional

individuals and teams. We cel-

ebrate diverse perspectives and

aim to attract individuals who will

add to the unique fabric of our

fi rm.

INTERESTS:

imaginative people often have var-

ied interests outside of the law and

exciting opportunities available to

them. Our policies support employ-

ees who seek high-quality work,

along with time for outside interests.

INTELLIGENCE:

we value excellence in all that we

do. We want people who strive to

do their best. We look to recruit

people who are not only techni-

cally excellent, but also capable of

building strong relationships with

colleagues and clients to deliver a

commercial and solution-driven

approach. We look for people

who are innovative and creative,

and will thrive in our environment.

Page 19: 2012 Clerkship Guide

19LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

ALLENS SUMMER CLERK PROFILE

When I chose Allens for my summer

clerkship, it was honestly a gut

feeling. I had attended numerous

interviews, cocktail parties and spoken to what

felt like hundreds of different people, but there

was always something that was drawing me

back to Allens. Now I realise what it was – the

people. The people are honestly the most im-

portant part of your decision and the thing that

will inspire you and make you look forward to

going to work every morning.

Allens is a top tier fi rm and alongside that

comes the high profi le matters, the big clients,

the million dollar deals and the opportunity to

be a part of the cutting-edge legal issues. Any

top tier fi rm will provide you with that and so

in my opinion, it is the people that you work

with, and the people that you learn from that

distinguish a fi rm.

The people at Allens are phenomenal. The

most you can ask for from a clerkship is to

gain an insight into the fi rm, learn as much

as possible and enjoy yourself whilst doing

it. From my fi rst to last day, I never stopped

learning. All the lawyers I worked with were

friendly, approachable and spent time explain-

ing every matter they got you involved in. Even

where you were completing the most basic of

research tasks, the instructing lawyer would

make you feel like you had made a signifi cant

contribution and make sure to show you where

that piece of research fi t in the large scheme

CLERKSHIPTESTIMONIALNICOLE MEYER

of things. Throughout my clerkship I learnt

so much and felt so lucky to work alongside

lawyers who were just as interested in impart-

ing their knowledge as meeting their billable

targets. Having now returned to the fi rm as a

paralegal, it’s no different.

However, the clerkship was defi nitely not all

about work. The clerks were involved in every

aspect of the fi rm from casual group catch

ups and birthdays to the Allens Annual Swim-

ming Carnival, Christmas parties and fi rm

drinks. One particular highlight was the clerk

charity event. As a group we organised the

entire event culminating in ‘Allens’ Got Talent’,

a talent quest whereby each department com-

peted by donating $1 to vote for their favourite

act. We had singers, string ensembles, come-

dians and even a magician. It was a fantastic

night and a great opportunity to have a few

drinks and a laugh with people from all over

the fi rm.

The clerkship was such an incredible experi-

ence and a lot of fun – there was never a lack

of opportunities to socialise with colleagues

and develop some great friendships with your

fellow clerks. I strongly recommend a clerk-

ship at Allens, and if I haven’t already given

you enough to look forward to, I should note

that Allens has an amazing art collection,

beautiful offi ces and a free coffee shop (which

you will no doubt visit daily).

Page 20: 2012 Clerkship Guide

blake dawson is ashurst, australia’s new global law firm.

matching ambition

with opportunityYou’ve worked hard. Done well. You have ambition. You can match your ambition with the many opportunities at Ashurst. Ask us how.

Sydney – Amy Foulcher People Development Consultant – Graduate Programs Tel +61 2 9258 [email protected]

www.ashurst.com/graduates

Page 21: 2012 Clerkship Guide

BLAKE DAWSON IS ASHURST, AUSTRALIA’S NEW GLOBAL LAW FIRMWE’RE MATCHING AUSTRALIAN LEGAL EXPERTISE WITH GLOBAL CAPABILITY. www.ashurst.com

Australia Belgium China France Germany Hong Kong SAR Indonesia (associated office) Italy Japan Papua New Guinea Singapore Spain Sweden United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America

About usAshurst is Australia’s new global law firm. On 1 March 2012, Ashurst and Blake Dawson combined their practices in Asia and Blake Dawson changed its name to Ashurst Australia, adopting the Ashurst brand. Together we have created a powerful global legal presence as one team with one brand and a shared vision, paving the way for a planned full global merger in 2014.

This coming together of equals significantly strengthens both firms. We have over 1,700 lawyers across 24 offices around the world. We are a full-service firm, advising corporates, financial institutions and governments, and our core businesses are in corporate, finance, energy and resources and infrastructure.

The collaboration also gives the Australian marketplace ready access to UK and US law capabilities, and seamless cross-border service around the clock. With an expanded depth and breadth across our region, clients have access to legal teams across the globe providing tailored, commercially astute solutions for all of their transactions and projects.

With more than 3,500 people working in 24 offices across Australia, Asia the Middle East, Europe, UK, the US and an associated office in Indonesia, our reach, presence and global growth aspirations provide our people with the platform on which to develop and foster a deep understanding of local markets and industries, with the benefit of a global network and international insight.

Our clientsWe are a full-service firm, advising leading corporates and financial institutions, and governments, and our core businesses are in corporate, finance, energy and resources and infrastructure.

We have the privilege of advising on some of Australia’s and the world’s largest and most complex deals. Our clients include 73% of the top 100 ASX companies and 93% of Australian companies in the Forbes Global 2000.

Areas of legal practiceWe are a top tier full service global law firm with a particular focus on financial services, energy and resources, and projects and infrastructure. Our Australian office practises in over 30 different service areas including:

Banking & Finance

Commercial Property

Competition & Consumer Protection

Construction & Infrastructure

Corporate

Employment

Energy & Environment

Government

Hotels, Tourism & Gaming

Intellectual Property

IT, Communications & Media

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Mergers & Acquisitions

Resources

Restructuring & Insolvency

Tax

What do we look for?We look for abilities and strengths which experience tells us are critical to success as graduates and clerks and in the longer term. In particular we seek graduates and clerks who can demonstrate an ability to build rapport with a range of people; an ability to work in a team-based environment; the academic capacity to excel; a demonstrated interest or expertise in a commercial legal environment; the willingness to learn; resilience, motivation and a commitment to excellence in both work and client service.

Firm profile

Page 22: 2012 Clerkship Guide

blake dawson is ashurst, australia’s new global law firm.we’re matching australian legal expertise with global capability. www.ashurst.com

Australia Belgium China France Germany Hong Kong SAR Indonesia (associated office) Italy Japan Papua New Guinea Singapore Spain Sweden United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America

The Summer Clerk experience

Angela Vo

I was initially apprehensive about completing a summer clerkship at a commercial law firm, suspecting that I might be working in a rather reserved environment. However from the very first day at Ashurst my concerns were dispelled. The week long induction program provided the opportunity to get to know everyone and become familiar with the extensive resources and services available. Throughout the clerkship I felt part of a supportive team that was interested in my development and interests and ensured that my clerkship was tailored especially for me.

I completed two five week rotations in the Employment and Intellectual Property, Communications and Technology teams. The supervising lawyers and partners always aimed to allocate work that was within my area of interest. I was involved in a diverse range of tasks from research for client presentations and advices to reviewing legislative reforms. During my first rotation I was fortunate to attend court for an industrial relations matter, which also involved the opportunity to sit in on discussions with the client and counsel. I also gained experience in the area of workplace health and safety and discrimination.

Halfway through my second rotation, I had the opportunity to go on client secondment, and spent a week in the Technology, Media and Intellectual Property team at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Media law is a particular interest of mine, so I was delighted to gain in-house experience in that area which also complemented the work I had been involved in during my second rotation.

During my summer clerkship at Ashurst I felt that I was consistently supported in shaping my career goals and developing as an individual. My time at the firm offered an insightful look into the commercial law world and provided me with opportunities and experiences which were tailored to my personal learning. I was continuously amazed to meet so many people who demonstrated a genuine interest in my ambitions and progress as an aspiring lawyer.

Page 23: 2012 Clerkship Guide

At Baker & McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. Like no other law firm we were born global.

Right from the beginning we’ve been offering a genuinely global perspective and operating without boundaries around the world.

Our established global reach offers you an extraordinary career in the global economy, exchanging rich local insights and knowledge with the best legal minds from all over the world every day.

And our unrivalled regional and local development programs will make you a truly global lawyer. Fast.

We’re an entrepreneurial firm where new ideas and innovation are encouraged at all levels. A place where small teams and a personal approach to your career means you can go as far and fast as your talents and drive will take you.

Ready to explore our world?www.bakermckenzie.com/careers

Natalie Pinto in Melbourne: +61 3 9617 4349Posy McGrane in Sydney: +61 2 8922 5482

BORN GL BAL

Page 24: 2012 Clerkship Guide

24 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

BAKER & MCKENZIEFIRM PROFILE

ABOUT THE FIRM

Baker & McKenzie is an instinctively global law fi rm. Our Australian

practice is the fourth largest in our network of 70 offi ces in 42 countries

around the world.

With 90 partners and 199 lawyers in Sydney and Melbourne, Baker &

McKenzie Australia can offer you access to complex, market-leading

matters working with some of the world’s best legal minds – people who

know the law and who understand business.

We have an unrivalled ability to provide training and secondment op-

portunities across our global network. Locally, we have an inclusive

culture of learning, coaching and opportunity where you will work in

small teams on matters that often cross borders. We value people who

think ahead and get noticed.

Baker & McKenzie’s key Australian specialist areas – set out below –

cover a broad range of expertise:

CLERKSHIP AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN OUR CLERKS AND GRADUATES?

Our Graduate and Clerkship programs are designed for people who

enjoy a challenge and seek new opportunities; who share our global

perspective; who have sound academics and are practical in their

approach; who like taking responsibility and getting things done; who

express themselves confi dently while staying open to new ideas; and

who seek a friendly and inclusive culture that encourages making a

difference to our local and global communities.

• Banking & Finance

• Capital Markets

• Commercial Real Estate

• Construction

• Dispute Resolution & Litigation

• Employment &

Industrial Relations

• Energy, Resources,

infrastructure & Corporate

• Environmental Markets

• Financial Services &

Structured Transactions

• Hotels, Resorts & Tourism

• Intellectual Property

• Mergers & Acquisitions

• Private Equity

• Taxation

• Technology, Communications

& Commercial

CLERKSHIP PROGRAMS

Right from the start, our clerks get involved in real work. You will be

exposed to our Australian and international clients through client meet-

ings, short client secondments, shadowing, research and other everyday

activities within your assigned practice group. Our clerks work closely

with other lawyers and, in each rotation, are guided by a Supervising

Partner and Associate ‘Buddy’. You will develop practical and legal skills

through our national learning program and by attending workshops

specifi cally designed for seasonal clerks, as well as fi rm-wide sessions.

Clerks who accept a graduate role with the Firm are eligible to apply for

an International Clerkship, with the opportunity to work for up to four

weeks in one of our overseas offi ces in the year following their clerkship.

APPLICATION DATES AND PROCESS

Applications for seasonal clerkships should be submitted online at www.

cvmail.com.au and should include a cover letter, details of your work

experience, extra curricular activities and interests as well as academic

results. Applications for Clerkships open on 13 June in Sydney and on

16 July in Melbourne.

CONTACT DETAILS

For more information, head to our website www.bakermckenzie.com/

careers or contact:

SYDNEY

CONTACT NAME

Posy McGrane, Talent Manage-

ment Consultant - Graduates

EMAIL

[email protected]

PHONE

02 8922 5482

MELBOURNE

CONTACT NAME

Natalie Pinto,

Talent Management Consultant

EMAIL

[email protected]

PHONE

03 9617 4349

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25LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

BAKER & MCKENZIE SUMMER CLERK PROFILE

After completing her summer clerkship

at Baker & McKenzie, Michelle Sieki-

erka was selected for an International

Clerkship at one of Baker & McKenzie’s 70

offi ces around the globe. Below, Michelle

recounts her unforgettable experience in her

destination of choice -- Hong Kong.

WHY AN INTERNATIONAL CLERKSHIP?

I applied for an international clerkship in Hong

Kong because I thought that it would provide

an invaluable opportunity to gain experience

in a truly global Baker & McKenzie offi ce.

With Australian fi rms operating in China, and

Chinese fi rms investing in Australia, I was of

the opinion that a heightened awareness of,

and experience in, the Chinese culture could

only be a useful asset to possess. I hoped to

gain insights into the legal systems of different

jurisdictions, in particular the regulation of cor-

porations and commerce, believing that this

would deepen my understanding of Australian

law, the possible challenges and barriers to

entry into markets, and the conduct of interna-

tional trade. I am proud to say that I achieved

all of this, and more, during my clerkship in

the Hong Kong offi ce.

HONG KONG EXPERIENCE

I undertook two rotations in the four-week pe-

riod of the international clerkship, commenc-

ing in the Commercial and Securities Group,

working almost exclusively on real estate in-

vestment fund (REITs) matters. Despite REITs

being a new area to me, I was able to assist

with preparing offering circulars, drafting

agreements and deeds, undertaking research

and providing advice to clients.

I rotated into the Finance Practice Group for

the latter half of my stay, where I undertook

a variety of work such as drafting resolutions

and documentation for loans, providing legal

opinions on enforceability and governing law,

and writing comparative memorandums.

I was excited to discover that the global nature

of Baker & McKenzie was even more palpa-

ble in Hong Kong, with all of the matters that

I worked on involving a cross-border party,

being it a party in China, Britain, Singapore,

the British Virgin Islands or even Ireland. As

well as this, Hong Kong is a cultural hub, with

lawyers from all over the world choosing to

work there for the cutting edge work that such

a large and open fi nancial centre in Asia can

provide.

Outside of work, while I was in Hong Kong I

was encouraged to, and took, great advantage

of the opportunity to explore a new city and

culture: I saw the sights (such as the tallest

outdoor, seated bronze Buddha and numer-

ous temples), tasted new foods (like snake)

and completed such activities as going for a

ride on a junk (a traditional fi shing vessel),

Hawaiian dancing (yes, in Hong Kong!) and

visiting Macau.

LOOKING FORWARD

My experiences leading up to and during my

international clerkship confi rmed that Baker &

McKenzie is a truly global law fi rm – not just

because it has 70 offi ces in 42 countries – but

in the cross-border work that is performed, the

mix of staff and its outlook on clients’ matters.

I am sure that I will continue to appreciate this

throughout my career at Baker & McKenzie,

and am excited that I might yet be able to take

advantage of further opportunities to work in

offi ces in other jurisdictions.

The international clerkship program has al-

lowed me to establish contacts and relation-

ships with lawyers in the Hong Kong offi ce,

which I believe will be mutually useful in times

to come.

NEXT STOP…HONG KONG

MY INTERNATIONAL CLERKSHIP EXPERIENCE AT BAKER & MCKENZIEMICHELLE SIEKIERKA

Page 26: 2012 Clerkship Guide

Want the inside scoop on landing a role at Clayton Utz?Find it on Facebook! www.facebook.com/ClaytonUtzCareers

Page 27: 2012 Clerkship Guide

27LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CLAYTON UTZ FIRM PROFILE

FIRM BACKGROUND

Clayton Utz is one of Australia’s most successful and dynamic com-

mercial law fi rms, with over 200 partners and 1700 employees working

across seven offi ces in Australia and Asia.

We have a reputation in the market for our innovative approach to com-

plex transactions and litigation, and for our exceptional client service.

Our focus is on building our capability in key and evolving practice areas

and attracting the best lawyers in the market to work with us.

Clayton Utz is a trusted legal adviser to a diverse private and govern-

ment sector client base operating in a range of industry sectors.

AREAS OF LEGAL PRACTICE

Our four core departments – Corporate, Litigation/Dispute Resolu-

tion, Banking and Financial Services and Property, Environment and

Construction – house a diverse and comprehensive range of practice

groups, each comprising recognised and award-winning experts in their

respective areas of law.

FIRM CULTURE

At Clayton Utz, you will experience a work environment in which indi-

viduality is embraced and innovation is actively encouraged.

Progressive and dynamic, Clayton Utz is very much its own fi rm, where

people are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Our people

come from a diverse range of backgrounds and bring with them differ-

ent experiences, which is part of what makes Clayton Utz an exciting

place to work.

PRO BONO AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Clayton Utz is a leader of Australian law fi rms in Pro Bono practice and

Social Responsibility. These are important parts of who we are as a fi rm.

OUR PRO BONO PRACTICE

Pro bono is an integral part of legal practice at Clayton Utz. Every mem-

ber of our legal team, at all levels of seniority, in every offi ce and in every

department of the fi rm is involved in our Pro Bono practice.

Since 1997, we have provided more than 350,000 hours of pro bono

legal assistance to disadvantaged people and to the non-profi t organisa-

tions which support them.

OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMS

Our Community Involvement program connects our people, resources,

skills and enthusiasm through volunteer work and in-kind support to

over 20 Community Partners across our offi ces.

We also provide strategic fi nancial support to charities through the Clay-

ton Utz Foundation. Since its establishment in 2003, the Clayton Utz

Foundation has made around 400 grants totalling almost $5 million.

In March 2010 we took the step of strengthening our commitment to

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by developing a Reconcilia-

tion Action Plan which formalises our commitment to reducing inequal-

ity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and which

contains targets that we hold ourselves to meeting.

Our Footprints program commits Clayton Utz to environmentally friendly

initiatives and practices, including quantifying and auditing our emis-

sions on an annual basis, and embedding sustainability into our pro-

curement policies. In 2011 we became a foundation member of the

Australian Legal Sector Alliance to promote sustainable environmental

practices across the profession.

AREAS OF LAW

Banking and Finance

Capital Markets and Securities

Competition

Construction and Major Projects

Corporate / M&A

Energy and Resources

Environment and Planning

Governance and Compliance

Insurance and Risk

Intellectual Property

International Arbitration

International Trade

Legal Technology Services

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Native Title

Private Equity

Product Liability

Real Estate

Restructuring and Insolvency

Taxation

Telecommunications,

Media and Technology

Workplace Relations,

Employment and Safety

INDUSTRIES

Advertising and Marketing

Agribusiness

Banking and Finance

Climate Change

Constructions and Major Projects

Energy and Resources

Government Services

Healthcare Life Sciences

Leisure and Entertainment

Private Equity

Real Estate Markets

Telecommunications,

Media and Technology

Transport and Logistics

Water

Page 28: 2012 Clerkship Guide

28 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CLAYTON UTZFIRM PROFILE

ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS

OUR PEOPLE

People are our competitive edge and Clayton Utz partners are known

for being market leaders in their areas of specialisation. The fi rm and

our partners are consistently recognised in respected international le-

gal directories such as Asia Pacifi c Legal 500, Chambers Global and

IFLR1000. However, we know that awards are only part of the story.

Delivering the best possible results for our clients requires technical

expertise, resources, commitment and understanding their defi nition of

a superb outcome.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Our people come from a wide range of backgrounds, skills, interests

and competencies. We are looking for people who can contribute new

ideas and who take a creative approach to solving problems.

We also look for individuals who are personable, practical, commercially

savvy and fl exible. Our lawyers do complex and innovative legal work, so

it’s important that our employees are intelligent and motivated individu-

als who aren’t afraid of a challenge.

WHAT WE OFFER

Working within a friendly, dynamic and highly collaborative team at

Clayton Utz, our lawyers benefi t from the extensive experience and re-

sources of our national fi rm, while making a meaningful contribution to

some of the most challenging cases at the front lines of business and

the law.

Partners and senior lawyers are readily accessible to offer advice or as-

sistance. Our lawyers are encouraged to set goals and test themselves,

knowing that support is there if needed.

Clayton Utz offers a vibrant and supportive work environment. We rec-

ognise the need for balance and provide a range of fl exible work options,

health and wellbeing initiatives, as well as sporting and social activities.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

We can offer you a great start and the opportunity to build an excellent

legal career at Clayton Utz.

We give our graduates a comprehensive orientation program and the

support of a buddy to help them grow and develop in the role. From

the outset, entry-level solicitors are part of our team and are involved in

real legal work. Because you will be working closely with partners and

solicitors who are recognised as leaders in their fi elds, the Clayton Utz

Graduate Program provides a solid basis for future success.

ROTATIONS

Graduates will have the opportunity to gain experience by rotating

through our diverse practice areas. Our graduates experience both the

contentious and non-contentious areas of law. To help you with your

preferences and rotation areas, our People and Development team will

work closely with you. At the end of each rotation, you and your super-

vising partner will review your performance.

CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

We offer a unique Clerkship Program that is both challenging and com-

prehensive. We provide an environment which will encourage you to

extend yourself and expand your knowledge. The Clerkship Program

is carefully planned and designed to ensure that you gain experience

in a wide range of areas of law and on real client matters. Your work at

Clayton Utz will allow you to put into practice the knowledge and skills

you have acquired at university.

Under the supervision of a partner and with the help of a buddy who will

be there to provide ongoing support and guidance, you will experience

the offi ce environment and culture at Clayton Utz fi rst hand. Part of the

Clayton Utz experience is being involved in the kind of client services we

provide. You will have the opportunity to work with our clients, including

some of Australia’s biggest companies.

LEGAL TRAINING

DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER

We believe learning and development are critical to helping our people

achieve in their careers and to reach their full potential.

We provide a range of tailored and comprehensive professional develop-

ment programs suited to the individual needs of each employee through

our national training program Learning@Clayton Utz.

WE SUPPORT YOUR LEARNING WITH:

• intensive orientation programs

at the beginning of the

clerkship period and graduate

program;

• on-the-job guidance and

support from peers and senior

lawyers;

• regular Continuing Legal Edu-

cation sessions led by special-

ists sharing their knowledge

and experience;

• tuition assistance for

further study; and

• external courses and seminars

relevant to your professional

and personal development.

Page 29: 2012 Clerkship Guide

29LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CLAYTON UTZ SUMMER CLERK PROFILE

WHAT ONE WORD BEST DESCRIBES

YOUR CLERKSHIP? WHY?

Affi rming. For me, the clerkship was one of

those experiences where you realise you made

it. My hard work throughout university was af-

fi rmed in my getting a spot. My choice to study

law was affi rmed by how much I enjoyed actu-

ally practising the law. Most importantly, my

decision to work at Clayton Utz was affi rmed

by the wonderful people I worked with – from

summer clerks and lawyers to partners.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE

EXPERIENCE WITH CLAYTON UTZ?

My most memorable experience with Clayton

Utz is defi nitely working in Hong Kong. I was

fortunate enough to be sent to the Hong Kong

offi ce on a two week secondment. I had an

absolute blast! I spent my days working with

the construction team, not only learning

about legal practice in Hong Kong but also

developing an understanding of cross-cultural

business relations. During the nights, I got to

explore the city!

WHAT WAS THE MOST STRESSFUL

EXPERIENCE DURING YOUR CLERKSHIP?

The most stressful experience for me was

learning how to account for my time. I was ter-

rifi ed by the thought of having to calculate the

time spent on each task and charge it to the

correct matter! Fortunately, we received lots of

training and I got the hang of it in the end.

HAS YOUR CLERKSHIP CHANGED YOUR

VIEWS ON A CAREER IN LAW?

Defi nitely not. If anything, my clerkship expe-

rience has made me feel stronger about my

decision to pursue a career in law.

WHY SHOULD CLAYTON UTZ BE AN

APPLICANT’S FIRST PREFERENCE?

Clayton Utz should be your fi rst preference

because a fi rm is only as good as the people

that work there - and the people here are

great! They’re friendly, well-balanced and nor-

mal. But, the lawyers and partners also have

incredible legal minds. On top of that, they are

always ready and willing to help you learn.

The other drawcard is the offi ce building.

It may seem indulgent to list this as one of

the reasons Clayton Utz should be your fi rst

preference, but it is visual proof that Clayton

Utz takes care of its own. The building is one

of the most beautiful corporate spaces I have

ever seen. It’s like entering a contemporary

museum twenty light years into the future.

When you’re working bathed in natural light,

it’s hard not to love your job!

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU

HAVE FOR FUTURE CLERKS?

The fi rst thing I would recommend is that you

take each person’s clerkship advice with a

grain of salt. The most important thing is that

the fi rms get a feel for who you are and there’s

no point worrying that you’re not a sporting

hero or that you haven’t joined any on-campus

clubs!

That leads into my next bit of advice. You’ll

be told many times in the next few months

to ‘just be yourself’. It sounds cliché, but it’s

absolutely true. The interview process is not

about trying to be ‘what the fi rm wants’. The

clerkship opportunity is about you too - and

you need to fi nd your fi t!

NOW FOR SOME ON-THE-JOB TIPS.

Firstly, remember that you’re here as a sum-

mer clerk to hone those legal skills of yours

and the people you work with have a vast

amount of experience. So be open to criticism

and be willing to learn.

Secondly, be open to any practice group. I

thought I knew beyond any doubt that I wanted

to be a media lawyer. But, during my clerkship

I was presently surprised by my experience in

Real Estate and discovered I absolutely love it!

SUMMER CLERKEXPERIENCESTEPHANIE-KATEBRATTON

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30 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CLAYTON UTZSUMMER CLERK PROFILE

WHAT ONE WORD BEST DESCRIBES

YOUR CLERKSHIP? WHY?

Insightful. The clerkship process at Clayton

Utz really opened my eyes at what a career in

law entailed. It wasn’t all work and no play, but

rather a mix of interesting and thought provok-

ing work and a healthy dose of sports, social

activities and all round fun.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE

EXPERIENCE WITH CLAYTON UTZ?

My most memorable experience at CU was

defi nitely winning the interfi rm sports com-

petition. While the work was interesting it was

great to have a side activity that allowed you

to take your mind of things and interact with

your colleagues in a completely different en-

vironment. One of the best parts about it was

meeting like-minded people from other fi rm

and coming up with your best friendly com-

petitive jeer.

WHAT WAS THE MOST STRESSFUL

EXPERIENCE DURING YOUR

CLERKSHIP?

One of the most stressful parts of doing a

clerkship in my opinion was meeting partner

expectation. I think there are a lot of ques-

tions in the back of your mind that nag at you;

should I have read over that contract one more

time? Was my response detailed enough? Was

my email too informal? Should I have brought

the partner a cupcake to soften the blow of

not fi nding an answer? I think the stress stems

from the knowledge that the partners will in-

evitably decide whether you remain with the

fi rm or not. It didn’t take me long however, to

realise that the partners were anything but the

big scary monsters I had once thought. They

were friendly and understanding of the fact

that as clerks we pretty much knew nothing.

HAS YOUR CLERKSHIP CHANGED YOUR

VIEWS ON A CAREER IN LAW?

Working as a seasonal clerk has made me re-

alise that the law isn’t as cut dry as you would

think. There are often a number of solutions

to a problem and a number of commercial

considerations to take into account. After my

clerkship I realised that your legal work was

often shaped by commercial and economic

factors. A legal solution 10 years ago might

not be the same solution now in light of recent

economic times.

WHY SHOULD CLAYTON UTZ BE AN

APPLICANT’S FIRST PREFERENCE?

Clayton Utz should be an applicant’s fi rst pref-

erence because it can provide a clerk with the

type of experience only a top tier fi rm can, with

clients ranging from large multinational corpo-

rations, banks, government organisations and

projects and other corporate heavy weights.

The training given to you by the fi rm is sec-

ond to none and ongoing, ensuring you are

always in the know. What makes CU special

is its industry leading Pro Bono department

with a permanent full time partner and team

dedicated to helping the people who can’t

help themselves.

Other than work, CU organises a range of so-

cial and sporting activities which gives you that

much desired balance.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR

FUTURE CLERKS?

Go into the clerkship process with a positive

and open attitude ready to give everything a

shot at least once.

SUMMERCLERKSHIPEXPERIENCEMARK CHAHINE

Page 31: 2012 Clerkship Guide
Page 32: 2012 Clerkship Guide

AT CORRS, WE’RE DEVELOPING LAWYERS WHO DELIVER REAL IMPACT IN A NEW BUSINESS WORLD. TO SEE HOW VISIT CORRS.COM.AU/GRADUATES

WHAT MAKES A LAWYER WORLD CLASS?

Page 33: 2012 Clerkship Guide

33LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH FIRM PROFILE

ABOUT CORRS

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is one of Australia’s largest law fi rms. We

have around 1,000 people throughout Australia, but our vision is not

just about size. Our vision is about being the leading law fi rm in target

industries that are driving Australian and international business. In-

dustries like energy and resources, fi nancial services, communications

and media, property, infrastructure and construction, and Government.

It’s about delivering a new level of legal service that bridges the gap

between legal advice and business challenges to create success for our

clients. And it’s about building an inspiring workplace where our people

are engaged and empowered to make this happen.

Corrs has been an ALB Employer of Choice for three successive years.

We’ve made BRW’s list of 50 Great Places to Work in Australia and

are the only large national law fi rm to be awarded ALB Gold Employer

of Choice 2011. We’ve also earned an EOWA Employer of Choice for

Women citation for fi ve successive years.

Our goal is to always create an inspiring workplace and ensure people

who work at Corrs have the opportunity to build successful careers

through undertaking challenging and interesting work in a friendly and

supportive environment. This objective underpins everything we do at

Corrs. We engage staff and give them the recognition, rewards and

support to make this happen.

An inspiring workplace where people can build rewarding careers,

means investing in our people as well as recognising and rewarding

excellence. We do this through a range of innovative people initiatives

over and above our standard processes.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Corrs operates within three main operating divisions:

• Corporate and Finance (Taxation, Corporate Advisory, Banking and

Finance)

• Property and Development (Construction, Planning, Environment and

Local Government, Property and Infrastructure)

• Litigation and Workplace Relations (Litigation, Workplace Relations,

Intellectual Property, Technology and Competition)

CONTACT

Sara Benvenuti

Human Resources Adviser

[email protected]

(02) 9210 6164

OFFICE LOCATION

Level 32

Governor Phillip Tower

1 Farrer Place

Sydney NSW 2000

With an integrated network of offi ces throughout Australia (Melbourne,

Sydney, Brisbane and Perth), Corrs acts for many of Australia’s largest

companies and is regularly involved in major transactions of national

and international signifi cance.

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

Achieving our goals as a world class law fi rm requires people with vi-

sion, ambition, courage and commitment. We have a workplace that

is engaging and truly inspiring, and what we consider to be the most

innovative, progressive and supportive people development program in

the industry.

Our extensive in-house learning and development program will keep

your professional skills and technical knowledge up to date. We have a

Legal Excellence program, practice group training sessions and career

path programs tailored to each level of lawyer. We provide generous

support for further undergraduate and postgraduate study. The Corrs

Scholarship for Individual Excellence program also gives high perform-

ing employees the opportunity to attend short training courses at world

class institutions such as Harvard, Columbia and INSEAD.

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34 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTHFIRM PROFILE

GIVING BACK AND PRO BONO

At Corrs, we recognise the importance of contributing to our community

and facilitating access to justice. We feel that it is important to ensure

legal services are available to everyone including those who cannot pay,

those who are disenfranchised and to those who have genuine legal

issues of a public interest nature that need to be pursued.

Corrs provides pro bono legal advice to charities, non-profi t organisa-

tions and, when the need arises, to individuals. Our pro bono activities

are diverse. Nationally, we are the principal legal partner for the United

Nations Refugee Agency in Australia (UNHCR), and do commercial

legal work for other charitable and not-for-profi t organisations includ-

ing the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), Australian Children’s Trust,

Consumer Action Law Centre, Inspire Foundation, Oxfam, Painaustralia,

SecondBite and the RSPCA, among others.

We have established legal clinics in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

This work was recognised when we received the Victorian Law Founda-

tion Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award.

HOW DOES THE FIRM ENCOURAGE A WORK/LIFE BALANCE?

We believe in fostering a work environment that promotes fl exibility and

diversity. It’s an essential part of our strategy – because our differences

help us to think differently.

At Corrs we want the best people, full stop. As a law fi rm seeking com-

petitive advantage in the global economy, diversity is the reality of our

environment and we are making it our strength. Corrs aims to provide

a workplace that champions differences to ensure a richer and more

engaging environment that encourages and retains talented people. We

provide fl exible working arrangements to support our people as their

needs change throughout their lives and careers. We have a dedicated

Diversity Manager, we have set ourselves goals and we’ve put in place

the plan to achieve these.

OUTSIDE OF WORK, WHAT DOES

THE FIRM OFFER ITS EMPLOYEES?

It’s not all about work! At Corrs we encourage staff to be socially ac-

tive and participate in social and sporting events as well as learning &

development activities.

Some of our activities include our Mind, Body & Soul series, touch foot-

ball, cricket day, Friday night drinks, family days, trivia nights, End of

Financial Year party and Christmas Party. Corrs also provides fl exible

work arrangements, paid study leave, salary sacrifi cing and opportuni-

ties to give back to the community.

SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

The Corrs Seasonal Clerkship Program is a great opportunity for you to

experience the people, clients, work and culture that differentiates Corrs

from other law fi rms.

As part of the Program, you’ll have the opportunity to work with some

of Australia’s leading lawyers on high-profi le work for major Australian

and international clients across all industries. You’ll soon discover the

standards of quality and commitment to clients required to succeed at

this level.

You’ll be exposed to a broad range of interesting matters, plus you’ll

perform tasks such as conducting research, reviewing documents,

presenting documents, attending client meetings, mediations and set-

tlements. It’s the perfect way to discover the area of law that excites

you most.

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35LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH FIRM PROFILE

The Program involves a unique rotation system, whereby you will partici-

pate in four two-week rotations, which gives you the opportunity to work

across the whole fi rm. There are also structured learning opportunities

that include a comprehensive orientation program, and presentations

on relevant legal, business and workplace issues.

As a clerk, you will be closely supervised by allocated Clerk Co-ordina-

tors; who are Senior Associates at the fi rm. You will also have a mentor;

a junior lawyer who is there to answer any questions you may have

about the fi rm, and who can settle you in and provide you with an infor-

mal level of support and guidance during your time at Corrs.

APPLYING FOR CORRS CLERKSHIP

All applications for Seasonal Clerk positions should be made via: www.

corrs.com.au/careers

All application dates are in accordance with the 2012 NSW Legal

Graduate Employment and Summer Clerkship Guidelines.

Applications for 2012 seasonal clerk positions open on Thursday, 13

June 2012 and close at 5.00pm AEST on Friday, 13 July 2012.

WHAT DOES THE FIRM LOOK FOR IN A CLERK?

Corrs looks for intelligent people. But being intelligent and being able

to provide intelligent legal solutions are not always the same thing. We

want individuals with common sense and an instinctive mind for busi-

ness, outstanding communicators who can defi ne the essence of any

issue in a simple way. We also want clerks who are mature enough to

know they don’t yet have all the answers.

LAUNCH GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Your time as graduate at Corrs starts with the Graduate Academy. This

is an off-site training program attended by all Corrs graduates nation-

ally that gives you an opportunity to get to know Corrs and your fellow

graduates better. It is also a great foundation for your Sydney offi ce

orientation that follows immediately – then you are into the work.

We are committed to developing world class lawyers. Our new Gradu-

ate Development Program, Launch, lays this foundation by providing

rich, on the job training with a greater opportunity to work directly with

partners and senior lawyers; structured learning; mentoring; and regular

feedback.

The new Launch program is specifi cally designed to expose you to the

experience, skills and expertise you need to become an outstanding,

highly-skilled practitioner.

Supervised by partners, you will complete three six month rotations

through divisions covering a variety of practice areas including corpo-

rate advisory, banking and fi nance; litigation and workplace relations;

intellectual property and tax; property, infrastructure, construction,

planning, environment, and government. You will get the opportunity to

work with a greater number of partners and senior lawyers.

You will be allocated a Graduate Mentor who will provide you with day-

today guidance, including clarifying what is expected of you, helping

you build your skills and develop your career, You will also have a junior

lawyer as your buddy, who can help you settle into the fi rm.

Your development is overseen by a dedicated Graduate Development

Manager who works with Division Leaders, partners, graduate mentors

and human resources, to provide you with guidance, ensuring your suc-

cess.

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36 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTHSUMMER CLERK PROFILE

WHY CORRS?

Finally, after endless applications, cocktail

nights and interviews, the summer had started

and so had my clerkship at Corrs.

There are many reasons why I chose Corrs.

Undoubtedly the fi rm has a strong national

presence. This has given me the opportunity

to learn from and work alongside leaders in

the profession. I was also attracted to Corrs

because their rotation system was different to

other fi rms - they offer four two-week rotations.

Even though I was equipped with plenty of

information about each practice group, there

was no pressure to make any choices. With

the opportunity to rotate through each practice

group, I am now even considering areas of law

I may not have considered before (did some-

one say Tax?). Most importantly, I chose Corrs

for their people. Everyone, from graduates to

partners were genuinely friendly and eager to

answer any and all of my questions.

TYPE OF WORK

Each rotation was a new and different expe-

rience with a multitude of tasks. The tasks

involved going to court, compiling briefs to

counsel, research and proofreading contracts,

just to name a few. Regardless of the task, we

were provided with a good balance of guid-

ance and independence.

One of the most rewarding experiences of

the clerkship was my involvement in an Ad-

judication Response for a construction matter.

Expecting that the extent of my role would be

researching areas of equity and contract law,

I was taken by surprise when I was asked to

also draft part of the submissions. While this

was overwhelming, I am grateful to have been

given such a worthwhile task!

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

It was great to see Corrs actively engaging

its employees in pro bono work. Summer

clerks were given various opportunities to be

involved, which was very important to me as

I have a strong interest in community legal

work. As part of a pro bono project, the clerks

compiled a social media guide for the Inspire

Foundation. Every clerk was also given the

opportunity to attend a legal centre with one

of the graduates, dealing with matters vastly

different from those in the corporate law en-

vironment.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

It is evident that the people at Corrs want to

help you grow as a professional. Learning and

Development started from Day 1 at Orienta-

tion. During the clerkship there were numer-

ous training sessions to develop our research,

writing and communication skills. We also had

sessions with partners from different practice

groups to explain their role and the type of

work they do. Each clerk was also allocated a

buddy who would willingly pass on their pearls

of wisdom.

SOCIAL

Amongst the research tasks, court visits and

training, numerous social activities were

scheduled into our clerkship program – the

Christmas party (or in some cases parties),

shopping nights, tours, bake sale, intra-fi rm

touch football and attending other fi rms’ social

events.

In addition, there were plenty of events to

meet clerks from other fi rms. With the inter-

fi rm sporting competition on Monday nights,

we tested our skills at soccer, touch football,

volleyball and netball. There were also drinks

events, a TV-themed trivia night and a cruise.

Corrs is a great place to do a summer clerkship

and start your career. All my expectations were

met and exceeded. Best of all I was able to

share the clerkship experience with my fellow

clerks – people I am truly grateful to have met!

2011/12SUMMER CLERKSHEETALBALAKRISHNAN

Page 37: 2012 Clerkship Guide

37LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

DIBBS BARKER FIRM PROFILE

SUMMER CLERKSHIPS

Getting a taste for what life is like working inside a law fi rm before you

complete your studies is important to help you make the right choices

about the sort of fi rm you would like to work in and which practice area

you are best suited to. To help you get the most information you can,

DibbsBarker runs a Summer Clerkship program for Law Students in

their penultimate year of studies.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The DibbsBarker Summer Clerkship program involves working full-

time for approximately three months over the summer holidays. You

will be fully immersed in life inside a law fi rm including the day-to-day

work activities and also the social and sporting opportunities. You will

be assigned a supervisor and a buddy in each division. The supervisor

will be a senior Lawyer who will be responsible for delegating work to

you and ensuring that you are exposed to the full gamut of tasks in

that practice area. The buddy will be a more junior Lawyer who can

answer all your questions and be a friendly face. We will try and ensure

that you get a real fl avour for what is involved in day to day practice,

including attending court, meeting with clients and undertaking legal

research. The idea is to equip you with the information you need to

decide which areas of practice interest you most and whether you

could see yourself fi tting into the fi rm.

At the end of the clerkship we aim to offer our summer clerks part-time

paralegal positions in their last year of study. To date, many of our Grad-

uate Lawyers have been recruited from our Summer Clerk program.

OUR ROTATION PROGRAM

To ensure that you are exposed to a variety of practice areas within

the fi rm, you will undertake three rotations across the various divisions.

We encourage our clerks to think about whether there are particular

practice areas they are interested in and we try and accommodate those

interests as much as possible. We also recommend that our clerks are

exposed to a combination of both litigious and non-litigious groups, to

really get a feel for the differences between the two.

It is important to remember that studying a subject at University and

working in that area in practice can be very different! Sometimes aca-

demically interesting subjects are not quite as interesting in practice

and sometimes subjects that seemed a little dull at University can actu-

ally be very rewarding in practice. The important thing is to remember to

keep an open mind and experience as many different areas as possible

to enable you to make a really informed choice.

WHO WE LOOK FOR

Deciding who to interview from the hundreds of excellent applications

is no easy task and unfortunately we don’t have the manpower to meet

everyone!

At the CV stage, we are looking for a well structured CV that displays a

combination of academic excellence and leadership and people skills.

Being technically brilliant at the law is a defi nite asset but excellent

communication and people skills are equally as important. At the end

of the day, a career in the law involves dealing with a diverse range of

people and communicating sometimes technical legal information into

plain language. Being able to get along well with both colleagues and

clients is also very important.

Once you reach the interview stage, we will be looking to assess how

you carry yourself and how you interact with others. Your enthusiasm

and energy are also highly regarded, so make sure they shine through!

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

LIBBY TOOHEY

People & Development consultant

TELEPHONE

(02) 8233 9525

EMAIL

careers@ dibbsbarker.com

WEB

www.dibbsbarker.com

Page 38: 2012 Clerkship Guide

EXPERIENCE THE INTERNATIONAL

FLAVOUR OF OUR BUSINESS

DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities.

For further information, please refer to www.dlapiper.com Copyright © 2012 DLA Piper. All rights reserved. AZP11| DLA465 | 0112

Join a law firm that is truly going places

Take the first step to a global career and visit

www.dlapipergraduates.com.au to learn more.

With 4,200 lawyers in 76 offices and 30 countries around the world,

working at DLA Piper means opportunities to work with world class

companies on major projects both here and overseas. You’ll also

benefit from cutting-edge learning and development programs,

and work alongside some of the best legal minds around.

Page 39: 2012 Clerkship Guide

39LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

DLA PIPER FIRM PROFILE

DLA Piper is the truly local, truly global law fi rm where everything mat-

ters.

Joining DLA Piper means not only joining an experienced local team,

but also being part of a global network of 4,200 lawyers in 77 offi ces and

31 countries around the world.

Globally, our lawyers provide clients with trusted local knowledge as well

as seamless multi-jurisdictional legal capabilities across a full range of

critical services and sectors.

In Asia Pacifi c we have offi ces in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Canberra,

Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

In Australia, our lawyers advise approximately a third of ASX 100 com-

panies or their subsidiaries and all levels of government as well as inter-

national clients looking to enter the Australian market.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Commercial contracts; Construction; Corporate; Finance; Intellectual

property; International trade; Litigation; Projects and infrastructure; Real

estate; Regulatory and government affairs; Restructuring; Tax; Technol-

ogy and media; Workplace relations, employment and safety.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

DLA Piper is a fi rm with worldwide opportunities. A career with us

means being an integral part of an exciting global team. We support

our people’s desire to experience working life in other parts of the world

through the global DLA Piper network - giving them opportunities to

work on multi-jurisdictional, international matters with quality clients

and colleagues around the world. In recent years we have placed law-

yers in DLA Piper offi ces in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Washing-

ton, Chicago and Dubai. Currently we have three Australian graduates

undertaking their third rotation in Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo. We

also host international trainees from the UK and Asia.

OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY

Our ‘everything matters’ approach applies not only to how we sup-

port our clients but also to the communities in which we operate. Our

community investment program achieves meaningful community en-

gagement via a broad array of initiatives, focussed on disadvantaged

children, poverty, and people living with disabilities.

Last year our lawyers undertook more than 190,000 hours of pro bono

legal work globally, making us one of the largest providers of pro bono

legal services in the world.

SYDNEY SUMMER CLERK PROGRAM

During our structured eight week rotation program, Summer Clerks are

provided with the opportunity to work on real legal matters alongside

our partners and staff in two areas of the fi rm. On-the-job training and

practical experience may include tasks such as undertaking complex

legal research, attending client meetings, going to court, drafting ad-

vices and other legal memoranda, assisting with strategy plans - and

more. Weekly ‘Lunch & Learn’ sessions provide an opportunity to speak

with partners and gain a real insight into what is involved in each of

our practice group areas. Both fi rm social events and those held with

Summer Clerks from other fi rms help facilitate networking amongst your

colleagues and broader peer group. All of this is supported by regular

feedback to help you grow and develop so you can advance your career

beyond your clerkship. Below is what two recent Summer Clerks had to

say about their experience.

THE SUMMER CLERK EXPERIENCE

“For me it was extremely important that I was exposed to as many as-

pects of working in a commercial law fi rm as possible during my clerk-

ship. My experience as a summer clerk at DLA Piper provided just that.

From the start of my fi rst rotation in Intellectual Property and Technology

Litigation group I was helping draft advices on personal property securi-

ties legislation, researching interesting pockets of law regarding online

defamation, sitting in on client meetings and court hearings, and at

all times reporting directly to partners. In my second rotation with the

Finance and Projects group I had greater exposure to the transactional

side of commercial law reviewing contracts for animal charities, helping

draft tenders for legal work with a value of $200,000+, and prepar-

ing a research paper on the use of “best endeavours” in commercial

contracts.

In summary, the experience has provided me with a comprehensive

cross section of life in a commercial fi rm that has sparked an even

greater interest in a career in law. Combined with social activities, sports

and a cooking class with the other summer clerks, I was afforded the

opportunity to relax and meet new people. I also managed to fi t in a

game of golf with the Projects team partner on a Friday afternoon. I lost

(deliberately).”

WILLIAM DOYLE, 2011/2012 SYDNEY SUMMER CLERK

(UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY)

Page 40: 2012 Clerkship Guide

40 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

DLA PIPERFIRM PROFILE

“After researching DLA Piper and attending the initial interviews and

cocktail evening, there were numerous things that stood out about the

fi rm. Not only is it the world’s largest global commercial law fi rm, that

provides you with a wealth of opportunities to work both locally and

internationally, but it is also a fi rm that places a strong focus on com-

munity values through its pro bono commitments. The most striking

aspect however, was DLA Piper’s strong focus on individuals within the

fi rm. From the very beginning, it was clear that DLA Piper is a fi rm that

truly acknowledges that (surprise, surprise) lawyers have a life, and that

allowing them to balance all aspects such as social, family, and health

is key to having happy employees who turn over high quality work, and

maintain strong relationships with each other as well as with clients.

The summer clerkship provides students with an invaluable opportunity

to get a taste of what it is like to work in the legal fi eld, explore different

areas of law, and get a head start in employment opportunities in the

area of commercial law. My fi rst rotation was in Corporate (Mergers and

Acquisitions) and my second rotation was in Intellectual Property and

Technology (IPT). Starting the fi rst rotation was a little nerve-racking

for all of us, however, you are given all the training you need to settle

in nicely and the HR Team and the Corporate group were so incredibly

supportive. In this rotation I did everything from effecting share transfers,

to sitting in on conferences with directors in Sweden, to doing lengthy

research tasks. During my rotation in IPT, I wrote advices on copyright,

trade mark, and franchising issues, attended CLEs and helped work on

matters for fi lm corporations located in Paris.

Working at DLA Piper, in any team, means you will be exposed to a

diverse range of work, which is interesting, challenging and relevant to

students who are approaching graduation. And it doesn’t stop there!

Every week you have a “lunch and learn” session - which means you

get free lunch (bonus), you get to re-group with the other clerks, and

learn from a range of partners, senior associates, and solicitors at the

fi rm about every area of law that you can work in at DLA Piper. These

sessions are enlightening, making you realise just how many different

opportunities are available, opening your mind to new possibilities, and

informing you about what you are likely to experience when working in

that team - which ultimately gives you a greater sense of direction and

choice for your career.

DLA Piper looks for students who are well-rounded, are able to balance

their various interests, and want to work hard and achieve results. If

you are a friendly, enthusiastic, adaptable, open-minded individual who

wants to gain an invaluable experience working at a large global law

fi rm, then DLA Piper is for you.”

ANNE BIHANCOV, 2011/2012 SYDNEY SUMMER CLERK

(UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY)

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Every graduate’s career journey will be different, but our Graduate Pro-

fessional Success (GPS) program has been developed to help gradu-

ates navigate their career. This includes a rotation program allowing

graduates to experience up to three different practice areas of the fi rm;

a dedicated supervisor and buddy for each rotation and on-the-job

training from partners, senior lawyers and other peers. A tailored learn-

ing and development program complements on-the-job learning, rang-

ing from non-technical skill development and graduate CLE program to

mentoring. Regular feedback is also provided to help you to grow and

develop, including both informal and formal performance and develop-

ment reviews.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

At DLA Piper Australia we are seeking people from a diverse range of

backgrounds who are as engaged and dedicated as they are inventive,

balanced and friendly. We value intellectual ability, curiosity, commit-

ment, ambition, commercial and client awareness, smart thinking, team

skills and leadership potential, communications skills and experiences

outside of academic life.

HOW TO APPLY: SYDNEY SUMMER

CLERK PROGRAM 2012/2013

Applications open 13 June 2012 and close 13 July 2012 at 5.00pm.

Applications must be submitted online via our job board (www.dlapiper-

graduates.com.au) and should include a covering letter, your current CV

and your academic transcript.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

For more information regarding our recruitment programs,

please contact:

KRISTIE BARTON

HR Consultant

TELEPHONE

+61 2 9286 8585

EMAIL

[email protected]

VISIT US AT

www.dlapipergraduates.com.au

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

http://twitter.com/#!/DLAP_CareersAus

Page 41: 2012 Clerkship Guide

LIKE A TRAPEZE ARTIST, I CAN PUSH BEYOND MY COMFORT ZONE, KNOWING THERE’S A SAFETY NET.

Senior AssociateCorporate, Sydney

THERE’S MORE TO USVisit our Careers pages atwww.freehills.com/careers/grad

Page 42: 2012 Clerkship Guide

42 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

FREEHILLSFIRM PROFILE

ABOUT US

Freehills is one of the leading commercial law fi rms in the Asia-Pacifi c

region. We have offi ces in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sin-

gapore, and associated offi ces in Jakarta, Beijing, Shanghai, Hanoi and

Ho Chi Minh City. Nationally Freehills employs approximately 1900 staff,

including around 200 partners and 800 legal staff.

We are proud to act for a majority of Australia’s top 100 companies,

some of whom have been clients of the fi rm for much of our 160-year

history.

Our summer clerks and graduates have told us that they value the fi rm’s

down-to-earth style, the unparalleled training and development, the

chance to work with inspiring clients and some of the best legal minds

in the country, and the ability to explore the many different directions

their career can take them. Time and again though, they tell us it’s about

the people: real, warm, smart and interesting people who will welcome,

support and challenge you. With us you can be yourself.

If you’re looking for the right place to start your legal career, talk to

Freehills.

OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY

At Freehills, we believe that a law fi rm can be a dynamic force for

change. As well as our longstanding pro bono legal practice, we have a

strong community program. The Freehills Foundation combines these

two programs, with an overall mission of increasing access to justice

and opportunity. Each year we assist more than 1000 clients on a pro

bono basis. All Freehills lawyers are encouraged to do pro bono work

and all pro bono work is billable. Our community program includes vol-

unteering, workplace giving and fundraising. Volunteering is a part of

Freehills culture; all staff are encouraged to volunteer and able to take

one working day a year as volunteer leave.

CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

The aim of our summer clerkship program is to provide students in their

penultimate year with a taste of how a large commercial law fi rm goes

about meeting the needs of its clients. The program includes a detailed

introduction to the fi rm and to each practice group, as well as the op-

portunity to work with our legal teams on real matters.

In Sydney we invite approximately 30–35 penultimate year law students

to participate in our annual summer clerk program. We offer a 10-week

clerkship with two rotations over the summer vacation. The program

includes a detailed introduction to the fi rm and to each practice group,

as well as the opportunity to work with our legal teams on real matters.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are interested in who you are and the strengths you can bring—we

do not look to fi ll a particular mould. We recruit employees from a wide

range of backgrounds who we think exemplify our core values of fulfi l-

ment, teamwork, excellence and commerciality. We look for students

who want to pursue a career in commercial law and who demonstrate

a commercial awareness. We are interested in your academic record

as well as strong communication and interpersonal skills; evidence of

a balanced university life and evidence of ability to work effectively in

a team.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be submitted online via cvMail at

www.cvmail.com.au

Please note that most of our graduate positions are fi lled through our

summer clerkship program and we do not currently have an additional

graduate recruitment program planned.

RECRUITMENT CONTACT

LEIGH DUNLOP

Graduate Recruitment Adviser

[email protected]

(02) 9322 4792

Page 43: 2012 Clerkship Guide

43LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

FREEHILLS SUMMER CLERK PROFILE

Last year at this time, many of my friends

at university were asking me “which

fi rm is your top preference for a clerk-

ship?” Given that previous law assessments

had emphasised that my gut instinct was not

a fantastic reference, I would feebly attach

generic nouns such as ‘excellence’ to practice

groups or policies that I could remember to

justify my choice. In retrospect, my gut instinct

was a fantastic guide. If you’re like me and

can’t place that amount of trust in an instinct

however, I have provided a snapshot of experi-

ences from my clerkship at Freehills that may

be able to assist you with your decision and

campus banter.

Prior to starting at Freehills, we were afforded

the opportunity to submit preferences for

which two practice groups we would like to

rotate through over summer. As I didn’t know

which area of commercial law I would enjoy

most, I requested two disparate groups, being

Private Equity and Intellectual Property Litiga-

tion, and was placed in both. The partners I

worked for were fantastic and allowed me to

be involved in every step of a matter: from the

initial research and document review, to cli-

ent conferences, settlements and court. I was

also ‘buddied’ with a junior solicitor in each

rotation, giving me both a person to ask inane

questions to, such as ‘how do I get out of the

building?’, and gain an insight into the work of

a graduate.

Freehills also has a strong focus on the com-

munity, and this extends to the work of the

vacation clerks. Much of this is done through

The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre, a free le-

gal service for disadvantaged and homeless

people under the age of 25, which Freehills

helped to establish and continues to fund.

During my clerkship, I was taken to the local

court by the principal solicitor of The Shopfront

to witness a hearing for one of their clients. To

my surprise, this involved meeting the client

in the docks of the court, and listening to the

magistrate question the family members of the

client in the back of the court room. Given that

this was one of the highlights of my summer, I

am delighted that I have been able to continue

doing work for The Shopfront as a paralegal

at Freehills.

To my great relief, the passion for social activi-

ties at law school is matched, if not exceeded,

in the legal industry. The vacation clerk events

of a cruise, trivia night, scavenger hunt, inter-

fi rm competitions, and barefoot bowls, along

with the fi rm events of multiple Christmas

parties, drinks, the partner–clerk debate and

sport, meant that I usually had a ridiculous

costume or uniform on my desk each morning

for the night ahead. Thankfully, a quick scan

of the fl oor revealed that everybody else was in

the same position.

Most importantly however, I have really enjoyed

working with the people at Freehills. There are

an incredibly wide range of personalities, with

a few common characteristics—they are all

technically excellent, down-to-earth and pos-

sess a genuine interest in their colleagues.

This stood out to me most on two occasions:

fi rst, whilst sharing a Guinness with the former

managing partner discussing our respective

lack of ability in AFL, and second, getting

laughs and thumbs ups from solicitors whilst

being dressed as ‘the Todd’ from Scrubs at

3.00pm in the offi ce.

The best approach to adopt for the vacation

clerkship application process is to take every

opportunity you can to meet people from dif-

ferent fi rms. Personally, those encounters as-

sured me that Freehills was the fi rm that would

provide me with the most diverse experience

and excellent training with people that I would

really enjoy working with. My vacation clerkship

and paralegal work has certainly proven that to

be the case, and as such, I am looking forward

to commencing as a graduate at Freehills.

2011/2012CORPORATE(PRIVATE EQUITY)AND LITIGATION(INTELLECTUALPROPERTY)

MITCH HILLIER

Page 44: 2012 Clerkship Guide

www.gadens.com.au follow us on twitter @gadenslawyers

What matters to you?KateSummer Clerk, 2011

Being sent on secondment to a major client helped me to better understand the client’s needs and how I can be a better lawyer.’

Edwina Summer Clerk, 2010

For me, it’s important to enjoy coming to work everyday. Like all lawyers, we work hard but we have fun while we’re at it.’

AbiSummer Clerk, 2008

Gadens works for a large number of ASX 100 companies which meant I got exposure to major clients from day one.’

It’s your career. It’s all about you.

Page 45: 2012 Clerkship Guide

45LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

GADENS FIRM PROFILE

When you join Gadens Lawyers, you will be working in a fi rm where

success is determined by the character and spirit of our people.

At Gadens, everyone has a voice and your experiences, knowledge and

insight will be valued and respected. We are a place where fresh think-

ing and new ideas are championed daily.

The fi rm provides opportunities to work in our interstate offi ces and

secondments with some of our corporate clients. We are also happy to

explore opportunities for personal growth in disciplines outside the law

that enrich your capacity to grow.

If you want to be challenged, and to have the opportunity to make a real

difference, come and join us.

AREAS OF PRACTICE:

WHAT SIGNIFICANT WORK HAS GADENS DONE RECENTLY?

Our commercial litigation group is currently defending one of the par-

ties in the Welker v Rinehart family litigation. This high-profi le and com-

plex matter has already been to the High Court of Australia twice and

the Court of Appeal four times in 2012.

WHAT DOES GADENS LOOK FOR IN A POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE?

We are looking for talented people who approach their work with pas-

sion and who excel at establishing quality relationships with clients

and colleagues. We value intellect, collaboration, openness, integrity,

respect and excellence. We seek independent, rigorous thinkers.

• Aged care and retirement

• Agribusiness

• Banking and fi nance

• Charities and not-for-profi t

• Competition and consumer

• Construction

• Corporate advisory

• Dispute resolution

• Employee relations and safety

• Energy and resources

• Infrastructure

• Insolvency

• Insurance

• Intellectual property

• Licensing and hospitality

• Life sciences

• National mortgage services

• Native title

• Planning and environment

• Property

• Superannuation

• Sustainability

• Taxation, regulation

and compliance

• Workouts and restructures

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER TO

SOMEONE APPLYING TO GADENS?

Be yourself and to let your personality shine through. We are looking for

well rounded individuals who like to excel in everything they do. While

strong academic results are important, they are only part of the picture

and we believe that people who have interests outside of work will be the

best fi t to our team oriented environment.

HOW DOES GADENS ENCOURAGE

EMPLOYEES TO LEARN AND DEVELOP?

Gadens has an extensive learning and development program that is

offered to all staff, not just professional. Employees are encouraged to

constantly develop their skills.

We also have fortnightly inhouse Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

seminars to assist all lawyers to obtain their mandatory points in compli-

ance with the law society.

HOW DOES GADENS ENCOURAGE A WORK/LIFE BALANCE?

Fun is also strongly on the agenda. We encourage everyone not to park

their personalities at the lift door. We believe that a lively workplace

reduces stress and improves learning, productivity and creativity.

DOES GADENS ENGAGE IN PRO BONO,

VOLUNTEER OR OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES?

Gadens recognises that our enduring success requires economic

growth that both protects and promotes social equity and ecological

sustainability. Our sustainability program encompasses this philosophy

in the four spheres in which we operate including our workplace, the

marketplace, the community and the environment.

Within each of these spheres we aim to achieve the following sustain-

able outcomes:

1. WORKPLACE

engaging with all of our people to

create an environment that pro-

motes individuality and diversity

while instilling pride in the fi rm

and its collective values.

2. MARKETPLACE

consistent excellence in our

delivery of legal advice and

services, focused on commercial

solutions for our clients.

Page 46: 2012 Clerkship Guide

46 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

GADENSFIRM PROFILE

3. COMMUNITY

interacting with the wider com-

munity and promoting emerging

arts, youth initiatives, community

projects and providing pro bono

legal services.

4. ENVIRONMENT

minimising our impact on the

environment and taking respon-

sibility for our environmental

footprint.

Many of the programs and initiatives that make up our sustainability

program have developed organically over several decades, such as our

support for the arts which has grown and evolved since the 1960s.

More recently we have joined the Australian Legal Sector Alliance and

have committed to publicly reporting on our sustainability initiatives.

OUTSIDE OF WORK, WHAT DOES

GADENS OFFER ITS EMPLOYEES?

Gadens offer employees the opportunity to represent the fi rm at inter-

fi rm sporting competitions, as well as hosting a number of health and

wellbeing seminars. Gadens is also involved with various corporate so-

cial responsibility programs and encourage employees to help out those

who are less fortunate.

HOW DO STUDENTS APPLY FOR

CLERKSHIPS TO GADENS THIS YEAR?

Please email a covering letter together with your CV and a copy of your

academic transcript to:

Julia Bucci

Human Resources Offi cer

E: [email protected]

http://www.gadens.com.au/sydney/joinus/summer-clerks/Pages/De-

fault.aspx

WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED CLERKSHIP INTAKE THIS YEAR?

8-10 Summer Clerks

WHAT DOES GADENS LOOK FOR IN A CLERK?

We are looking for mature individuals who can demonstrate the highest

level of professional commitment, but who might also make our fi rm

an even more interesting and enjoyable place in which to practise law.

The successful applicants will have a strong academic record, an inno-

vative mindset, and a track record of collaboration and teamwork. Our

summer clerks are also likely to have a range of diverse interests and a

history of seeking and accepting responsibility.

WHAT WORK DOES GADENS OFFER A CLERK?

Your work will be interesting and challenging, and from day one you will

have plenty of responsibility. At Gadens, exposure to clients happens

quickly. You will be able to take the initiative and express your ideas

from the outset. You will not be working away in a back offi ce. Gadens

is a place to thrive, not hide.

WHAT DOES THE FIRM OFFER ITS GRADUATES?

Graduates are offered 3 eight month rotations over a two year period.

We strongly suggest that our graduates complete rotations in both trans-

actional and litigious based areas of law to ensure they are receiving

a well rounded experience and therefore able to form a better idea of

where they might choose to specialise. Whilst undertaking their ro-

tations our graduates have the opportunity to participate in the fi rm’s

extensive learning and development program. From day one the gradu-

ates will be exposed to real work and have the opportunity to interact

with the fi rm’s clients.

Page 47: 2012 Clerkship Guide

47LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

GADENS FIRM PROFILE

DOES THE FIRM ASSIST GRADUATES TO COMPLETE THEIR

PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING (PLT)? IF SO, HOW?

Many of our summer clerks work as casual law clerks while completing

their fi nal year of university. If they require extra hours to complete their

PLT this can be accommodated. Depending on the student’s availability

they would work either on a part-time or full-time basis as a law clerk/

paralegal undertaking real legal work to ensure they had the required

hours. Their work is always supervised by a senior lawyer or partner

who will sign off on their PLT work.

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL PROGRESSION PATH OF

GRADUATES IN THEIR EARLY YEARS AT THE FIRM?

Gadens’ internal structure is fairly fl at so we don’t have many “layers”.

Graduates are known as graduates internally when they fi rst join us

however have the title of “solicitor” from admission when dealing with

clients. Whilst they take part in the graduate rotation program over their

fi rst two years, they are treated like any other solicitor within the fi rm.

They will have the opportunity to participate in presentations and busi-

ness development when it is felt they are ready. Whilst some solicitors

have progressed to senior associate level after just three years, typically

solicitors with four years post admission experience should be on the

path to senior associate. There are a number of criteria that our solici-

tors must meet to be promoted. Our promotion process is transparent

and solicitors are made aware of the standards required from an early

stage.

WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED GRADUATE INTAKE THIS YEAR?

As our returning summer clerks take the majority of graduate roles of-

fered, we typically have 8-10 starting each year. If the fi rm’s needs

require additional graduates, we would recruit on an ad hoc basis. On

average we may take on another 8-10 graduates throughout the year

depending on our needs.

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48 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

GADENSSUMMER CLERK PROFILE

When I applied for a clerkship I

expected it to be a steep learning

curve, and it was, but not in the

way I expected.

I was a summer clerk at Gadens in 2010/2011

while I was studying at UTS. I’ve since

graduated from uni and work as a solicitor at

Gadens.

The clerkship led to this graduate job which

is the start of what I hope is a long and happy

career. The rotations and fl exibility of this job

provide a great opportunity for me to fi nd my

area of interest. These things are important

to me and I’m lucky that Gadens provides this

fl exibility and opportunity, but this is not why I

love my job.

I love my job because I am supported, I am

challenged, I am valued, and I get to work

with lovely people. Anyone who has worked

at Gadens will tell you the same. The summer

clerkship at Gadens was simply an introduc-

tion to this continuing experience.

SUPPORT

When I applied for a summer clerkship, I

expected to be challenged, but we were also

given the necessary support. We were given

several days of dedicated training to learn

about the fi rm, its systems, its ethos and what

we could expect.

We each had a ‘buddy’ in each summer clerk

and graduate rotation who was a solicitor or

senior associate who would help us in any way

they could. These are people who volunteer;

who want to help. My buddies took me for an

introductory drink to fi nd out my interests and

aspirations, introduced me to people in the

fi rm who gave me high level work in my area

of interest, for example drafting pleadings, and

were always keen and interested to answer

any questions or just have a good chat.

VALUE

We were asked where we wanted to go in our

clerkship and our time here was tailored as

best it could to suit our interests.

A partner from every practice area took the

time to speak to us about what they do, why

it interests them and the type of law and work

that is involved in their area.

During my second rotation I was offered, and

accepted, a secondment to eBay. This was

particularly exciting to me as I have a real

interest in the law of eCommerce and the ef-

fects of globalisation. I loved it. I had support

from Gadens at my fi ngertips and was even

asked to go back there late last year to help

with more work.

PEOPLE

We were encouraged to attend social functions

and to get to know everyone in the fi rm and

each other, which we did. Gadens seek out

people who are friendly and inclusive rather

than just academic and we have an open door

policy. And when I say ‘policy’ it doesn’t refer

to some dusty manual in the corner!

All of my fellow summer clerks are some of my

best friends! We have a real bond and though

we all now work in different areas of the fi rm

we have kept up our friendships and from that

we get a personal perspective on different ar-

eas of law and the fi rm as we go through our

graduate rotations together.

We all felt a special bond to the summer clerks

who followed us in the year just past and now

I get to be a buddy for a post summer clerk-

ship graduate and follow the example of my

buddies!

I would recommend all the enthusiastic

people out there who are looking for a great

opportunity to expand their knowledge, meet

great people and get invaluable experience

to apply for a clerkship at Gadens. You will

be pleasantly surprised by the willingness,

helpfulness and inclusive nature of the people

here. Working in law is often challenging, but

with the right people and support it’s far from

scary and can be really fun too!

SUMMERCLERKSHIP PROFILEEDWINA OLIVER

Page 49: 2012 Clerkship Guide

S Y DN E Y

M E L BOU RN E

P E RT H

Be part of a young, flexible first-tier firm that has built its success on innovation and having a heart.

If you’re among the best and brightest law students, make the smart career choice and begin your legal career at Gilbert + Tobin.

FIND OUT MORE AT ME.GTLAW.COM.AU

Hannah Quadrio, Lawyer

Make the smart career choice

Page 50: 2012 Clerkship Guide

A career with Gilbert + Tobin is the smart choiceWhy is a career with Gilbert + Tobin the smart choice? Because we are a first-tier firm where you can make a name for yourself, through the transactions and projects you work on and by participating in our extensive community activities.

At G+T you’ll work on transactions that define and shape the market in Australia and around the world. Our clients and projects span the Asia Pacific and African regions.

me.gtlaw.com.au

WHAT WE OFFERFrom our offices around Australia, our lawyers work across the following practice areas:

+ Banking + Finance+ Capital Markets+ Communications + Technology+ Competition + Regulation+ Corporate Advisory+ Dispute Resolution+ Employment

+ Energy + Resources+ Intellectual Property+ Litigation+ Mergers + Acquisitions+ Pro Bono+ Real Estate + Projects+ Tax

WORK IN DYNAMIC SECTORSGilbert + Tobin specialises in dynamic and evolving market sectors, including charities, climate change, government, infrastructure, natural resources, renewable energy, technology, telecommunications and water. We advise leading domestic and international companies on transactions that impact and shape these areas.

We are also community lawyers. Gilbert + Tobin is known for the high-quality advice we give to organisations and individuals in all parts of Australian society. For those in need, we provide this advice pro bono.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRITGilbert + Tobin has become the legal adviser of choice for industry leaders that value our determination to succeed. Our diverse team of highly talented and ambitious people are attracted to the firm because of its entrepreneurial spirit, creative approach and capacity for change.

Over the past 10 years, many prominent partners have joined Gilbert + Tobin to build and strengthen our practice groups. The firm employs more than 450 lawyers and professionals, and we still have the highest proportion of female partners (38%) of any major Australian law firm.

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE THE SMART CAREER CHOICE?If you are among the best and brightest, Gilbert + Tobin is the smart choice for your career. Our lawyers are entrepreneurial, ambitious, commercially aware and self-motivated. Although our backgrounds and talents are different, we have a common goal: to build a first-tier corporate law firm and be the best provider of legal services in our chosen areas of practice.

FIND OUT MOREFor more information on employment opportunities in our Sydney, Melbourne and Perth offices, please visit me.gtlaw.com.au or email [email protected]. G+T’s People Team can arrange for you to chat with one of our recent summer clerks or graduates about their experience.

“We are very impressed by the firm’s strategic approach, expertise and ability to provide advice in a timely manner.”Intellectual Property group, Chambers Asia Pacific, 2012

S Y D N E Y

M E L B O U R N E

P E RT H

me.gtlaw.com.au

Page 51: 2012 Clerkship Guide

A career with Gilbert + Tobin is the smart choiceWhy is a clerkship with Gilbert + Tobin the smart career choice? Because from day one, you’ll work on top-tier transactions and collaborate closely with industry leaders. G+T focuses on dynamic, evolving industry sectors. Our lawyers work on transactions that define and shape the market in Australia and around the world. Be part of a firm with a unique culture where you can make a name for yourself.

“It’s clear to me that G+T values excellence, encourages ambition and supports the talents and aspirations of its employees.”Prue Mewburn, 2011 Summer Clerk

S Y DN E Y

M E L BOU RN E

P E RT H

For more information on clerkship opportunities in our Sydney office, please visit me.gtlaw.com.au, or contact Emma Garmston on 02 9263 4067 or email [email protected]. Emma can arrange for you to chat with one of our recent summer clerks or graduates about their experience.

Applications for 2012–13 clerkships are open from Wednesday 13 June to Friday 13 July. To apply, please visit www.cvmail.com.au during the application period and share your details with us.

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE THE SMART CAREER CHOICE?

The G+T clerkship experience is open to students in their penultimate year of study. Our Sydney clerks complete a 10-week placement that consists of two five-week rotations across the firm’s practice areas. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work directly with partners and lawyers who are experts in their fields, and to develop core skills and experience in your areas of interest.

During your time with your practice groups, you’ll be mentored by a lawyer who will help you develop your skills and build relationships within our practice groups. You’ll gain a greater understanding of the mechanics of legal transactions by researching legislation and case law, preparing and drafting memos, assisting in litigation processes, attending court, observing negotiations and meeting clients.

Your G+T clerkship is an opportunity to be part of a talented group of people who will become your peers as you continue your legal career. You’ll have plenty of time to attend training, practice group events and firm lunches, and to build relationships with people across the firm.

As well as becoming immersed in the practice areas of their choice, our clerks have the opportunity to contribute to the Pro Bono practice. You’ll be assigned a pro bono task and work closely with our lawyers to follow it through to completion.

THE AURORA PROJECT: NATIVE TITLE SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITYThe Aurora Project is a not-for-profit initiative funded by Australian government and corporate bodies. Each year, we offer two summer clerks the opportunity to work as interns in a native title office during their university winter break. The placement lasts for five to six weeks and is fully funded by Gilbert + Tobin.

Interns are chosen and placed in consultation with Aurora Project representatives and placements can be anywhere around Australia. For example, our most recent summer clerks were seconded to the Kimberley Land Council in Perth, Western Australia; the Torres Strait Regional Authority on Thursday Island, Queensland; and the Cape York Land Council in Cairns, Queensland.

me.gtlaw.com.au

Page 52: 2012 Clerkship Guide

S Y DN E Y

M E L BOU RN E

P E RT H

Prue Newburn, previous G+T clerk

A clerkship with Gilbert + Tobin is the smart choiceWhy choose Gilbert + Tobin for your clerkship? Ask Prue Mewburn. She spent her summer 2011/12 university break in our Sydney office, working in the Communications + Technology and Litigation groups.

me.gtlaw.com.au

Spending the summer at Gilbert + Tobin was a challenging and rewarding experience, which I’d recommend to any student looking to join a leading Australian law firm.

The work in Communications + Technology was diverse, challenging and interesting. I attended client meetings, conference calls and functions that helped me understand clients’ businesses and realise the importance of this knowledge in providing outstanding legal services.

During my rotation in the Litigation group, I enjoyed the opportunity to shadow lawyers and partners to court and client meetings. I researched and drafted a memo explaining newly enacted legislation and its effect on the group’s work. The lawyers gave me feedback and explained how my work fitted into the bigger picture within the group. I was excited to see my memo published and glad my work was useful and valued.

Both rotations were supported by a comprehensive induction to the firm and an ongoing training program that introduced us to the key skills a junior lawyer needs. We were also matched with a ‘buddy’—a junior lawyer—as well as a senior lawyer and a partner within each practice group. They were always available to provide me with advice, assistance and support.

I drew inspiration from the lives and work of some of G+T’s senior lawyers, who mentored us during the clerkship. For example, Christine Burke isn’t just a G+T partner – she’s also the 11th Australian woman to have climbed Mount Everest!

Working alongside people like Christine showed me it’s possible to achieve your personal and professional goals. It’s clear to me

that G+T values excellence, encourages ambition and supports the talents and aspirations of its employees.

The firm is genuinely committed to assisting disadvantaged and marginalised people. During my clerkship, I worked on a research project on recent changes to refugee law. At the Redfern Legal Centre, I helped develop a repairs campaign for public housing tenants. I attended a weekly outreach advice service run by the Homeless Persons Legal Service, which is staffed with volunteers from G+T.

I’m also looking forward to participating in the Aurora Project – in July I’ll be on secondment with a native title representative body, which is fully funded by G+T.

During my clerkship, I had lots of opportunities to build relationships with fellow clerks and lawyers. In the first week of the program, all the clerks were invited to G+T’s Christmas party. And the flair displayed at G+T’s charity talent quest a few weeks later unearthed some superstars within the firm!

For more information on clerkship opportunities in our Sydney, Melbourne and Perth offices, please contact Emma Garmston on 02 9263 4067 or email [email protected]. Emma can arrange for you to chat with one of our recent summer clerks or graduates about their experience.

later unearthed some superstars within the firm!

Prue Mewburn

Page 53: 2012 Clerkship Guide

O N ESPECTRUM OF OPPORTUNITY One Vision One Purpose One Firm One Decision One Journey

Visit http://summerclerks.hdy.com.au for more information

Page 54: 2012 Clerkship Guide

54 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

HENRY DAVIS YORKFIRM PROFILE

HENRY DAVIS YORK

Henry Davis York has a different feel and that’s deliberate.

With more than 50 partners and more than 200 professionals, we

have the advantage of being big enough to attract high-end clients and

top-quality work, but small enough to remain personal and to provide

hands-on advice and experience.

OUR CLIENTS

We are proud to partner with an impressive list of clients who recog-

nise our unique approach to delivering technical excellence with the

commercial edge that creates real value for their business. Our clients

include the top four Australian banks, international fi nancial services

organisations and fund managers, market authorities, ASX and foreign

listed companies, NSW Government agencies, property groups and a

diverse range of privately held companies.

PRO BONO AND COMMUNITY

Henry Davis York is committed to delivering pro bono services to dis-

advantaged and under-represented groups and individuals who would

otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance.

Our pro bono and community programs include organisations such

as the Homicide Victims’ Support Group, Homeless Persons’ Legal

Service, Northern Rivers Cooperative Legal Services Delivery Program,

Community Legal Centres, Learning Encouraging and Assisting Promis-

ing Students and Reach Out and Read.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

People are our success. For that reason, we invest substantial time and

energy in recruiting and retaining the right people. As clerks are integral

to our future growth we look for people who:

• share our commitment to excellence in what we do and how we do it

• communicate well

• are team players

• are lateral and innovative thinkers

• demonstrate balance in their life outside of work or study

• are intelligent and commercially-minded lawyers in the making.

You will need a sound academic record, some work experience in a

legal or non-legal environment, and have a positive disposition and

demonstrated leadership skills.

THE SUMMER CLERK PROGRAM

During the program you will have the opportunity to rotate through three

practice groups with designated support in each rotation from a su-

pervising partner, senior associate and mentor. You will receive regular

feedback and advice from your supervising partner and others you work

with plus a more formal review at the end of each rotation.

Working with our partners and senior lawyers who are recognised and

respected as experts in their fi elds, you will experience real, meaningful

work and gain valuable insights into what it’s like to practise as a lawyer

in a top quality fi rm that works hard, has a friendly inclusive culture and

celebrates both individual and team endeavours.

LIFE AFTER YOUR CLERKSHIP...

We carefully select our clerks with the intention that they will become

our graduate lawyers. Of course, any offer of permanent employment

depends on how you perform during your clerkship, and on the needs

of the fi rm.

Successful candidates who accept graduate roles with us can discuss

opportunities for part-time paralegal work in their fi nal year of university.

From 2013, we will be providing an in-house Practical Legal Training

program in conjunction with the College of Law.

APPLICATIONS

Henry Davis York’s Summer clerk applications open on 13 June 2012

and close on 13 July 2012 and all applications should be made via CV

Mail.

For further information about employment at Henry Davis York or our

summer clerk program please contact:

LENA RISTEVSKI

People & Development Offi cer

T: +61 2 9947 6532

E: [email protected]

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55LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

HENRY DAVIS YORK SUMMER CLERK PROFILE

In the 11 weeks of the clerkship I attended court hearings and client meetings, worked directly

on fascinating matters and went to great fi rm and inter-fi rm social events. From the outset, Henry

Davis York was an interesting, exciting and most of all, fun place to work.

Completing a clerkship at Henry Davis York was an incredibly exciting, challenging and satisfying

experience. From the fi rst day of training to the farewell party 11 weeks later, I received highly

diverse and interesting tasks and worked with extremely friendly, fun and encouraging people.

I completed rotations in three different, but equally fascinating practice areas. This gave me the

opportunity to see how different practice groups function and to get a better understanding of

the nature of work in a corporate law fi rm. In these groups, I attended meetings and even social

events with clients, assisted in the discovery of documents, attended court, drafted documents

for clients, incorporated companies and did a diverse range of research tasks.

Not only was I able to work on such interesting and varied tasks, but I was able to work with

people who generously explained new concepts, answered any questions and explained how

my work contributed to the fi rm and its practices. The training and support we received from

the outset was incredible and really added to the experience of being a clerk. This support and

enthusiasm is what makes Henry Davis York special and it immediately became apparent why

the fi rm is renowned for its unique culture.

Finally, the friendships I made with the other summer clerks throughout our various sporting and

trivia endeavours and numerous social events made the clerkship even more enjoyable.

Henry Davis York really is a fi rm fi lled with like-minded people who are committed to producing

excellent work for fi rst rate clients while providing an encouraging, friendly and fun environment

for its employees.

HENRY DAVIS YORKSUMMER CLERK 2011/2012NICOLA TARGETT

Page 56: 2012 Clerkship Guide

At Herbert Geer, our aim is to put YOU at the centre of everything we do. We will support YOU with a dedicated supervising partner and mentor. YOU will be exposed to a wide variety of work. We offer YOU a range of benefits including subsidised gym memberships and our NOTLAW program. We will provide YOU with an in-house CLE program to help YOU learn, and YOU can become involved in our community and pro bono work.

To find out more visit www.herbertgeer.com.au

2011

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57LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

HERBERT GEER FIRM PROFILE

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRM

Herbert Geer is a commercial law fi rm with offi ces in Melbourne, Sydney

and Brisbane. Our dedicated team of over 300 people provide services

to a wide range of corporate, private and government clients.

Our success in building a respected and trusted law fi rm is driven by the

commitment to our clients. As we have grown, we have remained true to

our values and to building a culture which supports our aim to put our

clients at the centre of everything we do. Quality, innovation and person-

alised service remains paramount in everything we do at Herbert Geer.

LOCATION OF OTHER OFFICES:

Brisbane, Melbourne

PROMINENT AREAS OF PRACTICE IN SYDNEY:

• Banking and Finance

• Corporate

• Employment, Workplace Relations and Safety

• Property Services

• IP, Technology and Entertainment

• Projects and Construction

• Planning, Government, Infrastructure and Environment

WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE FIRM TO OTHERS?

Our people are committed to each other, the fi rm and our clients. To our

credit, we were named the 2011 Law Firm of the Year by the BRW and

Employer of Choice. As we have grown, we have actively worked hard

to protect and grow our culture, our commitment to quality, innovation

and our client service. We appreciate each person brings something dif-

ferent to Herbert Geer and encourage our people to continually develop

their professional and personal interests. This philosophy, and our legal

track record, helps us to attract the best people.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM

At the commencement of our Seasonal Clerkship Program you will

receive a principal, mentor and buddy to assist you during your clerk-

ship and provide you with an opportunity to develop your network. Our

Seasonal Clerkship runs for 4 weeks with a rotation in one practice unit,

receiving supervision from partners and senior practitioners.

In addition, you will receive formal training through ongoing internal and

external workshops and training sessions. This will develop your skills

and assist you in becoming a more effective practitioner and help you

accelerate your career.

In addition to this training and mentoring, you will have various oppor-

tunities to attend mediations, court hearings, client functions and client

meetings with your supervising partner or mentor. This will provide you

with hands on experience, real exposure to matters and the chance to

learn how to manage the fi nancial side of working in a law fi rm.

Number of positions: 4 approximately

Winter: 0

Summer: 4 approximately

Interview Process:

1st Round Interview - Member of Human Resources

Cocktail Party - meet the fi rm

2nd Round Interview - Practitioner and HR

Will the fi rm be making priority offers? Yes

APPLICATIONS

HOW TO APPLY

Through CV mail and our website. Attach a cover letter, resume and

academic transcript.

Please refer to our website www.herbertgeer.com.au for more informa-

tion.

Contact: Claire Donnelly

Human Resources Consultant

Email: [email protected]

Applications Open: 13 June 2012

Applications Close: 13 July 2012

OFFICE ADDRESS

Level 12

77 King St

Sydney

NSW 2000

WEBSITE

www.herbertgeer.com.au

Ph: 02 9249 4600

NUMBER OF PARTNERS

Firm Wide: 47

In Sydney: 10

Page 58: 2012 Clerkship Guide

Johnson Winter & Slattery is a national law firm where young lawyers play a meaningful role in strategic and complex transactions and disputes, and build relationships with executives from Australia’s most successful companies through close client contact.

We are a dynamic, commercial firm offering opportunities for development and advancement for lawyers at all levels as we pursue a clear strategy for growth in our principal practice areas across Australia.

Our lawyers thrive in an environment that fosters collaboration with few internal administrative boundaries, free from the burden of fee budgets that dominates the culture of so many other law firms.

Strong technical and client service skills are developed through structured mentoring and professional development education programs.

Your experience at Johnson Winter & Slattery will equip you for a fulfilling career both in Australia and abroad.

“JWS is different because of the low leverage business model – I have access to high level work and excellent mentoring opportunities.” Jonathan Whybird, Associate

CAREER, YOUR CHOICE

jws.com.au

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Page 59: 2012 Clerkship Guide
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60 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

KING & WOOD MALLESONSFIRM PROFILE

With a vision to create a global law fi rm in Asia and a history of bold

innovation, it’s only the beginning for King & Wood Mallesons. Right

now, you can become part of this “game changer” for the legal industry

– as we deliver a new legal choice and help our clients realise their new

world opportunities.

For those who don’t know us well, here’s a snapshot of what we offer you

today and tomorrow…

VISION: to create a global law fi rm in Asia

TEAM MATES: over 380 partners and 1,800 lawyers (biggest international

legal network in Asia)

REPUTATION: over 100 international and Asia-focused awards and 50

top-tier rankings

LOCATIONS: strategically positioned in the world’s growth markets,

fi nancial capitals and the home of information technology (21 offi ces

globally and the only international legal network to be head quartered

in Asia)

CLIENTS: global fi nancial and corporate powerhouses to new industry-

makers and all levels of government (some for over 200 years)

SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

Applications open: 13 June 2012

How to apply: Via our online application system at

www.kwm.com/careers

We’ve designed a program to help you make the most of your time with

us. 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 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 fi nd that people from every part of the business

will help you along, sharing their knowledge, and ensuring you have

everything you need to fi t in, and do well.

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR?

The four key capabilities we look for in our clerks are:

• A passion for commercial law and clients – that’s what we do every

day. It’s key that you have a genuine interest in the law and the

clients that need those services.

• A strong interest in business and industry – we work in our clients’

worlds and are striving to help them achieve their objectives. You

need to be interested in this and willing to commit time and energy to

really understand our clients and their businesses.

• The self-awareness and desire to understand and work well with

others – we don’t build widgets. We deliver legal solutions to people

through people, so we have to be really good at working with and

understanding others.

• Adaptability to live with change – our ability to move as quickly as

the world around us is getting more important every day. We need

people who think quickly, learn fast and adapt well.

If this sounds like you, why not talk to one of our graduate resourcing

consultants or contact us by visiting our website, www.kwm.com

Level 61, Governor Phillip Tower

1 Farrer Place

Sydney NSW 2000

www.kwm.com

CONTACT:

Sam Garner

Graduate Resourcing Manager

Phone: +61 2 9296 3579

Email: [email protected]

Page 61: 2012 Clerkship Guide

61LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

KING & WOOD MALLESONS SUMMER CLERK PROFILE

For most of my adult life I have spent my

summer holidays overseas but over the

most recent summer I went on a ‘journey’

of a different kind. Like travelling overseas, this

particular adventure took months of prepara-

tion to research and plan and there were dif-

fi cult decisions to make about where to go and

who to travel with. Fortunately, I made the right

decision, I chose to spend my summer seeing

the sights of King & Wood Mallesons.

While you are going through this guide, treat it

like a Lonely Planet. You will fi nd that as you

read about different places some will stand

out to you as ‘must see’ destinations! For me,

King & Wood Mallesons stood out in the clerk-

ship guide, at the clerkship seminars, at the

cocktail parties and during the interviews as

being a fi rm which had struck the illusive bal-

ance between friendliness and success. The

partners and lawyers were warm, encouraging

and inspiring. I expected to feel intimidated

but instead I felt comfortable because I was

chatting to people like myself – people with di-

verse interests, who work hard and who like to

have a laugh. The more I learnt about King &

Wood Mallesons from these people, the more I

couldn’t wait to get there. (I felt the same way

about Paris!)

Once we landed we started training and induc-

tion, we did team-building activities and were

introduced to many of the fi rm’s pro bono initi-

atives. The training also continued throughout

the clerkship, with many opportunities to learn

about the different practice groups and indus-

try sectors we may not have been exposed to

throughout the summer.

I rotated in Banking & Finance and Dispute

Resolution. I worked in two great teams for

helpful and approachable partners who always

made time to give me feedback and make me

feel included. We were also given buddies

who, much like a tour guide, were there to an-

swer our questions, navigate us through tasks

and take us for coffee.

I did lots of different activities and saw many

sights: I had the chance to attend client meet-

ings, listen to conference calls, write advice

for clients, prepare evidence for trial, attend

a High Court hearing, prepare submissions to

government, write a research memo for coun-

sel...and the list goes on. One major highlight

was attending a client meeting to advise them

on whether their ads were misleading and

deceptive. Not only was my opinion taken

into consideration but the changes we recom-

mended were made to the ads and they are

now running on TV.

The other clerks on the adventure with me

were wonderful and we quickly became close

friends. At times the clerkship was like a Con-

tiki Tour with the clerks spending many nights

out together after work. At other times it was

a 5 star experience, including the fi rm Christ-

mas party and my buddy lunch at Rockpool.

Much like an overseas trip, the clerkship at

King & Wood Mallesons was great, the itiner-

ary was jam-packed and the end result was an

incredibly rewarding summer.

CLERKSHIP PROFILE2011/2012SUMMER CLERKAREAS OF ROTATIONBANKING & FINANCE AND DISPUTE RESOLUTIONLAUREN CHAPE

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62 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

KING & WOOD MALLESONSFIRM PROFILE

SECTOR PROFILE

ENERGY, RESOURCES AND PROJECTS

Bringing together specialist resource lawyers throughout our interna-

tional network, we focus on providing strategic counsel on all legal as-

pects of project development and operation, including:

• M&A and joint venture arrangements

• project fi nance

• project approvals, environment and planning

• construction

• competition and infrastructure access

• inbound and outbound investment including FIRB approvals

• native title and cultural heritage

• employment, industrial relations, health and safety

• property

• tax

• dispute resolution

• climate change and clean energy

The recent combination of Mallesons Stephen Jaques and King & Wood

has created a market leading Energy, Resources & Projects team with

the most meaningful China capability of any international law fi rm.

The fi rm’s combined Energy, Resources & Projects team comprises

more than 60 partners and approximately 150 lawyers in Australia and

throughout Asia. Headed by Scott Gardiner in Australia, Joshua Cole in

Hong Kong and Carolyn Dong and Harry Du in China, the team provides

a full service offering for clients requiring seamless cross-border and

also local advice.

As the presence of foreign entrants into the local market increases, the

fi rm is well positioned to assist our Energy & Resources clients capitalise

on opportunities in multiple jurisdictions across Asia, Africa, India, the

Middle East and South America. We are able to mobilise market leading

teams across Australia, Hong Kong and China and focus on M&A, the

development of major projects, fi nancing and major litigation - no other

fi rm is able to offer this depth of expertise across the Asia-Pacifi c region.

King & Wood Mallesons is perfectly positioned to capitalise on the

growing importance of the Asian economies. The combination of the

two fi rms is driven by the desire to support clients who are seeking a

streamlined service to help them realise the signifi cant opportunities in

Asia-Pacifi c markets. Energy & Resources is a key priority sector for the

combined fi rm.

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64 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

MIDDLETONSFIRM PROFILE

In the modern commercial world, standing still is not an option. Choos-

ing a career at Middletons is choosing to be a part of a progressive

and innovative law fi rm that continues to grow year on year. We have

extensive experience acting for industry leaders, major corporations

and government on groundbreaking legal transactions in Australia and

internationally.

A national commercial law fi rm, Middletons has offi ces in Sydney, Bris-

bane, Melbourne and Perth. Nationally Middletons employs over 550

staff, including 71 partners and 260 lawyers. Our key practice groups

include banking & fi nancial services, commercial litigation, corporate &

commercial, property development & construction, transport logistics &

defence and workplace relations & safety.

FIRM CULTURE

Our values, focused on people, clients and practice, underpin our re-

laxed and friendly culture. We operate in a collegiate atmosphere where

people feel valued and contributions are recognised and rewarded.

Informality and approachability are key aspects of our culture and team-

work is actively fostered.

From our networking forums such as our Young Professionals Network

(YPN) and Women’s Information Network (WIN), to our Sports@Mid-

dletons program, Vitality program, social club and fi rm events, there are

a number of ways to build internal networks and become involved in the

Middletons community.

SUMMER CLERK PROGRAM AT MIDDLETONS

A clerkship is the ideal opportunity for you to explore what we have to

offer. Not only will you gain insight into a career in law, you will meet

our people, sample our culture and determine if Middletons is the right

career choice for you. As a law student in your penultimate year at uni-

versity, this is an opportunity to gain practical work experience through

participation in client meetings, court visits and involvement in real legal

work.

Professional development is provided throughout your clerkship. It

begins on your fi rst day with a comprehensive induction program and

continues through your clerkship enabling you to learn important skills

that lay the foundation for your legal career.

Your supervising partner or senior associate will be responsible for as-

signing your work. A graduate or junior lawyer will also be there to pro-

vide buddy support throughout your clerkship. In addition to the daily

on the job feedback and guidance you receive, you will also be involved

in a structured performance review at the conclusion of your clerkship.

Further information about Middletons and our clerkship program can

be found at www.middletons.com/careers

Page 65: 2012 Clerkship Guide

YOUR PASSION Y OUR CAREER

OUR FIRM

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Our vacation clerkships open a window

on what it’s like to be a lawyer in a large

commercial law firm.

Interested?

Find out more at www.minterellison.com/careers

or email [email protected]

Page 66: 2012 Clerkship Guide

66 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

MINTER ELLISONFIRM PROFILE

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Our Sydney offi ce has 12 practice groups: Commercial & Regulatory,

Financial Services, Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity and Capi-

tal Markets (Corporate groups), Commercial Disputes and Insurance

& Corporate Disputes (Litigation groups), Environment & Planning and

Property (Real Estate), Tax, Finance, Construction and Human Re-

sources & Industrial Relations.

ABOUT THE FIRM

Our origins date back to 1827 in Sydney, Australia. Today, Minter Ellison

is one of the six top tier commercial law fi rms in Australia – with a cli-

ent base that includes 26 of the country’s Top 50 companies – and is

ranked as one of the largest legal groups in the Asia Pacifi c.

Our strong growth and success have been driven by the energetic vision

of our leading partners, in-depth industry expertise and a commitment

to working closely with our clients – wherever they need us. It is this

commitment that led us to moving offshore and building up offi ces in

the UK and Asia.

TELL US ABOUT AN INTERESTING NEW PROJECT

THE FIRM IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON:

We have been at the table of some of Asia Pacifi c’s headline transac-

tions – the National Broadband Network rollout, SingTel’s new satellite

acquisition and launch, global outsourcing projects for BHP Billiton and

strategic business acquisitions for Qantas. Our teams work with the

world’s leading energy and resources companies, handle fi nancing and

capital markets work across Australia, in Hong Kong and in London,

and are principal lawyers on iconic projects such the Melbourne Dock-

land redevelopment, Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds development, and

King Street Wharf in Sydney.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Each of our offi ces has developed partnerships with community organi-

sations to address local need and the overall themes of our Community

Investment Program. For example, our focus on disadvantaged youth in

Australia has led to the Sydney offi ces partnership with James Meehan

High in Macquarie Fields.

OUR COMMITMENT HAS INCLUDED:

• Hosting student visits to our offi ce

• Providing work experience and career advice

• Active membership of the Australian Business and Community

Network

• Taking part in the Principal for a Day Program

• Creating networks between our partner schools for the benefi t of

students and staff

• Developing mentoring projects for our staff to provide practical

assistance to students.

The benefi ts of these partnerships extend both ways. Students are ex-

posed to the world of professional life. Equally, our staff derive enormous

satisfaction from creating opportunities for students to reach their full

potential.

Minter Ellison believes that lawyers have a responsibility to ensure ac-

cess to justice for disadvantaged and marginalised citizens. We assist

individuals without the means to pay for legal services and non-profi t

community organisations whose work helps those in need. We are com-

mitted to developing a strong pro bono culture in the regions where we

operate. Each of our offi ces undertakes pro bono legal work in response

to local need.

Our fl agship pro bono project in Australia is our strategic commitment

to the development and growth of the Homeless Persons Legal Clinics

in Brisbane and Melbourne and the Homeless Persons Legal Service

in Sydney.

Some of our most resource-intensive pro bono matters are conducted

on behalf of individuals who would otherwise be denied access to jus-

tice.

ADDRESS:

88 Phillip Street

Sydney NSW 2000

CONTACT PERSON:

Liana Hurry

Graduate Resourcing Consultant

Phone: 02 9921 4017

Email: liana.hurry@minterellison.

com

NUMBER OF LAWYERS:

1000+

NUMBER OF PARTNERS:

290 +

OFFICE LOCATIONS (15):

AUSTRALIA

Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra,

Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne,

Perth, Sydney

ASIA

Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai,

Ulaanbaatar

NEW ZEALAND

Auckland, Wellington

EUROPE

London

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67LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

MINTER ELLISON FIRM PROFILE

WHAT OTHER BENEFITS AND ACTIVITIES,

ASIDE FROM WORK DOES THE FIRM OFFER?

WELLBEING

• Free corporate gym membership

• Employee Assistance Program providing confi dential counselling and

support to staff and other immediate family

• Discounted health insurance

• Health & Wellbeing seminars and exhibitions

• Parenting information sessions

• Social and sporting events and activities (including Christmas parties,

Friday Night Drinks, corporate sports teams)

• Discounted shopping, entertainment and travel

• Business Casual Dress Fridays

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

• Cutting edge learning and development programs, including:

• Regular continuing legal education seminars

• ‘Core skills’ programs

• Life skills programs

• Graduate Development through to a

Leadership Development Programs

• Post-graduate studies support

• Workgroup retreats

SECONDMENTS

Secondment opportunities between offi ces, to clients and international

locations

CLERKSHIP

WHAT DOES THE FIRM LOOK FOR IN A POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE?

At Minter Ellison our lawyers come from very diverse backgrounds but

what they share are the key attributes we look for in our clerks: a drive

for excellence and technical achievement, commercial awareness, en-

ergy and initiative.

DO YOU INTEND TO OFFER CLERKSHIPS TO STUDENTS

OUTSIDE THEIR PENULTIMATE YEAR?

No, Minter Ellison will only be taking penultimate year students.

ANTICIPATED CLERKSHIP INTAKE FOR THIS YEAR?

20-25 Summer Clerks

HOW DO STUDENTS APPLY FOR A CLERKSHIP?

Apply online via our website www.minterellison.com/careers

CLERK PROFILE

JANE SLATTERY – SUMMER CLERK 2011-12 AND UTS STUDENT

Asking the other summer clerks in our group why they decided

on Minter Ellison for the 2011/2012 Summer Clerkship, the

overwhelming consensus was simply, “the people”. And I have

to say, that was the infl uencing factor in my decision to clerk here.

From my fi rst interview, Minter Ellison’s focus was on getting to know

who I was as a person, as well as a potential employee. In addition to be-

ing asked about my legal experience and interests in commercial law, I

was often asked about the band I play in and found myself having great

discussions about music. I found that the partners who interviewed me

throughout the recruitment process (and whose impressive and varied

careers were somewhat daunting) were always open and friendly and

it was great to see that such a culture permeated throughout the fi rm.

The benefi t of clerking at Minter Ellison is that you partake in three

different rotations. For someone unsure of the type of law they may like

to practice, the rotations provide an invaluable opportunity to test out

different areas of commercial law. My fi rst rotation was in Environment

and Planning. From the get-go I was assisting on large litigation matters,

attending client meetings, drafting briefs to counsel, researching the le-

gal implications of contamination on neighbouring lands and attending

the Land and Environment Court to see the work I was assisting on play

out in the courtroom. I was happy to fi nd that the interesting and diverse

nature of work continued throughout my second rotation in Commercial

Disputes and third rotation in Human Resources and Industrial Rela-

tions. Minter Ellison’s involvement with the Homeless Persons’ Legal

Service also meant that I was able to attend the Women’s and Girls’

Emergency Centre with lawyers from the fi rm who provided legal advice

and took carriage of the women’s matters. Personally, it was really posi-

tive to see such a large proportion of lawyers volunteering their time to

pro-bono work.

My clerkship at Minter Ellison involved hard work, but I also had a great

time. From competing in Minter’s Amazing Race, to singing (almost

always off key) at karaoke, and attempting to act in our clerk video,

I’ve had lot fun and have made some really great friends. My time at

Minter Ellison has been invaluable and I can’t wait to see what the future

brings!

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69LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NORTON ROSE FIRM PROFILE

Norton Rose Australia is a member of Norton Rose Group, a leading

international legal practice offering a full business law service to many of

the world’s pre-eminent fi nancial institutions and corporations.

We are the largest international legal practice in Australia, with offi ces

in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Our international

reach, and in particular our signifi cant presence in the Asia Pacifi c, sets

us apart from our competitors.

Knowing how our clients’ businesses work and understanding what

drives their industries is fundamental to us. Our lawyers share industry

knowledge and sector expertise across borders, enabling us to support

our clients anywhere in the world.

Norton Rose Group has one global set of values or business principles,

based around quality, unity and integrity and apply to all Norton Rose

Group activities and staff worldwide.

We take the view that we are only as strong as our people – which is

why quality training and fl exible work programmes are paramount to our

business. We deliver an extensive range of training programmes targeted

at specifi c stages of our lawyers’ professional development.

We are also proud to be certifi ed by the EOWA as an Employer of Choice

for Women 2012.

SEASONAL CLERKSHIP PROGRAMME

This year we are recruiting 20 seasonal clerks for the Sydney offi ce.

The seasonal clerkship programme runs for 10 weeks in Brisbane, Mel-

bourne, Perth, and Sydney over the summer and will commence on

Monday 26 November 2012.

As a Norton Rose Australia seasonal clerk, you will have the chance to

spend fi ve weeks in one practice group and then rotate into a different

practice area for a further 5 weeks, to broaden your knowledge as much

as possible. Our clerkship programme is your opportunity to start build-

ing a career with a global legal practice, doing meaningful work of value.

You will also be able to get to know our people, working closely with – and

learning from – our associates, senior associates and partners. All in all,

it is an opportunity to experience what life is really like as a graduate.

You will attend various induction sessions, as well as fi rm wide CLE train-

ing and talks from graduates about spending time on secondment to

one of our Asian offi ces. During your time at Norton Rose Australia you

will get to participate in actual work with clients – which could involve

anything from legal research to attending client meetings or court visits.

Another aspect of your clerkship with us will be the social activities that

you can participate in. As a summer clerk you will be included in fi rm

specifi c activities including sporting events, lunches, dinners and various

other social events.

GRADUATE PROGRAMME

The Norton Rose Australia graduate programme runs for a 24-month

period and consists of four six-month rotations, which allow you to expe-

rience a wide variety of legal work and develop a comprehensive skill set.

With this breadth of experience, you will be able to confi dently identify

the area that best suits your talents and career goals.

As part of our national graduate programme, we now provide gradu-

ates in their second year of the programme with a unique opportunity to

undertake a four month rotation in one of our international offi ces. This

formalised learning opportunity introduces you to the broader Norton

Rose Group, including regional and global clients, partners and staff,

and gives invaluable experience of different cultures and legal work.

Throughout the programme, you will also be involved in a regular feed-

back process. This provides an opportunity for ongoing communication

between partners and staff and ensures you maximise your learning

experience.

APPLICATION DATES FOR NEW SOUTH WALES

All applications should be submitted online at

www.nortonrosegraduates.com Applications Open - 13 June 2012.

Applications Close - 13 July 2012. Offers Made - 21 September 2012

THE APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS

If you are interested in applying for a seasonal clerk position at Norton

Rose Australia, you should apply online. You will need to submit your

academic transcript, an up-to-date CV and a covering letter. The inter-

view process consists of two interviews and an information session over

a number of weeks. You will have the opportunity to meet partners and

associates from different groups across the practice, as well as contacts

in Human Resources.

Please apply online at www.nortonrosegraduates.com

LOCAL CONTACT DETAILS:

Name: Yvette Revell, Recruitment Advisor

Email address: [email protected]

Telephone number: +61 (2) 9330 8945

Offi ce address: Level 18, Grosvenor Place, 225 George Street, Sydney,

Australia

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70 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NORTON ROSESUMMER CLERK PROFILE

THE CLERKSHIP PROCESS

The decision to apply for a summer clerkship

is a daunting and at times, overwhelming ex-

perience which all penultimate year law stu-

dents must consider at one stage or another.

The decision is made all the more diffi cult in

light of the diverse range of domestic com-

mercial law fi rms participating in the summer

clerkship scheme. With so many options, it

is important to choose the law fi rm that’s the

right fi t for you, as it will often be the fi rst step

that you take in your legal career.

With a great number of applications to fi nish,

cover letters to tweak and interviews to pre-

pare for, the clerkship process is a frantic time

that can catch the unsuspecting law student

off guard. Knowing what to expect from a sum-

mer clerkship will assist potential candidates in

making a fully informed decision about clerk-

ing at a particular fi rm, and hopefully ease the

pressure of this otherwise stressful time. From

the very fi rst university information session I at-

tended, through to the fi rm’s roundtable meet-

ing, my Norton Rose clerkship experience was

made all the more easier through the quality of

information I received and the staff that I met.

The interviews were conducted in an environ-

ment where I felt comfortable to be myself and

express my personal interests beyond the law.

The drinks evening presented me with one

last opportunity to gauge the culture of Norton

Rose, and interact with members of the fi rm

that I had not previously encountered – not to

mention sample a canapé or two.

CLERKING AT NORTON ROSE

When I fi rst started my summer clerkship at

Norton Rose, I came to the fi rm with an in-

depth knowledge of how to pour a beer from

my years in the hospitality industry and a

great number of hesitations about my virtually

nonexistent experience in the legal domain.

Thankfully, the clerkship was prefaced with a

training program designed to assist my fellow

clerks and I in the transition from university

into the world of corporate law. From Boolean

search terms to billable units, we were skilled

in all the necessary fi elds so as to ensure that

we wouldn’t be thrown into the deep end when

we eventually reached our practice groups.

During my twelve weeks at Norton Rose I was

given the opportunity to do two six-week rota-

tions, fi rstly in Occupation, Health, Safety and

LLB (UTS)SUMMER CLERK 2010/2011

GRADUATE LAWYER 2012

NIALL WATSON-DUNNE

Security, and secondly in Insurance. Over this

time I was exposed to wide variety of local and

international work, and given the chance to

work with several different partners. Some of

the opportunities I was given included drafting

an Issues Paper on draft legislation, attending

client meetings, sitting in on a Coronial Inquest

and preparing a presentation for my Partner

on proportionate liability. I also particularly

enjoyed working on pro bono matters and at-

tending the Homeless Peoples’ Legal Shelter.

There was a defi nite sense of satisfaction to

see documents that I had helped draft, or even

contributed to in a small way, go out to clients.

Whilst my experiences in each rotation were

vastly different, the commonality between the

two was this: highly capable professionals who

genuinely cared about ensuring that my time

at the fi rm was enjoyable and a highly valuable

learning experience.

Work aside, the summer clerkship was also a

highly sociable experience - with the oppor-

tunity to attend monthly and quarterly drinks,

and the odd Christmas party or two, I was able

to get a real sense of the strong emphasis that

Norton Rose places on maintaining a work/life

balance. Additionally, over the summer I de-

veloped some great friendships not only with

my fellow clerks, but also with the lawyers and

administrative staff alike.

My clerkship at Norton Rose was engaging,

challenging, fun, and most of all enjoyable. I

genuinely felt that I was welcomed as part of

the team, that my work and time was valued,

and that I was joining a fi rm that was truly in-

ternational. If a clerkship experience like this is

something that you are looking for, I can gladly

recommend that Norton Rose is the fi rm for you.

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72 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE APPLICATION

72 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

Every law student is looking for a career,

whether it be in commercial law, family

law or human rights. If it is the commer-

cial world your heart seeks, your greatest shot

is to secure a clerkship. How, you may ask, will

you do that?

STEP ONE:

SUBMIT A KILLER APPLICATION.

Without a killer application, there is no inter-

view, and without an interview, there is no

clerkship.

An application for a clerkship will usually in-

clude submitting a cover letter, a resume and

answering a series of fi rm-specifi c application

questions. This article will give you some tips

and tricks into what the typical application

questions are, what the fi rms are looking for

in a candidate, how best to write your applica-

tion, and, most importantly, what not to do in

the application process.

WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL QUESTIONS

THE APPLICATION MIGHT ASK?

Each fi rm will typically have core values they

are looking for in their employees, and each

question will seek to discover how a candidate

represents these core values in both their posi-

tion as an employee and in their everyday life.

QUESTIONS USUALLY FALL INTO ONE

OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

1. Questions aimed at discovering your

motivation for working at the specifi c fi rm

and what you can offer the organisation;

2. Questions addressing your work ethic,

achievements and key employee attrib-

utes;

3. Questions that test your commercial and

legal awareness; and

4. Personal questions involving your extra-

curricular activities and what you are

interested in.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR APPLICATION

STAND OUT: WHAT ARE THE FIRMS

LOOKING FOR?

An interest in the law fi rm you are applying for: a fi rm

is looking for someone who actually desires to

work at their fi rm specifi cally, as opposed to

reading an application that is the replication of

the one you submitted to the other fi rms you

applied for.

A representative of Maddocks highlights that

fi rms are looking for clerks who “genuinely

want to work and build a career” at the fi rm.

Human Resources Consultant at DLA Piper,

Kristie Barton, reiterates this idea, noting that,

“the best response is one which demonstrates

both an understanding of our business as well

as a genuine interest in having a career with

us.”

Make sure you research the fi rm prior to writ-

ing your application, and address specifi c

areas of work the fi rm is involved in or interest-

ing facts about the fi rm, such as recent merg-

ers you may have heard about in the media,

throughout the application. This will ensure

the fi rm believes you are aiming to work in their

fi rm specifi cally, and this will have the added

bonus of showcasing your ability to know the

current legal climate, know how to research,

and will exert enthusiasm above and beyond a

general non-fi rm-specifi c application.

An all-rounded individual: while it is important to

address your academic achievements, a rep-

resentative of Maddocks states that, “we do

not just assess you on your academic results.”

WHY A KILLER APPLICATION IS THE KEYTO YOURCLERKSHIP DREAMS

MICHELLE SMERDON

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73LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE APPLICATION

73LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

Ms Barton outlines that DLA Piper like to see

candidates who are “as engaged as they are

inventive, balanced and friendly,” and that

each fi rm will be looking for “people from a

diverse range of backgrounds.” Ms Barton

states that fi rms want to know about “experi-

ences outside of academic life,” so ensure to

include information regarding your hobbies

and extra-curricular activities.

Jacqui Ellis, who completed a clerkship at a

top tier law fi rm this past Summer, noted: “it is

great if you can highlight your extra-curricular

activities and then link this to how these ac-

tivities will help you in a work environment,

for example I compared my experience as a

dance teacher to being a partner in a law fi rm,

mentoring the junior lawyers.”

Use examples: it is easy for someone to say they

work hard or can research, however, the fi rms

are looking for you to prove the abilities and

attributes you haphazardly declare you have.

Use examples from your current or past em-

ployment, from everyday life or even from Uni-

versity (such as to prove your ability to work

in a team or independently). One of the best

ways to include this is: “I have X attribute. I

displayed this attribute effectively when I par-

took in X activity.”

WHAT TO DO WHILST WRITING

AN APPLICATION:

THOU SHALT:

1. Research the fi rm and tailor your ap-

plication to that fi rm, addressing the

core values of the fi rm in all answers.

Ms Barton warns candidates about sub-

mitting a general application that is a

clear replicate of applications submitted

other fi rms, stating: “beware the ‘cut’ and

‘paste’ function!”

2. Ensure the name of the fi rm and the con-

tact person is spelt correctly (and know

who the contact person is). This mistake

is not looked upon favourably and it will

create a bad fi rst (and defi nitely last) im-

pression.

3. Exemplify your commercial awareness.

A good starting point prior to writing your

application is to read the business pages

of The Age, The Australian, and more

specialised publications such as The

Financial Review.

4. Answer the question and stick to the

world limit. A representative of Maddocks

states: “you will be surprised how many

applications come through that do not

actually address the question” and “we

are not looking for essays, but would like

more than a one word response!”

5. Triple or quadruple check your docu-

ments for correct spelling, grammar and

sentence structure – yes, correct spelling

can change your life.

6. Save, save, save. If the application is

online, be sure to continuously save your

application as a draft. To be safe, it is best

to write your answers in a word document

and then transfer them to the application

when you are fi nished.

THOU SHALT NOT:

1. Pinpoint only one favourite area of law in

your application that is not offered by the

fi rm.

2. Be boring. If something interesting has

happened to you, such as wrestling a lion

in Africa, or you partake in community

volunteer work, tell the fi rm in the ‘about

you’ section of the application. This will

work to your advantage as it is likely to

make your application memorable and

will give you an anecdote for your future

interview.

3. Quote from the fi rm’s website. The fi rm

knows what is on their website, they do

not need you to tell them.

4. Use complicated words. The High Court

is urging for the use of plain English, so

are the big law fi rms.

5. Fail to submit any applications…come

on, time to start writing.

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74 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE APPLICATION

74 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CcvMail is a free online application

service created by Thompson Reuters

to assist students applying for jobs on-

line. This service can be accessed at cvmail.

com.au. Students can upload their personal

and academic details and apply for a number

of clerkship and graduate roles quickly and ef-

fi ciently. cvMail is interactive and easy to use.

Registration takes about one to two minutes,

then you are ready to create your profi le.

However, before you start applying for your

dream positions there are two easy steps to

undertake.

First you will complete a personal profi le,

which contains all your personal information,

and an academic profi le, which contains a

library of information regarding your work

history and academic results. Once you have

uploaded and saved all your information into

your profi le, including your academic results,

this information will automatically be stored in

the program. You can then apply for various

positions.

On the cvMail page you will fi nd tabs for

graduate and seasonal clerkship positions.

Under these tabs tailored information about

each fi rms’ requirements and application clos-

ing dates appear. When applying for positions

in NSW you will be required to attach your

curriculum vitae and covering letter along with

your application. However, it is important to

note that some fi rms have customised applica-

tion forms, which will require you to answer a

number of specifi cally tailored questions.

The questions in the various application forms

help fi rms ascertain certain information about

your personal skills such as; what you can

offer their fi rm, your ability to work in a team

environment and examples of how you have

contributed to work or other social activities.

The application questions are really aimed

at working out how you as a prospective em-

ployee will fi t within the culture of the fi rm.

When applying and fi lling out the forms, sav-

ing your responses is extremely important. The

‘next’ and ‘last’ buttons save your responses

at each step. After pressing the ’next’ or ’last’

buttons, you can at any time return to the page

you’ve completed in order to confi rm your re-

sponses have been saved.

Furthermore, once you press either ‘next’ or

’last’ the navigation bar at the top of the appli-

cation form will highlight the section and mark

it with a tick. Should a red message appear,

scroll down the page and check to see that you

have answered all the questions. The system

will not let you send your application unless all

the requisite fi elds have been completed.

HOW TO USE CVMAIL

NATALIE NASTEVSKA

TOP 5 TIPS AND TRICKS

1. Some fi rms will require you to answer

long questions, draft these responses in

Word fi rst to avoid any spelling or

grammatical mistakes.

2. Upon sending your application you are

provided with a unique receipt number.

Keep it on your own personal fi le as a

record.

3. cvMail has an internal support email

that you can lodge a request with should

you encounter any technical diffi culties. See

[email protected].

4. When completing the application forms

you have 90 minutes to respond to all ques-

tions. The system automatically logs you off

after 90 minutes. So always hit save.

5. Apply as early as possible to avoid the

rush and good luck!!

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THE APPLICATION

75LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

ADDRESSING SELECTION CRITERIA AND

STANDING OUT FROM THE PACK

Have you ever noticed employers list their

ideal employee’s attributes in job advertise-

ments? This is the selection criteria; you must

demonstrate you possess these attributes to

receive an interview (and hopefully land your

dream clerkship or graduate position).

Selection criteria is a set of qualities and at-

tributes that recruiters, primarily in the public

service although use has expanded into the

private sector, use to short list those they

would like to interview from those they won’t.

Rather than thinking of answering selection

criteria as a burdensome task, you should

consider it a pre-interview opportunity and a

mechanism by which to record examples of

skills and abilities you may not recall off the

cuff in an oral interview.

ADDRESSING SELECTION CRITERIA

Before addressing selection criteria you must

ensure you understand what is being asked.

For example, ‘demonstrate knowledge’ means

demonstrate study of and familiarity with a

particular legislation, process or topic area,

while ‘demonstrate ability’ requires you to ad-

dress your practical abilities with regards to

that criterion.

The Australian Public Service Commission

recommends using the STAR method to walk

recruiters through your skills when answering

selection criteria, giving them an opportunity

to pinpoint precisely why you are suitable for

the job.

The STAR method:

1. SITUATION: provide an example, with con-

text, of a situation in which you have under-

taken the particular skill or ability required

by the criteria;

2. TASK: explain what your role was in the

particular scenario, for example were you

required to write submissions, research the

background to a memorandum, or instruct

counsel;

3. ACTION: how did you complete the above

task? For example, if you were required to

research a point of law what databases or

methods of legal research did you utilise; and

4. RESULT: What was the end result in the

scenario and what did the scenario teach

you that would be applicable to the role for

which you are applying?

PICK ME!PICK ME!

AMY SIMPSON

SETTING YOURSELF APART

Remember that knowledge of the law and your

legal studies are only one component. There

are many more skills required in the work-

force, such as communication, teamwork, and

confl ict management. Organisations will look

for people who not only demonstrate those

skills and commitment in their working life,

but also in other social and familial contexts,

so don’t forget to include that unusual hobby

(crocheting, for example, could demonstrate

patience and attention to detail!).

Language can also make a huge difference to

the success of your application. Ensuring that

your spelling and grammar is correct is a fan-

tastic start, but do not underestimate the effect

of using powerful action words like ‘I have’ and

‘I am able to’. Similarly, don’t speak in round-

about terms; future employers and recruiters

will be sorting through hundreds of applica-

tions and you don’t want them overlooking you

because they have had to read between the

lines.

Remember, your selection criterion is different

from your cover letter. Your cover letter should

be used to emphasise your desire to work for

the fi rm and why. Your selection criteria shows

why you would be good for the job.

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76 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE COVER LETTER

76 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

Writing a cover letter is an art. It is

vital you understand exactly what

you are applying for, before you

commence drafting your letters. To ensure

that you are on the right track in writing an

effective cover letter, there are a few factors

to consider.

WHERE DO I START?

Before you start writing your cover letter, you

must ask yourself the following:

WHAT IS THE JOB THAT I AM APPLYING FOR?

Read the job description thoroughly to identify

what the employers are looking for. An effec-

tive way of doing this is by deconstructing and

analysing the assessment criteria in the job

advertisement or clerkship application criteria.

Consider how the criteria that has been listed

relates to the skills and attributes you possess.

WHO WILL BE EMPLOYING ME?

Research the fi rm or workplace that you are

applying for; to ascertain what their fi rm ethos

is, and what they stand for. Look to their vi-

sionary statements and practice aims to get an

indication of the fi rm culture and environment.

Take note of the wording used by the fi rms in

describing themselves. It may be a good idea

to use their ‘buzz’ words in your cover letter,

indicating that you really have an understand-

ing of the fi rm’s attitudes and work place.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

Now it’s time to start writing. Here are a few

steps which you may consider to take when

writing your cover letter:

1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND MAKE IT PERSONAL:

Tell your employers who you are. The key

with any cover letter is to make it as personal

as possible. This means addressing your let-

ter to a real person for a specifi c job. Avoid

the temptation to send out a generic letter.

2. THIS MEANS A BIT OF EXTRA WORK. You may

need to call an organisation and fi nd out who

you need to address your letter to. Spend

some time researching the company (a

quick Google search can help) so that you

can make your letter relevant to the specifi c

job and organisation.

3. START SELLING YOURSELF: Use your previous

job experience and skills to enhance your

application. You should demonstrate to a

potential employer that you understand the

job requirements and can do the job. Include

the skills and experiences you have that are

relevant to the job description.

HINT: Using the direct wording of the employ-

er’s advertised criteria will clearly illustrate

your suitability to their position

4. ENCOURAGE THE READER: You also need to

show that you are enthusiastic and have a

positive attitude towards the potential posi-

tion and the employer’s workplace. This

should make the employer reading your let-

ter want to know more about you and what

you could potentially bring to their position.

5. THE FINAL CALL: following your encouraging

description of yourself and your attributes,

include a short paragraph showing the em-

ployer your enthusiasm by suggesting your

willingness to speak with them further about

the position, through telephone conversa-

tions or an interview/meeting.

HOW TOWRITE ACOVERLETTER

KATHERINE AGAPITOS

GENERAL TIPS:

A COVER LETTER SHOULD:

• Be succinct;

• Be positive and upbeat. Make the hiring

manager interested in reading your CV;

• Add to your CV not reiterate what the CV

already says;

• Address the name – don’t leave it as a ‘dear

sir or madam’;

• Be brief – no longer than a page; and

• Show how your skills can relate to the role

itself.

A COVER LETTER SHOULD NOT:

• Be a summary or repeat of your CV;

• Be a uniform letter you send with all job

applications;

• Have spelling mistakes or grammatical

errors;

• Address the wrong person or fi rm – that

would most likely lead to your application

going in the ‘NO’ pile. Mass produced cover

letters, particularly during clerkship time,

are easy to spot by employers; or

• Be generic – this indicates that you’re

playing a numbers game and that your

strategy is to send out as many applications

as possible. By all means, when you are

applying for a number of different positions,

it might be a good idea to create a basic

template for structural purposes but by the

time you have completed your letter, if you

do not think it is unique, don’t send it.

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77LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE CV

77LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

So, having painstakingly proofed your

cover letter, you now turn to your CV

- your good old curriculum vitae. But,

even though it cinched you that Wendy’s gig

back in Year 10 and held true for your current

offi ce job, will it cut it when it comes to landing

a clerkship interview?

HOW IS A CV DIFFERENT

FROM A RESUME?

Most people would think the terms were inter-

changeable, but a resume tends to be shorter,

more general and less detailed than a CV. You

are looking to create a tailored document of

maximum four pages which canvasses your

education, aspirations, experience and why

you would be suited for the role. It’s not just a

chronological list of things you’ve done, it’s the

fi rms’ fi rst introduction to you.

TIP #1 – KEEP IT HONEST

The golden rule: don’t include anything that

you wouldn’t be comfortable discussing or

proving in an interview. The temptation to pad

out your skills or past activities is a strong one,

but one that should be resisted at all costs -

you risk being found out in the interview or,

worse, while in the role. Avoid using obscure

or misleading job titles like ‘Visual Clearance

Engineer’ to describe your summer job as a

window washer. They are more likely to ask

about it in an interview and you will look foolish

when you tell them what it really means. Don’t

sell yourself short - all professional experience

is relevant, even if it isn’t legal-based. A job

that might seem mundane and in need of jazz-

ing up is often already interesting to employers

who will want to know what transferable skills

you acquired. Work with what you already

have going for you.

TIP #2 – KEEP IT RECENT

All achievements, experience and qualifi ca-

tions should be set out in reverse-chronolog-

ical order with the most recent fi rst and the

oldest last.

TIP #3 – KEEP IT CONSISTENT

There is no ‘one size fi ts all’ rule for how a CV

should be structured or presented, but there

are some ground rules that all applicants

should follow. Keep fonts and formatting sim-

ple and consistent - stick with Times New Ro-

man, Arial or Calibri and leave your fancy fonts

for the party invitations you’ll send out when

you get into the fi rm. Do not reduce margins

and ensure font is at least size 11, preferably

size 12. Do use boldface, italics, sub-headings

and bullet points. Avoid excessive use of col-

our or the inclusion of a photograph - neither

are necessary and both can distract from the

actual content.

HOW TOWRITE AGREAT CV

JAMESINA MCLEOD

TIP #4 – KEEP IT FOCUSED

Your cover letter shows off your personal-

ity, your CV gives it substance. It’s purpose

is to snare you a clerkship interview and so it

should clearly and concisely focus on experi-

ences and qualifi cations that make you suit-

able for the role you’re applying for. All fi rms

will provide a set of criteria for potential candi-

dates to meet - make sure you clearly address

these points early on in your CV. Be discerning

about which of your activities and experiences

to list - you should be able to relate everything

you mention back to the selection criteria in

some way. Be ruthless and ask yourself: “Does

a recruiter really need to know this to decide if

I’m suitable for the role?”

That’s not to say you need to be boring. If

you’ve got extra-curriculars, interesting or

unusual hobbies, or ongoing commitments

to non-law activities, these are still relevant in

showing that you lead a balanced lifestyle and

are able to manage time effectively. They’re

looking for quality skills and presentation, but

amidst that they’re also hoping for a glimpse of

personality which they would ideally like to see

more of in an interview. Use your discretion - if

an activity or achievement was important to

you and what you stand for, then keep it in

and evaluate how it would make you an even

better choice for a fi rm.

TIP #5 – KEEP IT READABLE

Avoid using long or multisyllabic words just

because you can. Keep sentences concise

and favour bullet points where possible. You

should not be writing great passages of in-

formation, your chance to express yourself is

in your cover letter. Make sure to spell check

it yourself. Twice. At least. Autocorrect is far

from perfect and will change many words to

American spelling without you realising it.

Read it aloud -if you have to pause for breath

more than once during a sentence, you’re ei-

ther heavily asthmatic or it’s too long.

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78 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE CV

SAMPLE CVELOISE SNELL

PERSONAL DETAILS

Eloise Elizabeth Snell

5 Hawthorne Circuit, Taralga, NSW 2400

0412 392 001/ 9894 9044

[email protected]

CAREER OBJECTIVES

I would like to combine my interest in social justice with my desire to establish a career in a

corporate fi rm. I would ideally like to play a part in managing in-house pro bono initiatives for a

large commercial fi rm to enhance the company’s profi le and the accessibility of legal services to

the broader community.

EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws - University of Technology

Commenced March 2009, expected completion in December 2013

The University of Technology, Sydney

AWARDS:

2011 - Awarded First Place in Contracts Law

2009 - Awarded Leslie H. Lino Prize for Commendable Effort in Perspectives on Law

Transcript available upon request.

William Forrestor Comprehensive High School

Class of 2008

HSC: 98 UAI

First in the state in Modern History

Use your name as the main heading

rather than writing “Resume” or “CV”

Ensure you include your name, address,

professional email address and your

contact number. It is up to you whether

you include your date of birth.

This section is optional but allows you to

show any long-term aspirations for your

professional career path. Ideally have

it tailored to the specifi c fi rm. Keep it

specifi c, brief and factual. If unsure, it is

better to leave this section out - your cover

letter will often be enough.)

Most relevant for students who often don’t

have legal experience.

Check with the fi rm if they need your

offi cial transcript before the interview

You may or may not choose to include

your secondary education

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79LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE CV

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Paralegal

James Elliot Woods and Co. (Neutral Bay)

February 2009 - Present

Working for a boutique fi rm of solicitors, specialising in intellectual property and media law.

RESPONSIBILITIES: research into current defamation laws and legal cases; delivery of documents to

clients; general offi ce duties

ACHIEVEMENTS: created an educational pamphlet for prospective clients; discovered a factual error

on offi cial court documents that was instrumental in successfully defending the client

TRAINING: LEAP software, Dictaphone, typing speed 40wpm

MAI THAI RESTAURANT (CLOVELLY)

June 2008 - January 2009

General fl oor and hospitality service in a large, busy, upmarket restaurant.

RESPONSIBILITIES: customer service; cash handling; complaints handling; receptionist work

ACHIEVEMENTS: promoted to head supervisor after 6 weeks; created a digital rostering schedule

that allowed staff to contact each other more directly and so ensure no shifts were left uncovered

TRAINING: MYOB, Certifi cate in Retail Management IV

VOLUNTEERING AND EXTRA-CURRICULARS

2011

• Sports Director - UTS Law Students’ Society - liased with other universities and students to

create intervarsity initiatives promoting fi tness and wellbeing.

• Jeans4Genes Day - volunteer badge seller

2009

• Law Revue Music Director - UTS Law Students’ Society - co-ordinated 30 musicians and

aided in advertising and band selection.

OTHER INTERESTS

• Piano and guitar - 8th grade AMEB qualifi ed

• Field Hockey

REFEREES

• Referees available upon request.

Give a brief description of your workplace,

responsibilities and achievements relevant

to your application

Don’t forget to include

your technical skills!

Generally references are not imme-

diately required but make sure you

have some professional references

lined up and that they know they

may be contacted.

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80 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE INTERVIEW

80 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

Assessment Centres and Aptitude test-

ing are some of the recruitment meth-

ods that law fi rms might use to rank

candidates, determining their suitability for a

clerkship. Interviews however are the main re-

cruiting method, yet candidates often overlook

the important role that interviews play and are

usually underprepared for an interview. How

do you make sure that you make it through to

the offer stage? You need to ensure that you

confi dent in mastering each stage of the re-

cruitment process, especially at interview.

WHY DO LAW FIRMS USE THESE

METHODS WHEN RECRUITING?

Clerkships are becoming increasingly more

competitive each year, requiring recruiters to

use a stricter set of criteria to further stream-

line the recruitment process. The Law Society

of NSW recorded from their survey of member

law fi rms, a dramatic increase from 10,800

applications in 2010 to 12,600 in 2011 of law

clerkship applications received. This roughly

accounts for an increase of 15% in applica-

tions. This increase could be attributed to

several aspects including that some students

may be applying for multiple fi rms, it could

also have something to do with the increase

of students studying law, placing a greater

value on the role that clerkships play in their

future career development. With this recruiters

are placing a greater emphasis on selection in

each stage of the recruitment process espe-

cially at interview stage, requiring each indi-

vidual applicant to meet all of the requested

criteria.

SO WHAT ARE RECRUITERS

LOOKING FOR?

After the initial step of either a resume or

cover letter screen to determine a candidate’s

suitability, you will receive your fi rst contact

with the employer either by email or through

a phone screen. Following this you may be

invited to a fi rst interview which is usually

conducted in person with either a partner or

human resources representative. Individual

interviews may run between 30 minutes to

an hour and are usually structured around

introductory, situational / hypothetical, and

behavioural questions. This fi rst interview is

the time to sell your abilities and achievements

to the interviewer by showcasing evidence of

your previous experience and involvement

through related activities. This is also the time

to show your interest in the fi rm and the work

that they do. A panel interview may also be

conducted when the law fi rm requires a sec-

ond or third opinion. Instead of getting you to

interview two or three times, a fi rm may have

at least two or three people (usually a partner

and a human resources representative and

sometimes a current graduate) interviewing.

Usually the panel members will take it in turns

asking questions, or sometimes you may have

one scribing and the other interviewing. The

purpose of the panel is not to intimidate but

to ensure fairness. Maintain eye contact with

the person who asks you the question, but oc-

casionally look at the other panel members so

they feel you are engaging with them.

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS

HELENA ASHERCAREERS CONSULTANTUTS CAREERS SERVICE

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81LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE INTERVIEW

81LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

HOW CAN YOU DEMONSTRATE THAT

YOU WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT FIRST

CHOICE AS A CANDIDATE FOR THEIR

CLERKSHIP?

Answer the interviewer/s’ questions in a clear,

enthusiastic and succinct way. One of the fi rst

questions you will be asked will usually be an

introductory question such as “tell me about

yourself”. This is a time to convince the inter-

viewer that you have confi dence in your abili-

ties and briefl y mention what you are studying

and how well you are doing academically. You

may also wish to mention your involvement in

any related groups and societies. It might look

something like: “I’m a penultimate year Law

student doing a combined degree in XYZ at

UTS with an interest in 1234 area of law. I am

also the publications assistant of the UTS Law

Students’ Society, which I have been a mem-

ber of since fi rst year.”

WHAT IS THE INTERVIEWER

LOOKING FOR?

Law fi rms usually look for well-rounded in-

dividuals who have a history of academic

achievement but also people who can dem-

onstrate that they have a healthy balance

of involvement in extracurricular activities,

including university societies, sporting groups

and community work. In addition to this, em-

ployers like to see that students have done

some form of casual employment for at least

six months and can demonstrate employability

skills such as teamwork, communication and

problem solving.

You will usually be able to draw on these ex-

periences to answer most of the interviewer’s

questions, however you will need to prepare

a couple of specifi c examples to help you as

it is often diffi cult to remember these on the

spot. Create yourself an interview journal or

notebook where you can write down examples

where you have demonstrated skills such as

problem solving, team building, leadership,

communication, organisational ability and at-

tention to detail. You may want to look at the

law fi rm’s website to see what criteria they

mention is important, organisations usually do

mention this is in either the job advertisement

or position description.

Prepare a couple of questions for the inter-

viewer that may draw on areas that demon-

strate your interest, for example “I am very in-

terested in the area of dispute resolution, as a

summer clerk in what way would I be involved

with this area.” Even ask the interviewer about

their own experience with the fi rm and why

they enjoy working there.

Make sure you get some practice answering

interview questions, whether with a friend, a

careers counsellor or even by recording your-

self and listening back to your answers – prac-

tice makes perfect!

The Careers Service run workshops to help

you prepare for interviews and we also will

be running Resume Review sessions in July

where you can come and have your clerkship

resume and cover letter checked before you

submit it to the fi rm.

The Careers Service provides a broad range

of workshops and resources to help you get

career focused, have a look on our website:

http://www.careers.uts.edu.au or like us on

Facebook and keep up to date with UTS

Careers events and information: http://www.

facebook.com/UTSCareers

Don’t forget about the list of law related job op-

portunities that are advertised in the Law Stu-

dents’ Society website too: http://www.utslss.

com/careers/opportunities

Good luck!

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82 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE INTERVIEW

82 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

INTERVIEW PREPARATION

So, you’ve meticulously compiled an outstand-

ing curriculum vitae and cover letter, trawled

through endless advertised clerkship and in-

ternships, and wistfully sent your applications

out, waiting, hoping, for a response. Then, just

when you thought you would never hear back,

you receive a call! It’s a would -be employer!

Inviting you for an interview– congratulations!

After the momentary elation you become

stricken with fear- you realise you must face

the interview. How are you going to prepare

and what should you expect from the inter-

view? Well, stress no more. To help give you

the edge needed to secure the clerkship that

you’ve always dreamed of, we’ve sussed out

the types of questions you should be prepared

to answer and ask on the big day.

RESEARCH THE ROLE

Any employer will want to see that you are mo-

tivated and that you want to work for their or-

ganisation. In order to show this, it is important

to research the position, the fi rm and demon-

strate your knowledge when you’re answering

your interview questions.

YOU SHOULD:

• Review the position description and key

selection criteria

• Check the fi rm’s website to familiarise

yourself with its objectives and what it

values in its people

• Ensure that you know what the fi rm’s

areas of expertise are and are prepared to

demonstrate that you are interested in those

areas

• Read about clients that the fi rm has

represented or cases that the fi rm has been

involved in

• Read any journal articles that may have

been written by current employees in the

fi rm or newspaper articles written about the

fi rm

TYPES OF QUESTIONS

YOU MIGHT BE ASKED

Employers will use the interview to assess your

capacity to meet the selection criteria so it is a

good idea to use the position description and

selection criteria as a guide to what questions

you may be asked. Keep the selection crite-

ria in the back of your mind when answering

questions in the interview.

ALL ABOUT YOU

These sorts of questions are generally used as

a bit of an icebreaker. They also give the inter-

viewer a good idea of your personal attributes

and allow you to expand upon what is written

in your application. When answering these

questions, make sure to demonstrate how

your studies, skills and experiences highlight

that you are a good fi t for the fi rm. Think about

how you might answer the following questions:

• Tell me a bit about yourself?

• Why did you decide to study law and what

have been your favourite subjects?

• Would you say that your academic perfor-

mance is a good indication of how you will

perform in this role?

• It says on your resume you have experience

in retail, how do you think that will help you

as a summer clerk?

• What are your strengths and why are you

the best person to be included in our clerk-

ship program?

• What are you weaknesses?

When describing your weaknesses, pick ones

that you have been able to overcome or are

actively working on improving. This will dem-

onstrate to the interviewer your strategy in

managing diffi culties.

WHY YOU?

Use these questions as your chance to con-

vince the interviewer that you are the best

candidate to be a summer clerk and that they

should choose you over other potential sum-

mer clerks that have applied.

THEQUESTIONS

INGRID WOON

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83LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE INTERVIEW

83LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

• Why did you decide to apply for a summer

clerkship and why do you want to work

here?

• Tell me what you know about the fi rm and

why it interests you?

• What do you feel you can offer to the fi rm?

• Describe your biggest achievement. How

does it demonstrate that you will work well

in our fi rm?

BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS

These types of questions are often based

around the selection criteria and allow the

interviewer to assess how you will behave in

situations likely to occur in the clerkship you

have applied for. They require you to use

specifi c examples from your past experiences

to demonstrate your employability skills such

as organisation, teamwork, communication,

problem solving, interpersonal skills, initiative,

etc.

SOME EXAMPLES ARE:

• Tell me about a time when you were

involved in a team and a problem arose.

What was your role? How did you contribute

to fi nding a solution?

• Have you ever been in a position where you

had to handle a diffi cult client or customer?

Tell me how you did this.

• Describe a time when you have had to use

your existing skills to adapt to a new and

unfamiliar situation. How did you manage?

• Tell me about a time when you have shown

initiative.

In answering these questions, a good ap-

proach is to use the STAR method:

SITUATION – describe the situation

TASK – outline what needed to be done

ACTION – describe what you did in the situation

and the reasons for your action

RESULT – refl ect on the outcome of your actions

and the benefi ts they created

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

Towards the end of an interview, you will likely

be given the opportunity to ask some ques-

tions of your own. This is benefi cial to both the

interviewer and to you – the interviewer can

assess your interest in the fi rm and how seri-

ously you have been thinking about how you

will fi t in their summer clerkship program. It

also gives you the chance to clarify any un-

certainties that you might still have. Don’t ask

questions that could have been found on the

fi rm’s website!

YOU COULD ASK ABOUT:

• Professional training and development

opportunities that the fi rm provides

• How your role as a summer clerk fi ts into

the organisational structure of the fi rm

• Specifi c details of the role such as what

systems you will be using or whether you

will be participating in client interviews

FINAL TIPS

• Make sure that prior to the interview that

you practice some responses. You might

like to ask a friend or relative to ask you

some of the example questions above.

• Get to the interview at least ten minutes

early.

• Always be honest and confi dent in your an-

swers to show your motivation and passion

in a summer clerkship and the fi rm.

Goodluck!

Page 84: 2012 Clerkship Guide

84 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE INTERVIEW

84 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

Reaching the interview stage for a clerk-

ship application is quite an achieve-

ment, but make no mistake- fi rst

impressions last. Your fashion sense will not

get you the job, but it will say a lot about your

professionalism and presentation. The idea is

to dress professionally: conservative, simple

and neutral.

Men: Men should wear a suit, a buttoned up

long sleeve shirt with a tie and polished dress

shoes in a dark colour to match your suit. As

for the suit colour; dark and neutral colours

are appropriate. Ensure facial hair is properly

groomed to look neat and professional.

Women: Like men, a suit (either pants or skirts)

are appropriate in dark and neutral colours. A

shirt or conservative blouse should be worn

with the suit. If wearing a professional dress,

this should always be accompanied by a suit

jacket. With dresses and skirts, ensure it is

(at a minimum) knee length and worn with

CLERKSHIP INTERVIEW FASHION:THE FIRSTIMPRESSION

JESSICA AYE

neutral colour hosiery, with no ladders. Shoes

should be closed-toed court heels with a heel

no more than 2.5inches high, preferably col-

our matched to your suit jacket.

Both: As for hair, keep it groomed, neat and not

covering your face. Fragrance, makeup and

accessories should be kept to a light, modest

and simple choice. Any facial or non-discrete

piercings should be removed. As for a bag or

briefcase, it is a personal choice, but if you

choose a bag try and make it a neutral colour

with a relatively simple design.

Remember, the most important part of the in-

terview is your performance, not your fashion

sense. You don’t want to distract the attention

away from what you have to say. Play it safe,

conservative, professional and respectable. A

nice and clean look will not restrict your per-

sonality shining through in the interview. After

all, you’ve made it this far on your words alone.

Page 85: 2012 Clerkship Guide

85LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

THE INTERVIEW

85LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

ON THE DAY:SURVIVE LAW’S CLERKSHIPINTERVIEW GAME PLAN

KATHRYN CROSSLEYEDITORSURVIVE LAW

The lead-up to a clerkship interview can

be pretty nerve-wracking, but if a fi rm

has contacted you for an interview,

that’s a very good sign that they believe you

have the right mix of skills, experience and

personality to clerk with them; the interview is

really about getting to know you better.

INTERVIEW PREP

Now is the time to re-read your clerkship ap-

plication (and be dazzled by the eloquence of

your cover letter). Brush up on your knowledge

of the law fi rm as the question, “what interests

you about a clerkship at our law fi rm” is almost

guaranteed.

It is very unlikely that you will need to answer

a substantive law question in a clerkship inter-

view (phew!) but it is a good idea to practice

answering some standard interview questions.

Get a friend to play the role of the interviewer

and ask for their honest feedback about your

responses. It goes without saying that this

practice interview is going to feel very nerdy,

but it will help you to feel more confi dent in

the real interview.

But the big question seems to be “what will I

wear?” Try on different outfi t options and get

a second opinion from a fashion-loving friend.

If you need to buy new clothes or have items

dry-cleaned or altered, avoid doing it at the last

minute.

Now to work out how you’re going to get

there. Check travel times on Google Maps or

131500.com.au, and factor in a comfortable

buffer to allow for bad traffi c and late trains. Al-

ways write down the name and phone number

of your interviewer so that you can call ahead

if you’re running late.

Towards the end of the interview you will be

given the opportunity to ask questions, so pre-

pare a few insightful questions about the fi rm

and their clerkship program in advance.

INTERVIEW DAY

If you’re feeling anxious, try to start the day

with some exercise to relieve stress and help

you feel more alert. Eat a fi lling and healthy

breakfast to avoid a growling stomach or a fad-

ing sugar high in the interview.

When you arrive at the law fi rm, take a minute

to check your appearance, turn off your phone

and take a few deep breaths.

Greet your interviewer(s) with a smile and a

fi rm handshake. It may be helpful to respond

to their introductions with a “nice to meet you,

(insert their name here)” to help you remem-

ber their names.

In the interview, sit up straight, speak clearly

and make eye contact. It’s okay to ask the

interviewer to clarify the question or to take

a moment to consider your answer. Interview

nerves make it hard, but try your best to come

across as confi dent, positive and enthusiastic.

At the end of the interview, shake the inter-

viewer’s hand and thank them for their time.

WHAT NEXT?

Avoid spending hours analysing every moment

of your interview. Don’t beat yourself up if you

think you’ve blown it – stay positive because

you might be surprised!

Check out survivelaw.com for more careers

tips, study advice and general law student

madness.

Page 86: 2012 Clerkship Guide

86 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

CONDITIONS WHEN APPLYING

NSW LAW SOCIETY

SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

The 2012 Summer Clerkship Program is co-

ordinated by the Law Society of NSW for the

benefi t of law fi rms in NSW and law schools.

The Summer Clerkship Program is gener-

ally open to penultimate year law students.

Students should confi rm with each law fi rm

whether the fi rm intends to make offers for

graduate or summer clerkship positions out-

side the desired year group before submitting

their application to the selected law fi rm.

Students should be mindful that the programs

are competitive in nature and recruitment is

not guaranteed for either program.

Each participating law fi rm has its own ap-

plication process. Students should send their

completed application in the format preferred

by the fi rm of their choice. The Student Ap-

plication Form* is to be used only where

specifi cally required by the fi rm. For fi rm re-

quirements view the list of Participating Law

Firms for the Summer Clerk Program and the

Graduate Employment Program.

For more details as to the Guidelines imposed

on law fi rms and candidates, refer to the Law

Society of New South Wales’ website (www.

lawsociety.com.au)

The Law Society cannot accept lodgment of

student applications.

Students should direct all enquiries to the law

fi rm of their choosing, or alternatively, email

Roya Eizadi at [email protected].

CONDITIONS WHENAPPLYING

DATE ACTIVITY

Wednesday 13 June Applications for summer clerkships open.

Friday 13 July Applications for summer clerkships close at 5.00pm.

Monday 13 August Interviews for summer clerkships commence.

Friday 21 September Offers for summer clerkships can be made.

Tuesday 25 September Offers for summer clerkships must be accepted or

declined by 5.00pm.

2012 PROGRAM DEADLINES

YOU MUST ENSURE YOU MEET THESE DEADLINES

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87LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

FIRMSUMMER CLERKSHIP OR

GRADUATE PROGRAMCONTACT DETAILS CV MAIL OR INTERNAL APPLICATION

ALLEN & OVERY SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 25, 85 Castlereagh St,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9373 7700

Fax: 02 9373 7710

CONTACT: The Australian Recruitment

Team

Email: australianrecruitment@

allenovery.com

Submit applications online via:

www.allenovery.com/careers

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV and current academic

transcript)

ALLENS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Deutsche Bank Place,

Cnr Hunter & Phillip St,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9230 4000

Fax: 02 9230 5333

CONTACT: Ms. Tiffany Rogers

(National Graduate Resourcing

Consultant)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.allens.com.au/careers

ASHURST (formerly BLAKE DAWSON) SYDNEY

SUMMER CLERKSHIP

PROGRAM ONLY

CANBERRA

SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM AND

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

SYDNEY

Level 36, Grosvenor Place,

225 George Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9258 6924

Fax: 02 9258 6999

Courier to: Level 35, Grosvenor Place

225 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000

CONTACT: Ms. Amy Foulcher

(People Development Consultant)

Email: [email protected]

CANBERRA

Level 11, 12 Moore Street,

Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6234 4078

Fax: 02 6234 4111

CONTACT: Ms. Margot Kindley

(People Development Manager)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

http://www.ashurst.com/graduates

(Please include a covering letter, detailed

CV, current academic transcript and

response to application questions)

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SOLICITOR SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM AND

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

50 Blackall Street, Barton ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6253 7286

Fax: 02 6253 7333

CONTACT: Ms. Lynda Mathey

(People and Career

Development Manager)

Email: [email protected]

Application Form available from

www.ags.gov.au

Submit applications via email:

[email protected]

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88 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

BAKER & MCKENZIE SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 27, AMP Centre, 50 Bridge Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 8922 0200 / 02 8922 5482

Fax: 02 9225 1595

CONTACT: Ms. Posy McGrane (Talent

Management Consultant – Graduates)

Email: posy.mcgrane@bakermckenzie.

com

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

For more information go to:

www.bakermckenzie.com/Australia

BANKI HADDOCK FIORA SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 10, 179 Bridge Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9266 3412

Fax: 02 9266 3455

CONTACT: Ms Kate Haddock (Partner)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications via email:

[email protected]

(Applications should include a covering

letter and detailed CV)

For more information go to:

www.bhf.com.au/Careers.html

BROWN WRIGHT STEIN GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ONLY Level 6, 179 Elizabeth Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9394 1065

Fax: 02 9394 1011

CONTACT: Ms. Karen Appleby

(Human Resources Director)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

http://www.bwslawyers.com.au/careers.aspx

CLAYTON UTZ SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY SYDNEY

Level 15, 1 Bligh Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9353 5426

Fax: 02 8220 6700

CONTACT: Ms. Catherine Craven

(Graduate Recruiter)

Email: [email protected]

CANBERRA

Level 8, Canberra House,

40 Marcus Clarke Street,

Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6279 4000

Fax: 02 6279 4099

CONTACT: Mrs. Vicki Thompson (Human

Resources Manager)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

http://www.claytonutz.com/careers/

graduates_and_clerkships/home.page

CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 36, Governor Phillip Tower,

1 Farrer Place,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9210 6164

Fax: 02 9210 6611

CONTACT: Ms. Sara Benvenuti

(Human Resources Co-ordinator)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.makingcareersense.com

For more information go to:

www.corrs.com.au

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89LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

COSGRIFF ORCHARD LEGAL GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ONLY PO Box 858, Echuca VIC 3564

Phone: 03 5480 6344

Fax: 03 5480 6393

CONTACT: Mr. Colin Height

(Business Manager)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.colegal.com.au/careers or

www.cvmail.com.au

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

AND JUSTICE – NSW

SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 14, Swire House, 10 Spring Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 8061 9235 / 02 8061 9238

Fax: 02 8061 9370

CONTACT: Ms. Julia Carland

(Policy Offi cer)

Email: [email protected]

Ms. Julia McNamara (Policy Offi cer)

Email: [email protected].

au

Student Application Form to be sent via

email: [email protected]

Further information is available

from the website at

www.lpclrd.lawlink.nsw.gov.au

DIBBSBARKER SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 8, Angel Place, 123 Pitt Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 8233 9525

Fax: 02 8233 9555

CONTACT: Ms. Libby Toohey

(People and Development Consultant)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

For more information go to:

www.dibbsbaker.com

DLA PIPER AUSTRALIA SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY SYDNEY

201 Elizabeth Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9286 8585

Fax: 02 9283 4144

CONTACT: Ms. Kristie Barton (HR

Consultant)

Email: [email protected]

CANBERRA

Level 1, Phillips Fox Building,

54 Marcus Clarke Street,

Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6201 8776

Fax: 02 6230 7848

CONTACT: Ms. Anna Sirosh (Human

Resources Manager)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV and current academic

transcript)

For more information go to:

www.dlapiper.com

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90 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

FREEHILLS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 38, MLC Centre,

19-29 Martin Place,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9322 4792

Fax: 02 9322 4000

CONTACT: Ms. Leigh Dunlop

(Graduate Recruitment Advisor)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV and current academic

transcript)

For more information go to:

www.freehills.com.au/careers

GADENS LAWYERS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 16, 77 Castlereagh Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9035 7158

Fax: 02 9931 4888

CONTACT: Ms. Julia Bucci (Human

Resources Offi cer)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications via email:

[email protected]

For more information go to:

www.gadens.com.au

GILBERT + TOBIN LAWYERS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 37, 2 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9263 4067

Fax: 02 9263 4111

CONTACT: Ms. Emma Garmston

(Human Resources Co-ordinator)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

For more information go to:

http://me.gtlaw.com.au

HARMERS WORKPLACE LAWYERS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 28, 31 Market Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9267 4322

Fax: 02 9264 4295

CONTACT: Ms. Kylie Cushway

Email: [email protected]

Mr. Paul Lorraine (Special Consultant

and Team Leader)

Email: [email protected]

Submit application via email:

[email protected]

(Applications should include an

application form, covering letter, detailed

CV and current academic transcript).

For more information go to:

www.harmers.com.au

HENRY DAVIS YORK SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY 44 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9947 6532

Fax: 02 9947 6999

CONTACT: Ms. Lena Ristevski (People and

Development Offi cer)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV and current academic

transcript).

For more information go to: www.hdy.

com.au/Careers

HICKSONS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 32, 2 Park St, Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9293 5393

Fax: 02 9293 5333

CONTACT: Ms. Kawser Akter

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via: http://

www.hicksons.com.au/Summer-Clerk-

Program- 22.aspx

(Complete an online application, include

a covering letter, detailed CV and current

academic transcript and submit to

[email protected])

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91LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

HOLDING REDLICH SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 65, MLC Centre, 19 Martin Place,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 8083 0474

Fax: 02 8083 0399

CONTACT: Ms. Anna Peters

(Human Resources Manager)

Email: anna.peters@holdingredlich.

com.au

Submit applications via email:

[email protected]

For more information go to:

www.holdingredlich.com.au/careers

HUNT & HUNT GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ONLY Level 13, Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9391 3054

Fax: 02 9391 3099

CONTACT: Ms. Rebecca Sutherland

(Human Resources Generalist)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

http://www.hunthunt.com.au/careers/

graduates-clerkships/ or in hard copy.

(Complete the Law Society Student

Application Form, include a detailed CV,

current academic transcript, HSC results

and UAI or equivalent)

JOHNSON WINTER & SLATTERY SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 25, 201 Bond Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 08 8239 7127

Fax: 08 8239 7100

CONTACT: Ms. Romaine Ponniah

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.jws.com.au/submit_your_cv.php

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV and current academic

transcript)

JONES DAY SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Aurora Place, Level 41, 88 Phillip St,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 8272 0509

Fax: 02 8272 0599

CONTACT: Mr. Peter Brabant (Associate)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications via email to:

[email protected]

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV and your academic

transcript)

For more information go to:

www.jonesday.com/sydney/careers

KING & WOOD MALLESONS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY SYDNEY

Level 61, Governor Phillip Tower,

1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9296 3579

Fax: 02 9296 3999

CONTACT: Ms. Sam Garner (Graduate

Resourcing Manager)

Email: [email protected]

CANBERRA

Level 5, 7 London Circuit,

Canberra ACT 2001

Phone: 02 6217 6632

Fax: 02 6217 6999

CONTACT: Ms. Melissa Crampton (People

and Development Centre Manager)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.kwm.com

(Complete an online application and

include a detailed CV and current

academic transcript)

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92 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

LANDER & ROGERS LAWYERS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM AND

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Level 5, Angel Place, 123 Pitt St,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 03 9269 9333

Fax: 03 9269 9001

CONTACT: Ms. Natalie Colton

(Recruitment Consultant)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV and academic

transcript)

For more information go to:

www.landers.com.au/jobs

MADDOCKS GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ONLY Angel Place, 123 Pitt St,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9225 6215

Fax: 02 9221 0872

CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Andrews

(Graduate and Learning & Development

Co-ordinator)

Email: michelle.andrews@maddocks.

com.au

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

For more information go to:

www.maddocks.com.au/careers

MIDDLETONS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 26, 52 Martin Place,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9513 2571

Fax: 02 9513 2399

CONTACT: Mr. David Forner (Human

Resources Coordinator)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.middletons.com/careers

(Complete an online application and

include a detailed CV and current

academic transcript)

MINTER ELLISON SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY SYDNEY

GPO Box 521, 88 Phillip Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9921 4017

Fax: 02 9921 8123

CONTACT: Ms. Liana Hurry

(Graduate Recruiting Consultant)

Email: [email protected]

CANBERRA

Level 3, 25 National Circuit,

Forrest ACT 2603

Phone: 02 6225 3753

Fax: 02 6225 1706

CONTACT: Ms Felicity McCook

(Human Resources Manager)

Email: felicity.mccook@minterellison.

com

Submit applications online via:

www.minterellison.com/careers

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV, current academic

transcript and our online application).

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93LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

NORTON ROSE SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 18, Grosvenor Place,

225 George Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9330 8945

Fax: 02 9330 8111

CONTACT: Ms. Yvette Revell

(Recruitment Advisor)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

For more information go to:

www.nortonrose.com.au

SLATER & GORDON SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 5, 44 Market Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

GPO Box 1584, Sydney 2001

Phone 02 8267 0676 / 02 8267 0681

Fax: 02 8267 0650

CONTACT: Ms. Shannon Mack

(HR Advisor)

Ms. Julia Newing (HR Advisor)

Email: humanresourcesNSW@

slatergordon.com.au

Submit applications via email:

humanresourcesNSW@slatergordon.

com.au

(Applications should include a covering

letter, detailed CV and current academic

transcript).

For more information go to:

www.slatergordon.com.au/careers

SOPHIE GRACE PTY LTD SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM AND

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

GPO Box 4216, Sydney NSW 2001

Phone: 02 8249 4464

Fax: 02 8249 4001

CONTACT: Ms. Sophie Gerber (Director)

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications via email:

[email protected]

For more information go to:

www.sophiegrace.com.au

SPARKE HELMORE GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ONLY Level 16, 321 Kent Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9260 2439

Fax: 02 9373 3599

CONTACT: Ms. Andrea McFadzean

(Recruitment Consultant)

Email: andrea.mcfadzean@sparke.

com.au

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

For more information go to:

www.sparke.com.au/careers

THOMSONS LAWYERS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Australia Square Tower, Level 25,

264 George St,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 8248 5802

Fax: 02 8248 5899

CONTACT: Ms. Kerri Cahalane

(HR Adviser)

Email: kcahalane@thomsonslawyers.

com.au

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

Complete the online application form

and include your covering letter, resume,

and academic transcript.

For more information go to:

www.thomsonlawyers.com.au

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94 LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

TRESSCOX LAWYERS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 20, 135 King Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9228 9222

Fax: 02 9228 9299

CONTACT: Ms. Katrina Willebrands

(HR Adviser)

Email: katrina_willebrands@tresscox.

com.au

Submit applications online via:

www.cvmail.com.au

For more information go to:

www.tresscox.com.au/careers

TRUMAN HOYLE LAWYERS SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 11, 68 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9226 9888

Fax: 02 9226 9899

CONTACT: Ms. Kathryn Edghill

Email: [email protected]

Submit applications via email:

[email protected]

For more information go to:

www.trumanhoyle.com.au

WEBB HENDERSON SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY Level 18, 420 George St,

Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: 02 8214 3502

CONTACT: Ms. Karen Rowland

Email: karen.rowland@webbhenderson.

com

Submit applications online via:

www.webbhenderson.com/summerclerk

ADDITIONAL FIRMS RUNNING SUMMER CLERKSHIPS INCLUDE

CHAMPION LEGAL SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY

From 9 January 2013 to 22 February

2013

Level 3, 60 Phillip St,

Parramatta NSW 2150

Phone: 9635 8266

CONTACT: Ms. Celeste White

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]

Attn: Celeste White

Applications through our website:

www.championlegal.com.au

Same deadlines as the NSW Law Society

Summer Clerkship Program

HERBERT GEER SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM AND

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Level 12, 77 King St,

Sydney NSW 2000

Ph: 02 9249 4600

CONTACT: Claire Donnelly (Human

Resources Consultant)

Email: [email protected]

Apply through www.cvmail.com.au and

our website. Attach a cover letter, resume

and academic transcript.

For more information go to:

www.herbertgeer.com.au

Page 95: 2012 Clerkship Guide

95LSS CLERKSHIP GUIDE

NOTES

Page 96: 2012 Clerkship Guide

Enjoyed this LSS publication?Keep your eyes peeled for

when our Careers Guide,

and quarterly academic

journal, The Full Bench,

hit the stands later this

year. Past and present

publications can also be

found in full at utslss.com.