Baker McKenzie

Our bAgile program encourages a range of flexible work opportunities for all. We invite you to let us know of any reasonable adjustments you require to equitably participate in the recruitment process or in performing the requirements of a role at Baker McKenzie.

How would you describe your firm’s culture?

Many of our seasonal clerks, graduates and lawyers say that the reason they join us is because of our people and culture. In Melbourne, the size of our office enables everyone to get to know each other - plus you have the benefit of a strong global connection ot our other offices, offering something unique and special to our people. Our people are genuinely friendly and diverse and enjoy coming to work every day. Our social and sports committee contribute to the Firm’s social glue - offering regular Firm drinks, events and sporting activities. We also offer a range of social and financial benefits (including massages, discounted movie tickets, study assistance, corporate discounts, etc.).

How does your firm distinguish itself from other law firms?

Baker McKenzie’s key difference is that, unlike other firms, we were ‘born global’. Our practices and culture are well established and integrated globally, which is why many clients and lawyers choose to work with us.

Our global development roadmap, the Development Framework, clearly explains what success looks like at each career stage at Baker McKenzie. Our lawyers benefit from an Australian professional development curriculum based on the Development Framework – from black letter law to practice-specific skills and knowledge development at the local, regional and global levels. Our lawyers also attend regional/global training and events/conferences relating to their practices to help develop networks and legal skills. Further, they attend regional transition programs at each career stage which provide development in the key skills our lawyers need – like people leadership, business development and project management – and which enable them to foster relationships with international peers at the same career stage. Previously, programs have been held in Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo. We also provide our lawyers with opportunities to attend USA summer school courses and scholarships for full-time legal study overseas.

In addition, the Firm offers opportunities for lawyers at varying stages of their career to work directly for clients or with our other offices in the Asia Pacific region and globally. In the last few years, we have placed lawyers in London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Stockholm, Chicago, Washington DC, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Taipei, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Jakarta, Myanmar, Johannesburg, and of course, we have had lawyers across our network come to work with our Australian offices too.

What are some notable awards your firm has recently received?

World’s Best Law Firm Brand - Acritas’ Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index - 2021 - 11th consecutive year. Number one legal brand in the Asia Pacific region - Acritas’ Asia Pacific Brand Index 2020 - 4th consecutive year. Top global law firm for 2019 - Law360 (ranking of top 20 firms with greatest global reach and expertise) - 9th consecutive year. Ranked number 1 firm in the world by number of M&A crossborder deals over the past decade - Thomson Reuters. Chambers Global released its 2021 guide, ranking Baker McKenzie in 310 practice areas and in 385 lawyer categories. Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality - 2021 - 11th consecutive year. One of Stonewall’s Top Global Employers for 2020. The Firm was one of only 17 companies worldwide to have been recognised for its work in LGBT+ inclusion. Baker McKenzie was also awarded the Global Trans Inclusion Award 2020. Identified as one of the best law firms for women by Working Mother magazine, Law360 and Euromoney. Silver Employer recognition at the LGBTI Inclusion Awards - The Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI). Australian Law Awards - winner of the Wellness Initiative of the Year 2020.

What significant work has your firm recently undertaken?

Locally and globally, Baker McKenzie works on significant and high-profile matters, for leading local and global clients. We have the experience, knowledge and expertise, both at a local and global level, to meet complex demands from our clients. • Advised Korea Zinc Co.,

Ltd. on its agreement with

ACCIONA to jointly develop and operate the 923MW

MacIntyre Wind Farm in southeast Queensland. • Acted for HMS on its acquisition of Lorica

Health, one of the largest payment accuracy solutions providers in Australia. • Acted for Youfoodz Holdings

Limited (Youfoodz), one of

Australia’s fastest growing consumer food brands, on

its initial public offering (IPO) and ASX listing. • Assisted Regional Express

Holdings Ltd in signing an agreement with PAG Asia

Capital (PAG), a leading Asia

Pacific-focused investment firm, regarding an investment by PAG of up to

AUD 150 million to be used exclusively to support the launch of Rex’s domestic major city jet operations scheduled to commence in 2021. • Assisted client, Afterpay, in a successful AUD 1.05 billion capital raising, propelling the fintech firm into the ASX top 20.

What kind of pro bono work does the firm engage in?

Pro Bono and Community Service initiatives are an integral part of Baker McKenzie’s mission. Our Pro Bono, Community Service and Corporate Social Responsibility programs aim to inspire staff to make a difference and collaborate with clients who share the same commitment to social justice.

(a) Pro bono legal services Baker McKenzie is a signatory to the National Pro Bono Aspirational Target of at least 35 hours of pro bono legal work per lawyer per year. Last financial year, we significantly exceeded this target with our lawyers undertaking an average of 50.5 hours of pro bono work! Some of our work includes assisting victims of domestic violence seek compensation; representing asylum seekers in court who are seeking judicial review of decisions relating to their refugee status; helping the elderly, seriously ill clients and young people exiting the child protection system with their legal affairs; and much more. Our pro bono work extends globally, including the Asia Pacific region.

(b) Community Service and CSR We offer all our people the opportunity to participate in a variety of community service initiatives. Our community service programs include the LEAPS literacy and mentoring program in Sydney, FareShare corporate volunteering sessions in Brisbane, and Eat Up volunteering sessions in Melbourne. Baker McKenzie also supports three charity partners: Tuberous Sclerosis Australia, Refugee Advice and Casework Service, and LeaderLife. Staff members have the opportunity to donate to charities of their choice via the Firm’s workplace giving platform. A highlight is also the Firm’s annual ‘bake-off’!

(c) Reconciliation Action Plan In November 2020, Baker McKenzie completed its first Reconciliation Action Plan, and we are planning to launch our Innovate RAP in mid-2021. We are committing to a range of initiatives including providing employment opportunities to First Nations people; increasing our procurement of products and services from First Nations businesses; and supporting First Nations peoples through pro bono legal work and volunteering opportunities; and ensuring that the Firm acknowledges the historic challenges faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community whilst also sharing in celebrations of culture.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION

During which periods do you offer clerkships?

As Baker McKenzie currently does not have an office in Perth, our Melbourne (and Sydney!) office welcomes applications from Perth law students. We have had a number of UWA law students interview with us for clerkship positions in the past. We have also had UWA alumni join us as lawyers, later in their careers. conducting three clerkship programs (each a four-week clerkship) from end November to December 2021, throughout the month of February 2022, and from end June to July 2022 (dates TBC).

How many clerkship positions are available for 2021?

Approximately 24 in Melbourne.

What tasks do clerks usually undertake?

At Baker McKenzie, our aim is to give our seasonal clerks the opportunity to experience life as a junior lawyer with our Firm.

Right from the start, our clerks get involved in real work and are given real responsibility, just like our graduates and junior lawyers. You will be exposed to our Australian and international clients through client meetings and telephone calls, client events and shadowing, and you will often have the opportunity to deal with clients directly.

More specifically, the type of work that clerks get involved in includes drafting correspondence, preparing court documents, undertaking legal research, drafting advice or agreements, document review tasks, attending court/mediations, attending client meetings, attending meetings with counsel, attending meetings with experts/witnesses, attending settlements, and preparing client alerts. Our clerks also have the opportunity to participate in community service initiatives and pro bono files.

How can a clerk stand out or make a good impression?

The clerks who have ultimately succeeded during a clerkship and in securing a graduate position have, of course, performed strongly - displaying excellent legal and technical skills. But they have

also displayed commercial acumen and awareness, strong communication and interpersonal skills, enthusiasm and a great attitude, the ability to use their initiative, a client-service focus, resilience, curiosity, and a genuine interest (and excitement!) in working with us. They have also made an effort to be a part of Firm life - attending social events and professional development sessions.

What are some things students should avoid doing in their clerkship applications?

Our top things to avoid include: • Submitting a generic template letter to all firms - make sure you tailor your application to the firm. • Using the wrong firm’s name - it happens every year! Ensure you check and re-check your application. • Regurgitating your CV in your cover letter. • Solely talking about yourself - there should be a balance between talking about yourself and why you want to work with the firm/ what value you can add to the firm. • Making it too lengthy - stick to one page for your cover letter and generally 2 pages for your CV (but ensure to check each firm’s requirements). • Stretching the truth - make sure you are honest and specific. • Using lengthy paragraphs or rambling sentences.

Do you offer clerkships to non-penultimate year students?

Our preference is to take students in their penultimate year. However, we will consider final year students on a caseby-case basis.

What does your firm look for in a graduate?

Baker McKenzie looks for people who genuinely want to work with us and who understand our unique offering and position in the market. We look for well-rounded, motivated individuals who share our global perspective; who are intellectually curious and have sound academics; who display business acumen and are practical in their approach; who enjoy a challenge and seek new opportunities; who take responsibility and use their initiative; who act with integrity and honesty in all of their dealings, decisions and actions; who express themselves confidently while staying open to new ideas; who strive to provide excellent service to their clients; who seek a friendly, diverse, and inclusive culture; and who take seriously our role in making a difference to our local and global communities.

How can students apply for a graduate position at your firm?

We generally recruit our graduates from our previous seasonal clerks.

How many graduate positions are available in 2021?

8 - 10

Does your firm offer any international opportunities for graduates or junior lawyers?

As set out above, our lawyers attend regional/global training and events/conferences relating to their practices to help develop networks and legal skills. Further, they attend regional transition programs at each career stage which provide development in the key skills our lawyers need. Previously, programs have been held in Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala The Firm offers an international clerkship program too. Seasonal clerks who accept a graduate role with the Firm are eligible to apply for an international clerkship, which is an opportunity to work in one of our overseas offices for a 4-week period. The Firm covers costs like flights, accommodation, visas, etc.

In the last few years, we have placed international clerks/ lawyers in London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Stockholm, Chicago, Washington DC, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Taipei, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Jakarta, Myanmar, Johannesburg and of course, we have had lawyers across our network come to work with our Australian offices too.

INTERVIEWS

What does your firm like to see in a clerkship or graduate job interview?

As set out above, in our interviews, we want to get to know all about you – your experiences, your interests, your achievements, your strengths and your abilities. We also want to know why you want to work with Baker McKenzie. To that end, our interviews are a mix of ‘getting to know you’ questions and ‘behavioural’ questions, so that we can get to know you and you can make the best impression.

More generally speaking though, our successful candidates have displayed: a genuine interest in our Firm - and they have researched our Firm beyond their Careers Guide or our promotional material; strong communication skills - and the ability to answer the actual question put to them

in an articulate, concise and considered manner; intelligence and an ability to think on their feet; commercial awareness and business acumen; an innovative approach; enthusiasm and engagement; a growth mindset; a global focus and interest; a professional appearance; an ability to highlight their experiences, interests, achievements, and strengths in their responses; and an ability to build a rapport with their interviewers - making them want to work with the candidate.

How can students best prepare for an interview with your firm?

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance! A critical element of setting yourself up for a successful interview is knowing as much as possible about the challenge you’re going to face. Find anyone you know who’s had an interview at the firm, talk to HR and legal representatives from the firm when they attend virtual or in-person events or careers fairs, read guides like this for an indication about the type of questions you might be asked, and conduct Google searches on “interview questions” and “behavioural interviews” to give you lists of practice questions that you can use as preparation. Then prepare a few points, as answers to each question, highlighting your strengths, capabilities, employment/work experience (legal and non-legal), academic achievements, extra-curricular activities and other general experiences.

Finally, it’s also important to research the firm you are interviewing with. Part of convincing your interviewers that you’d make a valuable addition to their firm, is showing them that you have a sound understanding of the firm and know why you want to work there.

CASUAL / PART TIME EMPLOYMENT

Does your firm offer any casual or part-time employment?

Yes

How can students find these opportunities and apply?

We will advertise the same.

Clayton Utz

QV1 - Level 27 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

6 Offices: Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin Brooke Wheeler | bwheeler@claytonutz. com

Banking & Financial Services; Project Finance; Commercial Litigation; Corporate, M&A & Capital Markets; Environment & Planning; Major Projects & Construction; Public Sector; Real Estate; Restructuring and Insolvency; Workplace Relations Employment & Safety

ABOUT THE FIRM

What are your firm’s core values?

Trust, Respect and Cooperation.

How would you describe your firm’s culture?

Down-to-earth, collaborative, inclusive, energetic and entrepreneurial. We think the culture at Clayton Utz is pretty special and reflects the type of people we attract - smart, commercially savvy, true to themselves, and with a strong social conscience.

How does your firm distinguish itself from other law firms?

Our culture, and our approach to client service. We’re particularly proud of our globally recognised Pro Bono practice, that we were the first law firm to create the role of National Mental Health Manager, and of the way in which our people have embraced our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

What are some notable awards your firm has recently received?

Clayton Utz features in GradAustralia’s Top 100 Graduate Employers in 2021 - and we keep improving our ranking, which reflects the time and effort we’ve put in over many years to delivering a first-class graduate program. For the seventh year running, we were also recognised as a Workplace Gender Equality Agency Employer of Choice for Gender Equality 2020-21.

We were also proud to be awarded Most Innovative Law Firm of the Year - Australia at the 2021 IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards held in March 2021.

What significant work has your firm recently undertaken?

One of the most high-profile transactions on which Clayton Utz has advised in the last 12 months is the successful restructure and sale of Virgin Australia Limited to Bain Capital. A Clayton Utz team acted for Virgin’s administrators, Deloitte, on what has been described as one of the most complex and challenging administrations in Australia’s history.

A matter with a close WA connection on which Clayton Utz was proud to advise is Tattarang’s purchase of R.M. Williams, from private equity firm L Catterton, in October last year. Tattarang is one of Australia’s largest private investment groups, owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest, and this deal represented the return to Australian ownership of one of Australia’s most iconic brands.

does the firm engage in?

Our Pro Bono practice is a dedicated practice area within the firm, and undertaking pro bono work is a fundamental part of what it means to be a lawyer at Clayton Utz. We act for low-income and vulnerable people who cannot obtain Legal Aid, and the not-for-profits that support them. In FY20, we provided 47.071 hours of pro bono legal assistance to 655 individuals and 299 not-for-profits, and opened 681 new client files. We also worked with 41 Community Legal Centres, Legal Aid Commissions and Aboriginal Legal Services. In terms of outcomes achieved, we prevented 85 people from becoming homeless, provided 1,356 hours of advice on elder abuse matters, recovered $648,098 in compensation for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and recovered $960,119 for clients in respect of claims for wage theft, unfair dismissal, discrimination and sexual harassment.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION

During which periods do you offer clerkships?

Summer and Winter

How many clerkship positions are available for 2021?

Approximately 35