Gilbert + Tobin

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

With a dedicated team of four lawyers and two partners, Gilbert + Tobin is a pro bono pioneer in Australia’s legal sector. The firm believes that lawyers have a responsibility to ensure that the legal system is fair, equitable, and accessible to all.

Gilbert + Tobin is a proud advocate of social justice and focuses on providing advice and support to marginalised and disadvantaged clients, and the organisations that work with them. The practice covers many diverse areas of law including discrimination, administrative law, defamation, and public international law. Pro bono work at Gilbert + Tobin is particularly focused on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, refugees, people with disabilities, and the protection of human rights.

G+T’s large pro bono practice is supplemented by our corporate social responsibility practice, which is focused on three priorities – reconciliation with Indigenous Australians, sustainability, and community programs.

Our commitment to the community now includes our support for numerous not-for-profit organisations, education in high schools, and the university sector. Most importantly, our support for Indigenous Australians across all of their very legitimate aspirations, has been a hallmark for what we stand for.

CLERKSHIP INFORMATION

During which periods do you offer clerkships?

We run two clerkship programs each year, the first is in Summer (November/ December) and the second is in Winter (June/July).

How many clerkship positions are available for 2021?

Approximately 14.

What tasks do clerks usually undertake?

During your time with G+T you’ll get a taste of what it’s like to work in corporate law. Spending time in one practice group, you will start to understand the mechanics of legal practice through researching legislation and case law, preparing and drafting memos, completing research, observing negotiations, meeting clients, attending court, or perhaps working as part of a deal team.

Throughout the program, you will partake in our customised in-house training program as well as having the opportunity to contribute to Pro Bono and our Knowledge Management practice.

You will work directly with partners and lawyers who will assist with your professional development and challenge you intellectually. How can a clerk stand out or make a good impression?

While strong university results and academic achievements count, we are also looking for people who align with our firm’s culture and values. We are not a prescriptive firm when it comes to our people; we invite individuality and diversity. We also hold ambition, imagination, creative thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit in high regard. Our people are collaborative, passionate, and dedicated, but most of all they enjoy what they do and never forget to have fun. We seek clerks and graduates that will complement our practice groups and do not feel the need to take themselves too seriously.

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

Clerkship applications should be completed accurately and include all ancillary documents to support the application. We recommend you double check your application prior to submission.

Do you offer clerkships to non-penultimate year students?

Preferences are given to students in their penultimate year.

GRADUATE JOB INFORMATION

What does your firm look for in a graduate?

We look for graduates who are comfortable working in teams, but who are also self-motivated and are able to identify opportunities and work with our firm leaders to act on those opportunities.

G+T is a supportive environment with enough structure in place for graduates to learn and thrive, but also gives you the space to develop your career how you want to. We will also support people who may want to do things differently.

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

The primary pathway for graduates is currently via our seasonal clerkship programs.

How many graduate positions are available in 2022?

Subject to business requirements, we anticipate having 3-5 graduate positions available in 2022.

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

G+T offers secondment opportunities both within Australia and overseas to experienced lawyers. These secondments provide an opportunity for both personal and professional development. Our lawyers tell us that their secondment experience has been an invaluable part of their career development. G+T has a “best friends” network with top tier firms internationally. We will support you in seeking opportunities to work overseas, which will expand your commercial skills in a global setting.

INTERVIEWS

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

It is important for students to demonstrate enthusiasm, curiosity, and to have an understanding and interest in the firm’s practice areas and its strengths. Keeping up to date with current issues facing the legal industry, and more broadly, staying informed of the happenings and developments occurring in the business world.

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

Review your CV and cover letter before your interview. Your CV and cover letter have created a positive impression, so you now have an opportunity to reinforce this opinion. The interview should be seen as a two-way process: the firm may ask you to expand on elements of your cover letter and CV, and you will be expected to ask questions of the interviewer(s), which allows them to find out more about you.

Research the firm, its practice areas, and in particular, those who are sitting on the interview panel.

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

Casual roles, such as Paralegals, are generally offered to students who have completed a clerkship with us.

Herbert Smith Freehills

QV1 - Level 36 250 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

27 Offices across 19 jurisdictions https://www.herbertsmithfreehills. com/

Josephine Tse | josephine.tse@hsf.com | (08) 9211 7777

Alternative Legal Services (ALT), Corporate (M&A and Energy and Resources), Dispute Resolution, Digital and Law, Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety, Finance, Pro Bono, Projects and Infrastructure, Taxation, Technology

ABOUT THE FIRM

What are your firm’s core values?

To Connect, Collaborate, Lead, and Excel.

How would you describe your firm’s culture?

We aim to instil a culture of engagement, ambition, and high performance at Herbert Smith Freehills, by putting people and the client experience at the heart of our business. We want to attract and retain top talent from all backgrounds and enable them to perform to their full potential. That means fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where difference is celebrated, development advanced, and wellness prioritised. We believe it is also vital to provide regular opportunities for people to share their experiences, feedback, and ideas.

How does your firm distinguish itself from other law firms?

We think it’s a combination of being a truly global firm and having a leading domestic practice. This means that when you join, you’ll be working on the most complex and interesting matters and also benefit from having an international network, exposing you to overseas opportunities. Despite the global nature of the firm, you will feel supported and connected to your local teams.

What significant work has your firm undertaken recently?

• TPG on its A$15b merger of equals with Vodafone – and in successfully defending an ACCC appeal against the merger. The transaction is one of the largest telecommunications deals in Australian history • CBA, BHP, and AMP in separate class actions, each with the potential to become the largest shareholder action in

Australia • Santos and its WA Gas

Restructure • West African Resources on its Sanbrado Gold Project • Commissioners in the Royal

Commission into Victoria’s

Mental Health System • Advising Bain Capital on its acquisition of Virgin

Australia

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

Our lawyers are encouraged to participate in the firm’s pro bono practice. This might be internationally or closer to home – it really is up to you. Globally, we focus on five key areas: • Access to justice, • International development, • Social impact investment, • Not-for-profit advisory work, and • Human rights (particularly anti-trafficking and antislavery).

This year we contributed 75,000 hours of pro bono advice globally, an 11% increase on the previous year.

Our practice groups provide many of our long-standing clients with a range of advice including partnership agreements, structuring, property, employment issues, and governance. These include: CanTeen, CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Foodbank Victoria, McIntyre Centre, Médecins Sans Frontières, Mission Australia, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Save the Children Australia, Starlight Children’s Foundation, St Vincent de Paul Queensland, The Big Issue, Yalari, and Youngcare.

To find out more about our pro bono practice: https://www. herbertsmithfreehills.com/probono-and-citizenship/pro-bono