• Get onto your clerkship applications relatively early in the mid year holidays as each application (cover letter, firm specific questions, test/activity) can take at least 3 • Everyone is super approachable and friendly. hours total per firm, which you don’t want to The people at HSF are highly approachable be rushing at the last minute. and have a broad range of backgrounds, interests and personalities. The interviewees • Order your transcripts as soon as you can! all felt like they could ask questions of anyone, • Don’t be scared to talk about experiences that and HR was always there to help out. aren’t that applicable to law (e.g. tutoring,
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HSF GRAD OLIVIA DE KONING
• Take a long-term approach and invest more time into attending and preparing for interviews. It is definitely hard to juggle everything with clerkship interviews etc on top.
• Try and think of something interesting from the information events to bring up in the interview.
Others
• Listen intently in the two days of training and don’t just eat all the tasty food.
8:30am I’m at my desk and the day begins. As part of our graduate program, we complete three six-month rotations in different teams. I previously rotated through the Disputes team and am now in my second rotation in the Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety team. I start the day off by drafting some forms for an unfair dismissal claim. The work in Employment is very ‘people’ based and moves quickly, so you get to be involved in a range of different matters and variety of work from enterprise bargaining and industrial action to advice to employers on what to do in the everevolving era of COVID-19.
Academia
• It’s a busy time of the year when attending interviews and information evenings. Make sure you focus on yourself and stay healthy/ positive.
Government
• You’ve got the grades and experience, they want to see who you are and whether they can Solicitor see themselves working with you for hours and 6am I wake up nice and early to go to the gym hours a week. Keep this in mind! before work. After the gym, I’m wide awake and feeling ready for the day! I have some smashed What’s your advice for applicants? avo on toast or if I’m running late, I pick up some • It can be nerve-wracking but it is a great banana bread from Eat House when I arrive at experience! It’s what you’ve worked towards QV1. On the train, I read a book (think Twilight so put everything you can into it. level of sophistication). As we get closer to the city, • Don’t apply to firms that, realistically, you I have a quick look on my phone to see what work wouldn’t end up wanting to work there. emails have come through and check my work Otherwise you’ll end up applying to too many calendar to see what the day has in store for me. firms and will make more work for yourself.
Criminal
• The work is highly interesting, real and not made up just to give to a clerk. Expect to get a diverse range of tasks from multiple different people. HSF really values hard work and excellence, and will encourage your development.
swim teaching, hospitality etc) but tie them to something law related. E.g. swim teaching 3 year olds gives you good organisation and problem solving (how to get them in the pool) etc. Be creative and have fun.
Courts
• You’ll get lots of interesting work, no matter what team you’re in. HSF are really big on “coffee catch ups” so feel free to reach out to people in other teams to discuss their work/experiences. Your buddy will be a great source to connect you with these people. But, don’t catch up with people for the sake of it – this becomes quite obvious and super awkward.
Commercial
Having completed a HSF clerkship, how would you describe the experience and HSF’s culture?
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