Clerkships

What is a clerkship?

A clerkship is a legal employment experience in a law firm or government department over the summer or winter university breaks. They tend to run for between 2 to 4 weeks and are generally paid.

What’s in it for me?

Clerkships allow students to gain insight into practical legal work and, hopefully, find the work environment that suits them best. Clerkships give students the chance to see how to work in a professional environment. Firms will often offer graduate positions to high performers. Exposure to various firms helps you decide your career path. Students tend to regard clerkships as necessary because many large commercial international and national firms generally only to hire graduates who have completed a clerkship with them. However, completing a clerkship does not guarantee a graduate position at that firm. Clerkships give you insight into the areas of law that you have not been exposed to in your degree. Some students may even realise that practising law isn’t for them, which shouldn’t be alarming as a law degree provides students with so many other opportunities. Regardless, completing a clerkship will still give students invaluable experience which will help in all career paths.

Who can apply?

It is open to all students to apply for clerkships, however, many firms preference penultimate year students. If you are a non-penultimate year student, explain why you did not apply in your penultimate year or why you are applying early. Spend some time and research to determine which firms would be best to apply for. What to expect?

Your clerkship will give you real work for real clients. This might include sitting in client meetings and taking notes for your supervisor, attending court, drafting correspondence, researching case law or legislation on complex issues and writing memorandums detailing your findings. Your work will vary from government departments to professional service firms. Expect the job to be quite different from university work and embrace it! Don’t forget that a clerkship is also an opportunity for you to figure out whether you want a career with that firm or in that area of law.

What do they expect from you?

Firms do not expect their clerks to know everything. Firms will run training workshops related to research skills, getting to see the firm’s resources, letter writing and drafting memorandums. You with develop valuable tips and skills, which are transferrable into the remainder of your studies and careers. Be yourself! Firms want to see how you fit in their culture and whether they should invest in you. Being yourself is also important for determining whether you see yourself working and thriving there. It is also expected that you will work hard and put in the effort to meet and get to know the staff. You must be enthusiastic and keen to learn more about the firm, even though the work can sometimes be tedious or difficult. It is also crucial that you’re professional and courteous.

Buddy System

Many firms have a buddy system in place, which means they will pair you with a graduate or junior lawyer throughout your clerkship. Your buddy is there to help you with any questions you may have and assist you when you need it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – your buddy was in your position not too long ago. Be sure to interact with your buddy and ask them to coffee if they don’t ask first!

general tips

The night before

Ensure that you have set your alarm and held the train or bus timetables. You do not want to be late on the first day of your clerkship. Make sure you have an early night because you want to feel fresh and ready to go - first impressions count!

Dress code

Most firms have corporate attire dress code which means a suit with a tie or a mid-length dress or blouse and dress pants with a blazer. Some firms don’t require their staff to wear ties, but we recommend that you wear a tie on your first day. Be sure to bring a tie and a blazer to work every day, just in case you need to go to court or a client meeting. It is normal to feel nervous on your first day. Don’t be! Remember that the firm was confident enough in your ability to choose you, so you should be as well! Your first day will usually consist of getting to know other clerks, familiarising yourself with the technology used by the firm, doing office tours and being introduced to your practice group.

ENJOY YOURSELF!

What no one is going to tell you:

Clerkships aren’t for everyone. Sometimes, clerkships aren’t even for those who get them. If you land a clerkship position, which converts to a graduate position, congratulations! The road to a career as a hot-shot lawyer is much easier. Many students are dazzled by clerkships thinking this is the only avenue out of law school when the reality is very different. Remember to keep an open mind - don’t just apply because everyone else is.

Offers Day

What happens on offers day?

Offers Day is a set date where almost all firms give clerkship offers. You will know well in advance what day that is. Usually, the time for offers is from 9 AM to 1 PM.

What to do on offers day?

Make sure you have a list (mental or physical) of the firms you prefer and in which periods. Make sure you know what period each firm offers. The firm will ask you to give a ‘period preference’. Be sure to have alternatives and be flexible if you don’t get a particular firm or period. You should wake up early on the day as some places call earlier than 9 AM. Most law firms give you a call from a human resources representative or the Partner / Senior Associate who interviewed you. You will receive an email with the contract if you accept the verbal offer. Do not be disheartened if you have not received a phone call immediately. You have until 1 PM to receive a call, and usually, if there is a delay, it is likely because the Partner is busy.

Accepting and rejecting offers

You do not have to accept an offer straight away. The law firms understand that you may need some extra time to ensure that the period or firm fits with you. You can simply reply with ‘Thank you so much for the offer. Can I just get back to you shortly?’ That said, you should keep in mind that the law firms also have a deadline of 1 PM, so as soon as you know which ones you want and don’t want to inform the respective firms expeditiously. If you are successful enough, you might have to reject some offers. This is a daunting experience, but rest assured the firms are expecting some rejections. If you reject an offer, make sure you do so professionally. An example could be calling back and saying, ‘Thank you so much for your time and the offer. Unfortunately, I cannot accept it because I have already accepted others (or another reason).’