CAREERS GUIDE 2017
guls.org Page 1! https://m.facebook.com/GriffithUniversityLS/
SPONSORS Griffith University Law Society (GULS) would kindly like to thank the 2017 Career Guide sponsors: 

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Acknowledgements Editors Sidonie Jenner Clare Shortt Maddison Barker Annabelle Behan
Contributors Sidonie Jenner Rhys Kasper Kylie Burns Selena Lang Beyond Law
Written Articles Kylie Burns Selena Lang
Contact Griffith University Law Society N61 -2.07 Griffith Law Building,170 Kessels Road, Nathan QLD 4111 Website: guls.org Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/GriffithUniversityLS/ Email: president@guls.org
A special thanks from GULS to all firms who have contributed to the guide this year.
Disclaimer: All expressions of opinion published in this guide are not the official opinion of the Griffith University Law Society unless it is expressly stated. The Griffith Law Society accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any opinions or information contained herein. Readers should rely on their own enquiries to make decisions in their own interests.  
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CONTENTS  
Welcome
GULS Careers Officer
5
Preparation Checklist
Introductory Years
6
Midway and Penultimate Years
7
Final Years
8
Clerkship Dates & Participating Firns
9
What is a Clerkship?
10
Clerkships 2017
Application Process
Resume Writing, Cover Letters & Interviews
Firm Profiles
18 Allens
19-21
Ashurst
22-24
Barry.Nilsson.
25
Clayton Utz
26-28
Cooper Grace Ward
29-31
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
32-34
DLA Piper
35-37
Herbet Smith Freehills
38-40
King & Wood Mallesons
41-43
McCullough Robertson
44-46
McInnes Wilson
Guest Articles
11-17
47
MinterEllison
48-50
Thomson Geer
51-53
HopgoodGanim
54
Leo Cussen
55
Your Private Is Your Professional - Dr Kylie Burns My Clerkship Experience - Selena Lang
Further Opportunities
57-58 59 60-66
Templates
67 Resume
68-69
Cover Letter
70-71
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Careers Officer Welcome Hi All, I would like to first take this opportunity to introduce myself as your 2017 GULS Careers Officer. If you have opened this guide because you are curious and are wanting to know more about careers in the field of law, and especially clerkship opportunities then you are in the right place! No matter if you are beginning, midway or at the end of your degree fear no more, the Griffith University Law Society is here to help. For the majority of law students we are all overwhelmed by the statistics of graduate employment, strict guidelines, study expectations that are often conveyed to us. As a result, we more often overlook the very broad range of opportunities which are available and the different pathways we can pursue. In the aim for this guide to bring to light important clerkship info and some of these different pathways please keep in mind that no two people will undergo the same journey and that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ approach but rather a grey field in which only you can truly choose your path. You may notice as you work through this guide that it is different from previous years as graduate information is not included, however, please keep your eyes out for the Graduate Guide. In addition, there will also be workshops and information sessions throughout the year covering topics such such as resume writing, networking and PLT which you may also find helpful. Conclusively, I encourage you to not be deterred by what the statistics suggest, and whilst I’m sure that we will each undergo our own setbacks, remember to “never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.. as it’s hard to beat a person who never gives up”. (Babe Ruth) Best of luck for 2017!
Sidonie Jenner Career’s Officer | Griffith University Law Society
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PREPARATION CHECKLIST   Start attending networking and information events such as the QLS Careers Expo 2017 to establish connections for your future. Research firms you may be interested in working for along with the attributes they are looking for.
FIND A BALANCE
Use the early years of your degree to establish a good GPA. Find a balance between studying hard and playing hard! Too much of either will not help you in the long-term. Burning out from overworking yourself is never productive, neither is having your results suffer from your late night party habits. Join one of Griffith’s social clubs to help maintain a healthy balance.
By immersing yourself within community groups or by maintaining a part-time job, you will tick all the boxes when it comes to applications. This is also a good way to develop skills such as time management. Remember that all skills gained from employment are transferable to other fields no matter where it is at.
VOLUNTEER/ SEEK WORK EXPERIENCE
RESEARCH THE LAW PROFESSION
Introductory Years
Competitions are a great way to create valuable skills, build networks and create lasting relationships with other students. Joining Junior Competitions can help decrease public speaking nerves while building your confidence before moving to Open Competitions
ENTER COMPETITIONS
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CREATE A RESUME
Start creating your own template so that you can build on it as you progress through your degree. Utilise the services Griffith has to offer such as tips, checklists and templates. Appointments can also be made with the staff of the Career and Employment services or members of the Resume Rescue team throughout the year.
BUILD ON EARLIER YEARS
If you undertook work experience, volunteered or participated in competitions, well done! Now is the time to build and continue these things - compete in Open Competitions and experience more. Building your professional network by attending networking events is also very important at this stage of your degree. The best events are ones that will bring you face-toface with legal professionals. It is essential that you learn how to interact with potential employers; don’t be shy, ask questions and be engaging. If you have not had a chance to do any of these activities, then that is ok, because now is the perfect time.
Griffith University offers a diverse range of legal clinic opportunities which provide an opportunity to gain legal experience and get a taste for the more practical side of your degree. Enrolling in a clinic forms part of your elective choices. Often spaces are limited with priority given to final year students or students that haven’t yet completed one, so get in quick!
ENROL IN CLINICS
Mid-Way and Penultimate Years Clerkships provide valuable experience which is largely sought after when applying for graduate positions. Notably, for a lot of firms, a clerkship could in fact lead to a graduate position. A lot of firms encourage penultimate students to apply. However, I would also encourage you to apply if you are midway to be prepared for later years by becoming familiar with the application process.
APPLY FOR CLERKSHIPS
If you haven’t yet done some volunteer work then there is no better time then now! Get involved with ALSA or some other form of studentrepresentation or charitable group. I would also suggest looking at joining our GULS committee, or participating in GULS events.
VOLUNTEER Page 7!
FOLLOW WHAT YOU ENJOY
Now is your time to reflect on earlier years to find your true passion. What did you enjoy? What were you particularly good at? Where do your interests lie and what would you like to know more about? What type of lawyer do you aspire to be? Seek out firms that practice areas which answer these questions, or research alternative pathways. A law degree holds more than the sole purpose of working in a firm and is well sought after by a diverse range of professions. If you are unsure, book an appointment with the Griffith Career Advisors.
Gain valuable life experience by becoming an exchange student and get to travel whilst studying! Griffith offers a wide range of opportunities which could be a normal semester, summer semester or even a year! There is also financial assistance available so do not forget to apply.
GO GLOBAL
Final Years
Time to start setting your sights on the end goal, and determine where and what that entails. Graduation is finally approaching, and you can not give up yet. Your careers destination is just around the corner!
SET YOUR SIGHTS
  UPDATE YOUR RESUME
Is it essential to keep building and perfecting your resume to ensure that it reflects you. Keeping your achievements up-to-date is also vital given you are now down to the crunch time of your degree and looking to enter the work force. It is also suggested that you get a second opinion on your resume, even if it is just getting someone to do a grammar check or talking to the Career Advisors. Try visiting the BeyondLaw website which provides a resume review service.
Graduate positions are an entry level position in a law firm and it is quite common for firms to choose from previous students who have held clerkship positions. Now is the time to start researching what positions are available, where you think you may like to work and/or apply for and getting applications in order!
APPLY FOR GRADUATE POSITIONS
Keep your eyes open for more information regarding graduate positions in the next series of the Career Guide coming out later on in the year
PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING (PLT)
If you weren’t already aware, completing your Bachelors degree is only the first step to becoming a lawyer in Australia. Once you obtain your degree your next step is to undertake PLT if you intend to seek admission to practising law. Many students complete their PLT whilst seeking employment or undertaking employment. PLT programs are generally available on a full-time (approximately 6 months) or part-time (approximately 12 months) basis. They consist of course-work and legal work-experience components. Similar to your degree, the PLT course-work components consist of both core compulsory subjects and electives. Examine your PLT options today!
Getting involved in the university and community is still important when you are approaching the end of your degree. Continuing to expand your network. Never forget that while networking events can be intimidating they can only benefit you, so keep it up! Competitions are also important to continue with and/or participate in for extra experience. Competitions can lead to tours and internships in firms, as well as representing Griffith University at state and national levels. So get involved, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
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GET INVOLVEDNETWORK, COMPETE COMPS
CLERKSHIPS 2017 Clerkship Dates 2017 Monday 27 February
Applications for clerkships open
Wednesday 1 March
QLS Legal Careers Expo
Monday 20 March
Applications for clerkships close 9am AEST
Monday 8 May
Offers for vacation clerkships can be made by participating firms
Tuesday 9 May
Offers for vacation clerkships must be accepted or declined by 5pm AEST
Participating Firms Allens Ashurst Barry.Nilsson. Lawyers Clayton Utz Corrs Chambers Westgarth DLA Piper Herbert Smith Freehills Hopgood Ganim Lawyers Johnson Winter & Slattery King & Wood Mallesons MinterEllison McInnes Wilson McCullough Robertson Results Legal Thomson Geer
http://www.allens.com.au/ https://www.ashurst.com/ www.bnlaw.com.au https://graduates.claytonutz.com/ http://www.corrs/com.au/careers/ www.dlapipergraduates.com https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/ http://www.hopgoodganim.com.au/ http://www.jws.com.au/en/ http://www.kwm.com/en/ http://www.minterellison.com/ www.mcw.com.au/page/Careers/ www.mccullough.com.au/careers http://www.resultslegal.com.au/ http://www.tglaw.com.au/
For more information, go to http://www.qls.com.au
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What is a clerkship? Essentially, a clerkship is similar to an internship with the difference of being paid whilst undergoing a clerkship. It is an opportunity for students to undertake work experience, often in their penultimate year (second last year).
Depending on the firm, a successful applicant will work among lawyers from 4 to 10 weeks.
What do Firms Look for? • Academic history • Participation in law school events, competitions and clubs • International exchange • Previous law firm experience • Life experience and skills from volunteering and part time work • Values similar to those of the firm
What do I need in my Application? Applications are unique to each firm’s requirements however the majority of them will include: • A professional and clear resume (4 or less pages is ideal and for some firms a necessity) • A cover letter • A copy of your academic transcript - unofficial copy is available from Student Services or online through myGriffith as well the official copy with an additional cost of $15. Some firms may require an official copy and be aware that you need to allow adequate time for your official transcript to be processed and posted.
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APPLICATION PROCESS Cover Letters The following information has kindly been provided by Beyond Law
What is a Cover Letter? A cover letter contains the reasons why you believe you are the best candidate for the position. It serves two purposes; first, to make the reader want to know more about you and second, to land you an interview. Each cover letter should be specific to the position and organisation you are applying for.
Read your cover letter aloud. It should be succinct and fluid. Think about the reader – for them, this will be one of hundreds of applications. Who wants to read the same stuff again and again? Get someone who is not part of the process to read your application before you submit it. If it makes sense and appeals to them, you’re hopefully half way there. Check and double check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Simple things like making sure the apostrophe is in the right place makes a difference.
The cover letter can help answer three questions that are often on the mind of the employer: •
Can you do the the job? Show you have the right abilities, skills, knowledge and experience.
•
Will you do the job? Show you are interested in the work itself and that you have the other attitudes necessary for success in the role and the organisation.
•
Will you fit in? Show how your values and goals match the organisations values and goals. Your language and stories can also demonstrate how you might fit in with clients and co-workers.
Sample Structure As stated above, each cover letter should be tailored for each position that you apply for. However, there is a framework you can follow which will address the fundamentals of most cover letters. First, cover letters should begin with your name in the upper right-hand corner, followed by your address, contact phone number and email address. Next, insert the date on the left-hand side, followed by the name of the contact person, their position within the organisation, the name of the organisation, and the address of the organisation.
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Always begin the letter with Dear [name of contact person], as it is best to avoid “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To whom it may concern” - such a salutation suggests that the candidate has not been bothered to ascertain the name of the relevant person. State the name of the position for which you are applying. Briefly introduce yourself and preface why you have chosen this particular firm and why you are the ideal candidate for the position.
Outline your skills (technical and social), experience, training and achievements that are relevant to the selection criteria or the job description. These skills may have been gained through your education/course, your work experience and your extra-curricular activities.
Tell the firm why you are the best fit and how your skills will meet their needs. In particular, you should demonstrate your (researched) knowledge of the firm, such as its practice area strengths, its industry connections, its reputation/awards, and any mentions made of it in recent newspaper articles.
Thank the firm for considering your application, tell them that you have attached a copy of your résumé, and when you would be available for an interview. Provide your contact details (phone / email). Conclude by stating that you are looking forward to hearing from them!
Tips It’s critical that you draw some connections between your past experiences and what you can bring to the organisation. Research the firm’s values and reflect on times you have demonstrated those values in your personal, professional or university career. Working in a café might seem unrelated to working at a firm but you’ll have great customer skills, you’ll be a clear communicator, and you’ll work well under pressure. Working on a student newspaper demonstrates teamwork, conflict resolution and writing skills, as well as the ability to work to deadlines.
In particular, try your best to not use ‘Ctrl+F and replace’ too freely. There’s nothing worse than demonstrating to any firm that your cover letter was not written specifically for them – even if it’s true.
Beyond Law •
Are you applying for your dream job and need another pair of eyes to review your application?
•
Do you want to find out what your cover letter or resume is missing?
•
Let Beyond Law review your documents and provide you with advice to set your application apart.
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Beyond Law provides a resume and cover letter review service for applicants looking to apply for both legal and non-legal roles.
Resume and Cover Letter Services
As an employer, the standout things (aside from spelling/grammar/language) which I wished that grad knew was to clearly state their date of admission (or expected date) and jurisdiction in the first paragraph of their cover letter, or the first section of their CV. In addition, if they are pre-admission then they should clearly outline whether they need to complete your PLT placement and their expected date of completion of PLT coursework/placement requirements. From an employer’s perspective, this is one of the most crucial things for a grad / PLT position and it was quite bizarre how difficult this information was to ascertain from their applications. Melinda Jackson (Partner) from Hanna Jackson Lawyers
We will pair you up with a legal, HR or recruitment professional that is most suited for the job you are applying for. Many have worked at top-tier law firms, international non-profits and management consultancy firms.
This service costs $149.00 which includes a review of both documents, within 72 hours. How to Request Review: 1.
Fill in the form on this page and tell us about the job you are applying for.
2.
We will request the documents from you and provide a quote
3.
Your reviewer will provide you with detailed comments to improve your application within 72 hours.
"Excellent service! My reviewer replied very quickly (even on weekends) and reviewed my cover letter and CV very throughly. The reviewer gave me a better idea of what I should improve on. The is also an opportunity to ask questions without an additional charge" Jess (University of Melbourne) "I received invaluable feedback for my clerkship application on how to set my application apart." Sam (University of Sydney)
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Interviews The following information has kindly been provided by Beyond Law
Interview Preparation Job interviews require preparation. An interview should constitute the culmination of your research into the organisation and your personal ‘sales effort’ represented by your cover letter and CV. You can’t plan ahead for absolutely everything you may encounter, but you can certainly prepare enough so that you feel confident. We've collated some tips and tricks from Lifehacker that will assist you with your next interview. Remember that reaching the interview stage demonstrates that the firm has already concluded that you are a valuable applicant. The interview should be seen as a two-way process: the firm will ask you to expand on elements of your cover letter and CV, and you will be expected to ask questions of the interviewer(s), in order to find out more about the firm.
Be Prepared 1. Make a list of questions you might have to answer. 2. Make a list of questions you want to ask. 3. Research common salaries for your job in your location, decide how much you’d like to make, and determine how little you’re willing to accept. 4. Prepare answers to your questions. 5. Prepare three stories about yourself that you can tell if they come up during the interview. 6. Practise the interview with a friend (or two). 7. Take a test drive over to the interview location to get an idea of the route and traffic.
What to Bring •
Two copies of your CV
• Two copies of your cover letter • A certified academic transcript
Mistakes To Avoid Don't Give Examples, Tell Stories: The next time you’re preparing for an interview, instead of trying to rehearse answers to dozens of common questions, think of three sweeping stories that describe times you did excellent work, worked with difficult people, or rose to a challenge. Real stories and conversations go farther than stock answers.
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Research the Employer: The easiest way to do this is to use the employer's own website. Read enough to get familiar with the company's work, its clients and its general approach. Don't leave the website until you can answer these questions: What does this organisation do? What is it all about? What would the employers say makes them different from their competition?
Hold A Mock Interview: Experienced hiring managers who have interviewed many candidates will often say they don’t get nervous at their own job interviews anymore, because they’ve done so many interviews from the other side and understand how an interviewer’s mind works. You can get a bit of this benefit by playing the interviewer yourself. If you have a job-searching friend, suggest that you practice together — taking turns playing the part of the interviewer.
Body Language: Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Keep your gestures, body and face open. Lean forward slightly to give the appearance of confidence and interest. Position yourself so that you are sitting right back into the chair, so that your lower-back is fully supported. Maintain appropriate eye contact throughout the interview (do not stare or look away too much). Listen to what the interviewer is telling you about the organisation and your likely role within it, use appropriate listing cues such as nodding, saying “aha” etc. Try to look interested at all times.
Example: Tell me about your work history What most people say: "Oh, uhh...well, I started working at Acme Corp doing marketing work. Then I worked at A&B as a marketing manager, managing daily emails. Then I went to C&D, which is where I am now, and I've been in charge of PR and marcom." What you should say: "If you look at my work experience, there are 3 things that stand out. First, I have experience with many areas of marketing, including PR, advertising, and marcom. Second, I have a quantitative background in terms of what I studied, and my recent email-marketing experience. Finally, I've always wanted to take my skills to a larger stage, which is why I moved from A&B to C&D, and now I'm excited to be here talking with you. Why this works: The hiring manager doesn't need you to walk him through your resume chronologically— he can read what's on the page, after all. It's far more valuable for you to highlight the key strengths of your background. If you've done your pre-interview homework, you'll know what aspects are most important (e.g., in the above example, the candidate noticed that this position would be quantitative, which is why he highlighted his quantitative background).
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Information is being added here. 
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Information is being added here.
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FIRM PROFILES
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Visit www.allens.com.au/careers, www.linklaters.com/ukgrads and www.linklaters.com/hkcareers to find out more.
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GENEVA SEKULA At the start of 2015 when my law school was abuzz with the prospect of completing clerkships, I had not decided if I was even going to apply. I had heard a lot about cocktail nights and canapés and interviews, but I didn’t know much about what completing a clerkship actually entailed or why I should sacrifice my beloved summer holidays to do one. Having spent the summer at Allens, I can definitely recommend doing a clerkship. It’s an invaluable way to see the inner workings of a commercial firm.
opportunity to experience first-hand how commercial law operates in a different legal system. I had some memorable experiences zipping through Saigon traffic on a motorbike and visiting tourist hotspots; certainly different to the weekends I would have been having at home! Although I didn’t come back particularly fluent in business Vietnamese, I definitely came home with a broader international perspective on commercial law, and felt privileged to have been able to experience life in one of the Asian offices.
I was unspeakably nervous on the first day of my first rotation. I had never worked in a law firm before and I was concerned that I didn’t remember an awful lot from my first year Contracts class at university. I needn’t have worried. That first day I hardly got through any work because the people in my team kept stopping by to say hello, have a chat and see how I was going with everything. I was amazed at how genuinely interested everyone was in getting to know me and making sure I was feeling confident in my work.
I was exposed to lots of different work during my time at Allens. I helped to draft letters, write research memos, conduct title searches, proofread contracts, and attend meetings, among many other things. But the summer was much more than simply doing a job. It was an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the firm and we went to a number of seminars which helped to shed more light on the culture of the firm. We heard about Allens’ pro bono work and presence in the community and about the alliance with Linklaters, we heard from a panel of partners who gave us insight into their career progression with the firm, and we heard from a panel of graduates who answered any and all of our questions. I attended Christmas parties (yes, plural), was invited to welcome yum cha, and had many, many coffee catch-ups with lawyers and other clerks. Beyond the legal work and the firm, the clerkship is a great way to expand your social networks. We also went to inter-firm trivia nights and the clerk cruise, and had lots of other opportunities to get to know each other, and the clerks at other firms.
This was indicative of the wider culture of the firm and I was deeply impressed by how supportive and enthusiastic everyone was, and how much time the lawyers were willing to take to explain tasks to me or answer my questions. The firm instigates a formal support network with a buddy, development lawyer and supervising partner, which was a great source of comfort and helped to keep me on track. But, beyond that, there were plenty of lawyers who were keen to get involved with the clerkship and offer their help and feedback. One of the reasons I decided to go to Allens was because I saw it as a firm where there would be opportunities to work overseas, and having an international dimension to my career was important to me. I hadn’t ever guessed that my first chance to travel with Allens would be in my sixth week working for the firm. After the Christmas break, instead of boarding a train to Wynyard, I found myself boarding a plane to Ho Chi Minh City where I was to complete a three-week rotation. The Ho Chi Minh City office was very different to the Sydney office. For one thing, it was a lot smaller, and the contracts were in both Vietnamese and English. I had an amazing time in Vietnam experiencing different food and a different culture, but also having the
Allens is a firm full of opportunities. In 10 weeks I travelled internationally, went on an overnight trip to a client office, went on a tour of a coalmine, experienced a Women at Allens panel, visited the Sydney Children’s Hospital, and had the chance to work on pro bono matters. I can’t tell you exactly what to expect from an Allens clerkship, because you never know what opportunities will be there for you to take. The clerkship program gives you the chance to peer inside a commercial firm and to think about your future. I loved my time with the firm and can’t wait to start my career. A clerkship with Allens feels like unlocking the door to an incredible future and I would recommend it to anyone.
CLERKSHIPS AND GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN A GLOBAL NETWORK Page !20
15306D
ALLENS |www.allens.com.au/careers|480 Queen St, Brisbane QLD 4000|
Practice Sectors
About the Firm - What makes us different?
•Banks & Financial Institutions •Government •Industrials •Infrastructure & Transport •Mining •Oil & Gas •Power & Utilities •Real Estate •Technology, Media & Telecommunications
If you want to make the most of your career in law, our global network is the perfect place to start. Our worldwide capabilities give us access to the most interesting markets, the most exciting clients and the most significant and complex transactions. For you, this means the chance to work on market-leading deals with some of the most experienced and talented lawyers in our industry, together with access to international secondment opportunities from early in your career.
Firm Locations •Brisbane •Sydney •Melbourne •Perth
How to apply Apply via our website: www.allens.com.au/ careers www.linklaters.com.ukgr ads www.linklaters.com.hkca reers
It begins with our people: It’s our people who make us great. It is our priority to ensure they are constantly challenged, recognised, rewarded and empowered throughout their careers. Our unique way of working: We adopt a flexible approach to the way we work, which builds strong and diverse teams, and is one of the reasons our lawyers tell us a career here is so rewarding. You won’t be limited to working with a particular partner or group. Instead, you will have the opportunity to drive your career by working with a range of lawyers and partners. We make the complex simple: We are known for the quality of our legal minds. That’s why we attract some of the most complex legal work, and why our lawyers are recognised as the best in the profession. Life-long learning: As a graduate, we’re committed to giving you the best professional and personal development opportunities. Our training programs provide graduates with practical legal education of the highest professional standard. You’ll build your knowledge of the law and business and find an area of law that inspires you. We will support you with leading learning and development programs to round out your skills and put you on the path to becoming a marketleading lawyer.
Clerkship Program - What we look for? Initiative: A curious mind is vital, as is plenty of initiative. The more adaptable you’re prepared to be and the more energy you bring, the more you’ll get out of your career here. You’ll be able to steer a path that turns possibilities into realities. Excellence: Excellence is essential; it’s a guarantee we give our clients. Intellectually rigorous, driven and eager to learn, you’ll set the highest standards for yourself and strive to be the best you can be. Commerciality: Successful lawyers understand that law is more than an academic pursuit. It’s about understanding the client – their objectives and the challenges they face – as well as the wider commercial environment in e strong relationships with each other and with clients.
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MOVE YOUR MIND
Graduates in Law
Aim beyond pure legal knowledge. Beyond commercial advice. Be known for something more: a clarity of thought and an instinct for problem solving that can influence governments and leading businesses the world over. Join us and we’ll help you enrich and expand your worldview, grow your skills and influence new ways of thinking. In other words, we’ll help you move minds.
Begin now at careers.ashurst.com Connect with us on
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF… Amanda, Graduate Studies: Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Science (Psychology), University of Queensland
I began my career at Ashurst as a seasonal clerk in 2014. After successfully completing my clerkship and receiving a graduate offer, I was then invited back to work as a filing clerk in the Real Estate team while I finished my studies, before commencing the graduate programme in February 2016. Ashurst offers an 18 month graduate programme that features three rotations through various practice groups. The rotations have given me the opportunity to explore my interests in a few areas of law, as well as develop wellrounded skills, prior to deciding on the specific area of law in which I would like to build my career. After undertaking my first two rotations in our Disputes and Utilities practice groups respectively, I have just completed my final graduate rotation in the Employment practice group. My time in Employment has been extremely exciting, and many of my days involved attending meetings with clients or counsel to either take notes of the meeting or assist with drafting court documents, which usually gives you interesting follow-up tasks, such as to finalise the court document that was being drafted in the meeting. Outside of the commercial legal work, there has also been many opportunities at Ashurst to get involved in initiatives regarding diversity and inclusion, pro bono and corporate social responsibility. I have personally thrived in getting involved in as many initiatives as I can.
My tips: While applying for clerkships and graduate roles may seem like a daunting task, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier. • Firstly, go along to all the career events and meet the lawyers. This will help you get an idea about what the firm culture is like and whether you’re interested in the type of work that the firm practices in. • Start your applicants early and give yourself sufficient time to complete. Don’t leave them until the night they are due. • Finally, don’t stress too much about the shift from being a law student to being a clerk or a graduate. Your employer is well aware that most of the skills required to practise law cannot be fully taught during your law degree and will dedicate time and resources to fully train you up. Good luck!
When deciding on which law firm to graduate with, one of my key deciding factors was the level of training and investment in junior lawyers. Ashurst was, and continues to be, a clear standout in this respect. The Ashurst Graduate Programme involves a specifically tailored training program that canvasses legal and business skills, such as legal research skills, execution of documents, incisive language and advice writing. Ashurst also funds each graduate’s Practical Legal Training and provides an extensive suite of continuing legal education seminars in-house.
careers.ashurst.com Page !23
ASHURST |https://careers.ashurst.com/au/|123 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000|
Contact Details
About the Firm
Kate Medlen Email:
We’re renowned for helping our clients navigate through a complex and constantly evolving global landscape. With 25 offices across the world’s leading financial and resource centres in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and the USA, we operate at the cutting edge of the financial, resources and infrastructure, corporate and new economy markets. We tackle diverse areas of law, including finance, M&A, disputes and competition. In each, we offer advice that’s as commercially astute as it is technically accurate.
kate.medlen@ashurst.com
Graduate Programs Consultant
Practice Areas •Banking & Finance •Capital Markets •Competition & Antitrust •Competition Private Litigation •Construction •Corporate •Data Protection & Privacy
Australian Firm Locations •Brisbane •Canberra •Melbourne •Perth •Sydney
Application Tips What you say in your application is up to you: but be sure to express your personality and tell us why you want to be a commercial lawyer – and why you’d like to join Ashurst in particular.
As a firm, everything we do is characterised by a pursuit of insight, understanding and clarity. We share our clients’ ambitions and we cut to the heart of their issues with speed and clarity, whether we’re working locally or globally.
What we look for There's absolutely no Ashurst 'type'. We want to actively involve and include a broad range of minds from a broad range of backgrounds, all united by a common set of strengths – or competencies. All successful candidates demonstrate the following characteristics: Analytical ability, flexibility, motivation, determination and drive. They have outstanding communication skills, commercial awareness and strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
Clerkship Program The best way to understand what it feels like to work here is to actually work here! Every year, we hold clerkships in each of our offices to give you an intensive experience of our culture and the kind of work we do. We work hard to make sure they’re as useful and as stimulating as possible. In Brisbane, you’ll spend time in one department, where you’ll work with a supervising partner, lawyer and buddy who’ll get you involved in real work. You’ll also attend workshops, department training, as well as get a chance to take part in team social events. After completing your clerkship, you’ll have the opportunity to express interest to be considered for a place on our graduate program. We offer clerkships in each of our Australian offices, application and recruitment dates are aligned to the state guidelines. You'll firstly need to decide which office you want to clerk in, and only make one application. Apply via our website.
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BARRY.NILSSON. LAWYERS |www.bnlaw.com.au|215 Adelaide Street, Brisbane 4000|
Contact Details
About the Firm
Katie Guarrera HR Officer katie.guarrera@bnlaw.co m.au
Who we are: Established for more than 50 years, Barry.Nilsson. is a national law firm currently comprising over 220 staff. The firm has a national, award winning reputation for leadership in the areas of: insurance & health, property & commercial and family law. Due to our focus on three specific areas of law, we can offer you “top tier” work and clients coupled with “mid tier” individual attention.
Practice Areas •Insurance & Health Law •Family Law, Wills & Estates •Property & Commercial Law
Firm Locations •Brisbane •Sydney •Melbourne •Adelaide •Hobart
How to apply The clerkship program is open to penultimate year students. To apply, please email your resume, a covering letter and a copy of your academic transcript to our HR Officer, Katie Guarrera.
Our culture: We are proud of the culture we have developed by living and breathing our core values of Trustworthiness, Dedication, Excellence and Loyalty. Barry.Nilsson. has a very collegiate team environment and everyone is valued for their contribution. In recognition of this, and in order to encourage employees to have a good work/life balance, all full-time staff members enjoy every second Friday afternoon off. This displays our progressive approach and is indicative of the culture we promote. The firm also has a strong belief in giving back to the community and being socially responsible, including initiatives such as our staff attending community legal centres and membership with QPILCH and their self representation service. “Approachable and inclusive, I felt really comfortable with everyone.” - Onjawli Chakravarty | Vacation Clerk January 2017 Other benefits: We’re committed to providing staff with satisfying career paths and we offer the support required for individuals to achieve their goals and progress within the organisation. This includes access to state of the art resources, high-level work, an “open door” policy and good administrative support. Our partners also recognise the importance of continuing education and development. This is promoted through regular in-house CLE sessions that ensure our lawyers are always at the forefront with any developments in the industry. All professional staff also receive guidance from a dedicated mentor. This structured mentoring program enables our lawyers to have direct access to clients and day-to-day conduct of files at an early stage of their career.
Clerkship Program Our vacation clerkships are held over the summer and winter university breaks. The program runs for three weeks and clerks spend one week in each of our practise areas. Vacation clerks are given a unique opportunity to experience our firm, our practise areas and, most importantly, our culture.
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STAY TRUE.
Staying true to your direction is what defines Clayton Utz. We’ve built a culture that’s unlike any other law firm, but don’t just take our word for it. A good lawyer needs compelling evidence so meet our people and judge for yourself. claytonutz.com/graduates
Academic brilliance certainly counts, but graduates who thrive here have something extra – a natural passion for connecting with people and a strong sense of self. That’s what staying true is all about. If you have these qualities, Clayton Utz is for you.
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As a junior lawyer, your enthusiasm is in overdrive. Everything is interesting. You have a million questions for everyone. You want to be the best. And for me, I wanted to be the best lawyer and leader I could be. Right now I’m a corporate and tax lawyer, buying and selling companies, structuring investments and having the occasional battle with the ATO.
STAY TRUE.
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So, a little while after I started at Clayton Utz, I joined the social committee. A powerful assembly fuelled by lunchtime pizzawielding lawyers making important decisions like choosing the Christmas party theme. They knew I liked pizza, but had no idea I was gay. You see, I wasn’t out at work yet and this became a genuine source of anxiety for a good two years. But In May 2015 this all changed... To listen to Luke’s full story, go to: claytonutz.com/graduates Academic brilliance certainly counts, but graduates who thrive here have something extra – a natural passion for connecting with people and a strong sense of self. That’s what staying true is all about. If you have these qualities, Clayton Utz is for you.
CLAYTON UTZ |https://graduates.claytonutz.com/|71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000|
Practice Areas
About the Firm
•Advertising & Marketing •Agribusiness •Banking & Finance •Capital Markets & Securities •Climate Change •Competition •Construction & Major Projects •Corporate •Cyber Security •Energy & Resources •Environment & Planning •Governance & Compliance •Government Services •Healthcare & Life Sciences •Insurance & Risk •Intellectual Property •International Arbitration & Trade •Litigation and Dispute Resolution •Native Title •Product Liability •Real Estate •Taxation •Transport & Logistics •Water
We hire most of our Graduates from our Clerkship Programs. Occasionally, additional opportunities may arise. These opportunities will be listed on our website.
Firm Locations •
Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Clerkship Program If you’re a law student in your penultimate year, our Clerkship Programs will expose you to the fast pace of a full-service commercial law firm and show you the law in action. You’ll be working under the guidance of some of the sharpest legal minds in Australia, on challenging, complex and high-profile transactions and matters. You’ll be mentored by partners and lawyers who are leaders in their fields, in a firm where individuality is embraced and innovation actively encouraged. Our 4 week program gives you a comprehensive orientation and placements in 2 different practice groups. You’ll also get additional training, networking sessions and social activities. Program Dates Winter: 26 June - 21 July 2017 Summer: 20 November - 15 December 2017
Graduate Program It’s not just about wearing a suit. There’s always a gap between theory and practice, and post-university prospects can be daunting. How do you make the leap to working in the industry? That’s where we come in. Once you’ve completed your studies, our national Graduate Program gives you the perfect foundation for your legal career. Our 2.5 week orientation program is designed to ensure that you’ll hit the ground running. It consists of PLT+, local training and a national orientation week in Sydney. Our rotations will help you discover different areas and find the right fit. From day one you’ll be working on complex and sophisticated legal issues, and with our innovative learning and development approach, you’ll get the support to become the best you can be.
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Stay in touch
As Queensland’s largest solely Queensland-based law firm, we are big enough to have an excellent industry reputation... ... and personal enough to allow you to build your own.
www.cgw.com.au/careers
Level 21, 400 George St, Brisbane
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Bring your unique self In joining Cooper Grace Ward, you will become part of a vibrant, energetic and diverse team that will support and develop you. Together, we’ll be proud of what we achieve for our clients. We have an outstanding reputation throughout the business and wider community as an employer of choice. This is reflected in the numerous awards we have received over many years for our people strategies, employee engagement and equitable opportunities. With the highest quality clerkship, graduate and continuing professional development programs on offer, we are truly committed to attracting and retaining the brightest legal talent. To find out more about life at CGW, visit cgw.com.au/careers
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN OUR TEAM MEMBERS
y y y
Bachelor of Laws qualifications Well-rounded individuals who show a breadth of skills and interests Good academic results (at or above credit average) Some work experience (does not need to be law) and/or non-study interests A practical results orientation A focus on excellence and improvement Ability to balance work and study
y
Good interpersonal team and customer service skills
y y y y
OUR VALUES In our business decisions and in all interactions with our clients, stakeholders, community and each other, we value: y
y
y y
Mutual respect - we show consideration for every person’s unique qualities, contribution and needs. Outstanding service - we go all out to develop partnerships with our clients by understanding their needs and aspirations, and delivering our very best on every occasion. Team spirit - we work together positively to enjoy mutual success. Honesty - we are open, clear and genuine.
“I’ve found the mentoring that I’ve received from from my fellow law clerks up to partners has been incredible and it’s really helped me to develop as a young legal professional. The things I enjoy most are the people and the variety of work that I get. Being in litigation, we see all sorts of disputes and you never quite know what to expect when you turn up at work each day.” Clare McDonald, Graduate
‘It’s a real team effort to get the job done and because everyone is prepared to pitch in, it really helps us achieve the best result for our clients.” Clinton Jackson, Partner
www.cgw.com.au
Level 21, 400 George St, Brisbane 4000
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COOPER GRACE WARD LAWYERS | www.cgw.com.au |L21/400 George Street Brisbane|
Contact Details
About the Firm
Melissa Dodd Adviser – People & Culture T: 07 3231 2928 melissa.dodd@cg w.com.au
On joining Cooper Grace Ward (CGW), you will become part of a firm that commenced business in Brisbane, Queensland in 1980. More than 35 years on, you will benefit from our longstanding reputation for excellence in providing legal services to a wide range of clients across Queensland and Australia. As part of over 220 team members including 21 partners, you will gain exposure to and experience a full range of commercial legal services. Our key practice areas are among the largest Brisbane-based teams in their respective areas, providing excellent career opportunities.
Practice Areas
How we are different
•Banking & Finance •Construction •Corporate & commercial •Family •Insolvency & restructuring •Insurance •Litigation & dispute resolution •Property •Planning and environment •Tax & superannuation •Workplace relations & safety
Our team works for our firm because of our internal culture, which ensures outstanding client service and thereby exposure to an excellent client mix. We see that these things are interrelated. We understand that practising law is not just about knowing the law; it is also about having people like you who are able to work with others to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
Important Dates
Clerkship Program (Graduate Development Program)
People strategy, policies, integrated health and wellbeing and learning programs are designed to attract and retain the best talent, and support the ‘whole individual’, regardless of your background or stage of life. Our firm’s exceptional team culture is backed up with a number of industry awards and accreditations, including: • Finalist - Financial Review Client Choice Awards 2017 (Best Law Firm Revenue under $50 million and Most Consistence Excellence) • Recognition as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) – 2016 • Recognition as one of Australia’s most innovative firms – 2016 • Accredited as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace • Top performing firm - Australasian Lawyer Employer of Choice 2015 (Work Life Balance and Access to Technology)
November 2017 graduate development program commences
The program provides a fantastic opportunity to learn and develop in a ‘real’ working role and better prepares you for your future in a law firm. Subject to ongoing high performance and aptitude, the program provides successful candidates with a graduate and ultimately lawyer role.
Week beginning 25 September 2017 -First round interviews will be held
The role requires you to work a minimum of two days per week. Initially you will be placed in our Knowledge team, and under the guidance of our Knowledge Manager, you will provide valuable research and analysis for all our legal teams. The following year you will rotate into these legal teams and gain practical experience. You will receive ongoing coaching and mentoring from senior legal and non-legal team members, and you will be strongly encouraged to attend all internal training seminars. We offer all of our law clerks comprehensive support through flexibility in working hours to ensure you continue to balance your work and study needs.If you would like the opportunity to jump start your legal career and become a member of a team where your contribution will be genuinely valued, we would like to hear from you.
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A LAW FIRM AS INDIVIDUAL AS YOU. WWW.CORRS.COM.AU/GRADUATES
Corrs is a different kind of law firm and a different kind of employer. Our culture celebrates individuals who can bring unique experiences and perspectives to the table. We want big picture thinkers and we invest heavily in our people with genuine opportunities for personal and professional growth. It’s why we’re consistently rated as an award-winning employer. At Corrs, you can make an immediate impact working on some of the biggest deals in the Asia Pacific. And you’ll be guided by some of Australia’s leading lawyers every step of the way.
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YOUR SEASONAL CLERKSHIP AT CORRS: TIPS & TRAPS OFFICE ETIQUETTE
LEGAL WRITING
Tips
Tips
Be conscious of your surroundings in an open plan environment. If you are on a long phone call or having a lengthy discussion, consider moving to a breakout room. Say good morning to everyone when you arrive. Check-in before you leave to see if you can assist further.
All firms have a style guide. Use it for everything! When drafting, perform a search in the system for similar documents to use as a guide.
Traps In open plan, your team members are more easily accessible. It’s easy to fall into the trap of approaching them for everything – exercise your judgement and only approach when necessary.
Tips Add addressees last, in case you hit send before you’re ready. Before sending an email, ask yourself, ‘would I be comfortable if the CEO read this?’ Use Instant Messaging (IM) for quick questions to peers and buddies.
Traps Not using an appropriate salutation and sign off. As a general rule, avoid ‘hey’ and ‘cheers’. Beware of ‘reply all’ - we all know someone who has been caught out! Use judgement when using IM for senior lawyers and partners – think, have they sent you an IM before?
RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS
PRIORITISING Communicate your task list to your mentor or buddy; they are aware of the group’s priorities and will help you determine what should be done first. Check-in with your instructing lawyer regularly, eg daily, on how you are progressing with your task. Use your calendar to record due dates and set reminders for yourself.
Traps Not communicating to your mentor or buddy when you feel under pressure. Not being realistic about your own timeframes. If you have many tasks to do, say, ‘thank you for giving me this task, however I do have X tasks to complete by Friday. Can I complete this task for you on Monday?’
FEEDBACK Tips
Tips Always bring a pen and paper. Repeat instructions back to confirm you understand the task. Ask questions like ‘how long should this take me?’ or ‘how long should this memo be?’ This will help you to schedule your time and track your progress.
W FIRM Traps
You are expected to have questions, but first consider the answer or solution yourself. For example, ‘I researched X and think the answer is Y, am I on the right path?’ versus ‘I am stuck, what is the answer?’ Not considering context – understanding the context of a task will help you determine your writing style and broaden your understanding of the task. Ask ‘what is the purpose of this memo/email?’ Not being enthusiastic about each task. Enthusiasm about even the most menial task demonstrates your passion for law and that you are a team player.
3460-9074-4067
Trying to sound like a ‘lawyer’. Our clients expect advice in plain English. Not dedicating time to proofread and spell check – don’t let typos bring your quality of work down!
Tips
E-ETIQUETTE
WWW.CORRS.COM.AU
Traps
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Be comfortable to ask for feedback from your instructing lawyer. You don’t need to wait for them to approach you. It can be as simple as saying ‘when you have a moment, I’d really appreciate feedback on X task’. Source your own feedback by critically reviewing the final version of your work to learn what was changed, and ask why.
Traps Taking constructive criticism personally. Not learning from, or implementing feedback. Create a list of your feedback and review the key points against your work before submitting it.
A FINAL WORD Your fellow seasonal clerks are your allies. Communicate and learn from each other’s experiences – chances are you will bump into your fellow clerks throughout your career!
CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH |www.corrs.com.au|42/111 Eagle St, Brisbane City QLD 4000|
Contact Details Tania Daly People & Performance Consultant 07 3228 9465 tania.daly@corrs.com.au
Practice Areas •Banking & Finance •Capital Markets •China •Climate Change •Communications & Technology •Competition & Regulatory •Construction, Major Projects & Infrastructure •Corporate •Cyber Security •Employment, Workplace Relations & Safety •Energy & Resources •Environment & Planning •Financial Services •Foreign Investment Into Australia •Tax* *There are more practice areas available on the website.
Firm Locations Level 42, 111 Eagle Street Brisbane QLD 4000
About the Firm
Corrs Chambers Westgarth is an independent, client-driven partnership. We stand for the competitiveness of Australia and our clients, and the success of our people – everywhere! Being independent means we control our own destiny and are uncompromised and uncompromising in providing commercial and insightful advice to our clients. And to us, a Partnership is much more than a structure. We partner with our people, our clients and our community.We have a global network of the world’s best independent firms who work with us to provide the most relevant specialist expertise where and when it’s needed. With 45 firms in 20 countries, we have an extraordinary range of talent at our disposal and are able to create countless international opportunities for our people. Culture The most important thing that stands Corrs apart from its competitors is our culture. Our processes and ideas can be replicated, but it is those who work here that make Corrs the firm it is. We invest heavily in our people with genuine opportunities for personal and professional growth. We are not afraid to challenge the way legal services traditionally have been provided and we embrace innovation. And, most importantly, we have a culture that celebrates individuals. Our employees are encouraged to get to know and share experiences with each other – here’s how we do it: • Our office – described as ‘the workplace of the future’, our open plan office facilitates a collaborative workplace culture and supports a sense of community. • Community & Pro Bono – volunteer your time and skills at fundraising events and community legal centres. • Sport – join the Corrs netball and touch footy teams; take part in the Corporate Games; represent Corrs in a fun-run with your colleagues; or, participate in the Corrs swim team. • Social – our dedicated social club provides our people with opportunities to connect. Attend social drinks, morning teas, movie nights, trivia nights, wine tasting events and more!
Clerkship Program The Corrs Seasonal Clerkship Program runs for three weeks over winter, spring and summer, and is a great opportunity for you to experience the people, clients, work and culture that differentiates Corrs from other law firms. You’ll have the opportunity to work with some of Australia’s leading lawyers on highprofile work for major Australian and international clients. You’ll soon discover the standards of quality and commitment required to succeed at this level. You’ll be exposed to a broad range of interesting matters. You may also conduct research, review and present documents, as well as attend client meetings, mediations and settlements. The variety is enormous, so it’s the perfect way to discover the firm and the areas of law that excite you most. All applications for Graduate and Seasonal Clerk positions should be made via: www.corrs.com.au/careers/graduates.
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SHARE OUR VISION
S H A PE YOU R F UTU RE
Our goal is simple. We want to create the future leaders of the firm. That means giving you the skills you need to become a successful lawyer, but also the experiences to discover where your true interests lie. Find out more at
DLAPIPERGRADUATES.COM DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. Further details of these entities can be found at www.dlapiper.com. This may qualify as “Lawyer Advertising” requiring notice in some jurisdictions. Copyright © 2016 DLA Piper. All rights reserved.
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#3 Global brand: DLA Piper ranked second on the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index
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DLA PIPER | www.dlapipergraduates.com | 480 Queen Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 |
Contact Details
About the Firm: What we look for
Mithiran Ambikaipalan National Graduate & Recruitment HR Advisor 09 9274 5000 ClerkshipsAU@dlapiper .com
We hire graduates from all kinds of backgrounds. Not only does this allow us to serve our diverse client base better; it keeps our thinking fresh by opening up a wider range of perspectives.While you could be studying from a range of degree subjects, you will need a strong academic record. But it goes further than that. You’ll need to be naturally inquisitive, have plenty of drive and possess a genuine commitment to your career path. Among other things, we’ll be looking at your extracurricular activities for evidence of these qualities.
Practice Areas
Clerkship Program
•Corporate •Employment •Finance & Projects •Intellectual Property & Technology •Litigation & Regulatory •Real Estate •Restructuring •Tax
The best way to secure a place on our graduate program is to do a clerkship first. Not only will this give you a feel for commercial law in practice, it will give you an insight into what makes DLA Piper unique.During the clerkship, you'll do more than just shadow our lawyers. You'll be given real responsibilities. Whether you're attending a court hearing, contributing to a client meeting or assisting a large corporate transaction, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to reach your potential.At the same time, you'll start building your networks. As well as meeting with partners and other senior lawyers, you'll have regular contact with the other clerks through social activities. Information sessions about our practice areas will further enhance your knowledge and understanding.
Firm Locations •Brisbane •Canberra •Melbourne •Perth •Sydney
Summer clerkships are offered in all our offices, as well as winter clerkships in select locations. While your clerkship experience will be similar between offices, the length and structure of the individual programs may vary.
Step 1: Online application for clerkship Our application form is simple to complete. At this stage we want to know about your education, career motivations, and any relevant work experience. You can find some useful hints and tips about how to complete the form in the FAQ section below. Step 2: Online psychometric testing We want to know what makes you tick and these assessments tell us a little more about who you really are. You will complete two online tests: 1) a verbal reasoning test designed to measure your ability to evaluate and interpret written information 2) a personality questionnaire which assesses how you might approach work in different situations and environments Step 3: Assessment period The final stage is an assessment centre where you will meet senior members of the DLA Piper team, learn more about our businesses, meet current graduates and participate in a series of exercises and an interview. This is a challenging part of the process but a good way for you to demonstrate your skills and capabilities. We know most people also find it fun and rewarding. You’ll learn a lot more about how well DLA Piper will fit with you, too. Step 4: Offer We will be in touch as soon as we can after your assessment centre. Whatever the outcome, you will be offered feedback on your application at this stage so you take valuable learning from the experience. It's really important to us that you have a good experience throughout the whole assessment process. Step 5: Clerkship During your clerkship you will be eligible to be considered for the Graduate Program.
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ABOVE AND BEYOND BE A PART OF EVERYTHING
GRADUATE CAREERS IN LAW Join Herbert Smith Freehills and you’ll do more than just experience life at a leading law firm, you’ll be a part of everything we have to offer - whether you’re working on a high-profile takeover, catching up with an overseas client or taking on some challenging pro bono work. It’s an environment in which your perspective, ideas and experiences will make a real difference. Don’t just experience everything, be a part of it.
SEARCH HSF GRADUATES FOR MORE
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ON THE GRADUATE PATHWAY A typical day might see me reviewing employment contracts or enterprise agreements to help a client assess the human ‘cost’ of an asset sale transaction upon integration. On another, I might be reviewing repair notes on a piece of machinery to determine causation of a workplace incident. Often the role calls for preparing the first-cut of a draft due diligence or advice on liability to the client. More complex drafting tasks presented to me were consent orders, and settlement deeds.
BROCK GUNTHORPE GRADUATE
Each day has brought a new challenge or opportunity which I have enjoyed tackling with the support of the nurturing and technically-excellent team of lawyers and Partners at Herbert Smith Freehills.
THE WORK I began my graduate program in Herbert Smith Freehills’ Employment, Pensions and Incentives (EPI) team in March 2016. It’s a practice that involves many different areas of the law around our global network, so was an excellent landing place for a graduate. The group really emphasised skills development and had me working alongside Partners and Senior Associates on prominent, well publicised matters. Early highlights included preparing for and attending remote hearings in Queensland, assisting the team to provide round the clock advice from the Brisbane office on employee relations strategy for large M&A transactions in London. It’s definitely an unusual but rewarding experience to wake up, pull on your sports shoes and run alongside the client’s coal export wharves which were the subject of that day’s hearing.
My favourite aspect of the role was the variety. From Commonwealth Acts to constitutional matters; Queensland law reform to workplace health and safety investigations, the subject matter varied each day, with each field challenging you to develop different complementary skills. Your graduate experience is about testing different areas of interest, to find your passion. Once you’ve found that, it’s easy to thrive.
THE PERSONAL ATTENTION Herbert Smith Freehills goes to great lengths to create an environment where graduates are encouraged to think independently and fostered to develop commerciality and care for the client. Attending lectures from senior lawyers and partners, alongside the client and their employees emphasises the value of the ongoing legal learning provided by the firm. In almost every single week of the year, there is the chance to attend sessions in the office, or those streamed around Australia by video conference. From my very first day in EPI, I had a Partner, Senior Associate and Graduate buddy providing coaching and mentoring. These informal sessions created an immediate feedback loop on the work I was producing and allowed me to highlight matters I wanted to work on or clients I wanted to work with. An interest in public law made known in one of these sessions led to a number of interesting instructions on judicial review, tribunal powers and legislative drafting – not the typical work that comes to mind in a graduate role!
THE NETWORK
to day tasks in EPI. I worked with Partners in Melbourne and Sydney to prepare paid training materials for clients’ human resource teams, and legal updates to the Boards of private companies presented, in turn, by different fee earners around the country. It doesn’t just extend to legal issues. In my short time, I’ve represented the Brisbane office on an eight time-zone video conference, discussing strategies to develop our multicultural inclusion across the firm, and enhance the treatment of diversity in our recruitment practices.
THE PEOPLE People at Herbert Smith Freehills are able to produce their best legal work because they do so amongst a diverse and supportive workplace. Herbert Smith Freehills is constantly looking inwards at what kind of workplace culture we should aspire towards, and staff of all levels are routinely consulted on the firm’s progress. Right from the get-go, the sense of ‘fit’ with Herbert Smith Freehills was a key motivator to choose this firm for a graduate position.
THE EXTRAS Interspersed throughout the working day are committee meetings, social sports and just plain old opportunities to catch up with ‘work friends’. Since coming to Herbert Smith Freehills, I’ve enjoyed the bright presence of the in-house Well Bean Café barista (and restorative effects of subsidised coffees), as well as the ruthless competition of the pingpong table. The firm’s after hours sport program is growing with the inclusion of touch rugby league as well as the HSF Honey Badgers touch football team. The team comprises alumni, partners and junior members of the Bar, so is a great way to build connections.
THE TAKEAWAY I can think of very few firms who invest so heavily in early career development, while also supplying the market-leading work which accelerates your legal ambition.
The firm collaborates closely across its offices. I was able to observe this at work in my day
HERBERTSMITHFREEHILLS.COM
© Herbert Smith Freehills 2016 NOF166714_profile_BG_v2 151216
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HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS |herbertsmithfreehills.com|480 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000|
Contact Details Tanya Dunbabin Graduate Recruitment Consultant 07 3258 6571 tanya.dunbabin@hsf.com
Practice Areas •Alternative Legal Services •Competition, Regulation & Trade •Corporate •Dispute Resolution •Employment, Pensions & Incentives •Finance •Projects & Infrastructure •Real Estate
About the Firm Takeovers and mergers. Arbitration and litigation. Finance and real estate. As a world class professional services business, our work is incredibly varied. Thanks to the quality of our global network and world-class Business Services professionals, we work with some of the biggest international organisations on some of their most ambitious projects. Herbert Smith Freehills is a place where you won’t just experience everything, you’ll be a part of it. So if you’ve got the drive and ambition to become a brilliant lawyer, we’d like to hear from you.
Clerkship Program Join us as a Herbert Smith Freehills Vacation Clerk and you’ll do more than just experience life at a leading law firm, you’ll be a part of everything we have to offer. Your Development: We view you as the partners of the future, so it goes without saying that your development is incredibly important to us. Our full service practice and extensive work for international clients means you’ll enjoy a varied experience across contentious and non-contentious departments. As well as getting exposure to a huge breadth of work, you’ll be supported to grow your career and reach your goals with flexible training and development plans. Individually designed, these plans will allow you to gain experience in all areas and help you find what’s best for you and your career.
•Brisbane •Melbourne •Perth •Sydney
What we look for: We are interested in who you are and the strengths you can bring. We look for exceptional people from a diverse range of backgrounds with the passion and ability to become truly brilliant lawyers. And there’s more to that than just a great academic record. There’s fantastic perception and communication skills. There’s confidenceand collaboration skills. Empathy, an international mindset and diligence. And there’s the drive to not only experience everything, but to be a part of it. We have prepared some more detailed information on our website: careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/ au/grads/au/grads/join-us
Note: the application dates above are for Brisbane, go to the website for information on other locations.
International Graduate Secondment Program Our international network means that we can offer opportunities and experiences that are unrivalled in scope. In 2014 we launched our international secondment program for Australian graduates to our Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London offices and we are continuing to expand our secondment program. To read more about our international graduate secondment program including some recent experiences from our graduates go to our website: careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/au/grads/ graduate-program
Firm Locations
2 Summer clerkship programs, approximately 25-30 Brisbane positions available. Please note: An application should only be submitted to the office where you intend to start your career as a graduate. Multiple applications will not be considered. Joining Us We offer a range of summer and winter clerkships in each of our Australian offices. If you have queries about graduate or vacation clerk positions, please visit our website: careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/au/grads/vacation-clerkships or contact one of our graduate recruitment team.
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KING & WOOD MALLESONS |http://www.kwm.com/en/|1 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000|
Contact Details
About the Firm
Jill Stocker P&D Advisor +61 7 3244 8708 jil.stocker@au.kw m.com
Recognised as one of the world’s most innovative law firms, King & Wood Mallesons offers a different perspective to commercial thinking and the client experience. With access to a global platform, a team of over 2000 lawyers in 27 locations around the world, we work with clients to help them understand local challenges, navigate through regional complexity, and to find commercial solutions that deliver a competitive advantage for our clients.
Practice Areas •Agribusiness & Food •Automotive •Consumer & Retail •Financial Institutions •Government & Public •Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals •Industrials •Private Equity •Projects, Energy & Resources •Real Estate & Construction •Telecommunications, Media, Entertainment & Technology
Firm Locations •Sydney •Brisbane •Melbourne •Perth •Canberra
As a leading international law firm headquartered in Asia, we help clients to open doors and unlock opportunities as they look to Asian markets to unleash their full potential. Combining an unrivalled depth of expertise and breadth of relationships in our core markets, we are connecting Asia to the world, and the world to Asia. Working in collaborative, flexible teams we apply our expertise in connecting with and caring for our clients, standing in their shoes, understanding what they want and then going ‘all out’ to deliver. Always pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved, we are reshaping the legal market and challenging our clients to think differently about what a law firm can be.
Key statistics • 27 offices globally; • One of the largest international legal networks in the Asia region with 500+ partners and more than 2000 lawyers; • #1 global brand in Asia and #14 global legal brand *; • Our clients are a mix of global financial and corporate powerhouses to the new industry-makers and all levels of government (some for over 200 years); and • We are the only law firm able to practice Australian, PRC, Hong Kong and English law under one integrated legal brand. *Source: 2016 Acritas Sharp Global Elite Brand Index and 2016 Acritas Asia Pacific Law Firm Brand Index
Regional Presence The King & Wood Mallesons network extends across the following regions: • Asia Pacific • Europe • Middle East • North America
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KING & WOOD MALLESONS | http://www.kwm.com/en/ | 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 |
Seasonal Clerkship Program How to apply: Via our online application system at kwm.com/careers We offer clerkships so that you get a clear picture of what it’s like to be a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons. You’ll get to know our people, the way we like to work, our culture, practice areas, clients and more. For many, the clerkship is the first stage of continuous development at King & Wood Mallesons. 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 find that people from every part of the business will help you along, sharing their knowledge, and ensuring you have everything you need to fit in, and do well. Your role Clerks usually work in one or two different practice groups, depending on the length of the clerkship. You’ll be allocated a supervisor in each of your practice groups and you’ll work closely with the partners, senior associates and solicitors in that team. It’s a hands-on role, so you’ll not just be watching from the sidelines. During your time in the team, you’ll be involved in telephone conversations, meetings, client visits and the deals the team is working on. Every clerk receives feedback. Informal feedback is also provided on the job from partners, senior associates or solicitors talking you through the work you do. Our people have the opportunity to get involved in the many social and sporting activities that go on in the firm as well as the broader community in which we live.
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MCCULLOUGH ROBERTSON | www.mccullough.com.au/careers | 66 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 |
Contact Details
About the Firm
Tara Elston Human Resources 07 3233 8812
Our unique internship program recruits law students in their pre-penultimate year for an eight week program, which is completed over two years.
Practice Areas •Commercial •Construction Litigation •Corporate •Finance •Food & Agribusiness •Insurance •Intellectual Property •Litigation •Planning & Environment •Private Client •Projects & Infrastructure •Real Estate •Social Infrastructure •Tax •Work Health & Safety
Firm Locations •Brisbane •Sydney •Melbourne •Newcastle
Our internship program, which starts earlier in your degree gives you: • The opportunity to explore a broader spectrum of legal work, interests and potential before you decide on your area of specialisation • Additional opportunities to develop your technical legal skills, working alongside industry specialists, in a variety of our national practice areas • Early and exclusive access to our mentoring program, giving you access to a dedicated Senior Associate throughout the remainder of your degree • Plenty of opportunities to learn and develop ‘#out of office’. Between your two internships, you will be invited to attend firm social events giving you rich opportunities to network and build your contact base • A stronger base to build lifelong relationships and get to know our firm and its culture • An earlier opportunity to apply for our Graduate Program with established relationships and in a more advantageous position YOU’LL ENJOY OUR CULTURE We are down to earth and friendly – a top-tier firm without the big-firm attitude. Our people are challenged to do their best, reach higher and achieve their goals, both personally and professionally. Last year we were named employer of choice for the third year running in recognition of our commitment to providing a flexible workplace that acknowledges the unique challenges and circumstances of modern families. We believe strongly in diversity and insist on upholding an inclusive workplace which allows our people to bring their whole self to work. Last but not least, we recognise that it’s not all about work. We encourage our people to get involved and provide plenty of opportunities catering for all interests. If you’re sporty you might like to cycle with the McRollers or play basketball with the McShooters. If, like us, you are community minded we have a Community Partnership Program which supports community organisations and charities across a range of areas including indigenous education, mental health and rural and remote communities.
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MCCULLOUGH ROBERTSON | www.mccullough.com.au/careers | 66 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 |
WHAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO • for interns, we provide an induction program which introduces you to different practice groups and the work that they do. • personal and professional development programs including CV building, interview skills, public speaking and networking. • on the job training with support from your buddy (a junior lawyer) and your mentor (a Senior Associate). • the opportunity to work on challenging, high profile matters for some of the biggest organisations in Australia and around the world. • Subsidised (and good) coffee made by our in-house barista and the convenience of our in-house café Nosh, which offers extensive menu options for breakfast and lunch. • Heaps of opportunities to give back to the community through pro bono and volunteer work. COME ON A JOURNEY WITH US The program you choose now could define your career so it’s important you make the right choice. We are looking for students in their pre-penultimate year of study who want to come on a journey with us – starting with our two year internship program and potentially ending with a position in our Graduate Program. As an intern at McR, your two four-week stints in our office are part of a broader development program which is rolled out over two years. We are looking for highly motivated people who understand the value of, and are willing to embrace, our ‘#out of office’ development opportunities. At McR we are renowned for challenging our interns and graduates early in their career. We look for confident, independent thinkers who are passionate about providing the best possible service to our clients. HOW TO APPLY Visit our Careers page at www.mccullough.com.au/careers
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 20-25 Interns NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE: 1 Winter and 1 Summer
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MCINNES WILSON |www.mcw.com.au/page/Careers/|345 Queen Street, Brisbane QLD 4000|
Contact Details
About the Firm
mcw@mcw.com.au Phone: (07) 3231 0600
McInnes Wilson Lawyers is an award winning national law firm with a wealth of experience in a broad range of specialised legal services representing local, national and international clients. Valuing differences is what makes McInnes Wilson Lawyers unique. Our people are an essential part of the firm’s continued success and growth and we believe by creating diverse and stimulating teams, every employee is encouraged to take initiative and be proactive in achieving excellence.
Practice Areas •Commercial •Litigations & Dispute Resolution •Property & Construction •Insurance •Financial Services •Personal Services •Private Clients
Firm Locations •Brisbane •Maroochydore •Goldcost •Sydney •Melbourne •Parramatta •Adelaide •Canberra
McInnes Wilson Lawyers has been recognised as a winner for Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2016. This achievement can be attributed to the progressive focus of the firm on developing and supporting its workforce. The firm is characterised by a culture which encourages every employee to actively be a part of the learning organisation developed over the last decade. We encourage employees to achieve high performance, personal and professional accountability and collaboration both within and outside of the firm. We foster a culture that produces results, promotes innovative thinking, encourages and rewards loyalty and above all else, makes McInnes Wilson Lawyers a great place to work. Our staff members come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we look for qualities in our junior lawyers that align with the firm’s vision, values and culture. We look for ambitious employees who display loyalty, integrity and innovation whilst providing quality solutions for our clients with a commitment to excellence and the highest professional standards.
Clerkship Program Our Graduate and Clerkship program provides participants with the opportunity to gain experience in the day to day operations of a law firm whilst practically applying skills and knowledge gained through your studies. This experience, coupled with ongoing guidance and mentoring from Principals and senior staff, will provide you with an enviable skills platform to successfully launch your legal career. Our Law clerks work on an ongoing basis through the entirety of their studies, and our Law graduates have the opportunity to undertake the firm’s 12 month Supervised Workplace Traineeship in the January intake. To be eligible for the Graduate and Clerkship program, applicants must have a GPA of 5 and above and a demonstrated record of full and/or part time work experience (legal and/or non-legal). Participation in a team sport and voluntary work is highly desirable. Participants of the Graduate and Clerkship program can expect to experience access to a wide variety of legal work and are provided the opportunity to work directly with clients to develop their skills on real legal matters. You will also have access to personal and professional development activities including participation in the firm’s mentoring program which aims to encourage personal and professional growth through career guidance and professional support from Principals and senior lawyers.
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graduates.minterellison.com
15 0081 NAT Ad_Grad Campaign 2016_Top 100 v2_A4.indd 1
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04/Feb/2016 05:28:15 pm
Innovate James Majarich, Martina Pasqualino, Eric Norris and Rosie Watts working together to prepare for our inaugural firm hackathon.
graduates.minterellison.com 15 0081 NAT Ad_Grad Campaign 2016_A4_1pp_Innovate_v2.indd 1
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15/Mar/2016 11:30:07 am
MINTERELLISON | http://graduates.minterellison.com | 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 |
Contact Details
About the Firm
Ciara Phelan Resourcing Consultant 07 3119 6326 ciara.phelan@minterelliso n.com
At MinterEllison our aspiration is to be our clients’ best partner. Our large, diverse client base includes public and private companies, leading multinationals operating in the region, global financial institutions, and government and state-owned entities. We think beyond the law and apply a commercial approach and creative thinking to some of the region’s most high-profile transactions, projects and disputes. We draw on the extensive capability of our own office network and relationships with other leading firms around the world to deliver seamless service to our clients wherever they need us.
Practice Areas •Financial Institutions •Insurance & Corporate Risk •Projects, Infrastructure & Construction •Real Estate, Environment & Planning •Commercial & Regulatory •Dispute Resolution •Human Resources & Industrial Relations •Mergers & Acquisitions •Tax
Firm Locations •Adelaide •Auckland •Beijing •Brisbane •Canberra •Darwin •Gold Coast •Hong Kong •Melbourne •London •Perth •Shanghai •Sydney •Ulaanbaatar •Wellington
If you start your career at MinterEllison, your experience in the first few years will be full of challenging and exciting work, support and mentorship, and professional and personal growth, all the while having the opportunity to develop new networks and friendships. We invest heavily in the development and empowerment of our talent through our carefully designed clerkship and graduate programs, and look to give graduates opportunities to collaborate, innovate and inspire from day one. This investment includes a number of MinterEllison's career development initiatives that drive our success with clients, our growth, and our unique culture.
Clerkship Program Our vacation clerkships offer you real life work experience. A comprehensive orientation program and learning on the job will help you build your legal skills and commercial acumen. During our program you will: • Work closely with partners and lawyers on active matters to meet deadlines • Produce quality and meaningful work • Participate in tangible learning & development activities and • Attend social and networking events. You will also be allocated a supervisor for daily support who will help you manage your workload, and a 'buddy' for extra insight and advice. You should consider a career at MinterEllison if: • Your passion for excellence leads you to winning solutions. • Building relationships excites you. You see yourself outside the office, working in partnership with clients. • You think outside the box and embrace new ideas. • You want to feel empowered and be part of a high performance team. • Collaboration and inclusiveness are principles you value. • You have what it takes to apply technical thinking through the prism of commercial advice. • The status quo bores you. You want to be part of something different. • You're looking for a Firm with a clear game plan. Vacation Clerk positions: approximately 35 – 40 positions over 3 intakes
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START YOUR CAREER WITH A LARGE AUSTRALIAN CORPORATE LAW FIRM. WHAT OUR GRADUATES SAY “At Thomson Geer, I feel like I am constantly learning and developing. The senior members of my team take an active interest in mentoring their graduates and junior lawyers through open communication, providing feedback, and direct involvement in real work. Having the support of more experienced lawyers has helped me find my place within the firm and given me confidence in my legal career.” Miranda Nelson, Lawyer “During my time in the Graduate program at Thomson Geer I was given the chance to actively participate in many real work opportunities, just some of which included attending meetings with clients, experts and counsel, drafting court documents, attending court for the entirety of a trial and appearing in court. This work allowed me to develop my skills in many different areas and gain invaluable experience early in my legal career.” Lauren Abbott, Lawyer “After two years working in the Adelaide office I applied for a role in the Sydney office when a position became vacant. I was able to seamlessly change offices and live in a new city.” Venks Ananthakrishnan, Senior Associate
WHY CHOOSE US? Your rise from Graduate to Partner – and beyond! Thomson Geer views all of its graduates as potential partners and, with that in mind, you’ll be an active participant in your team, involved in all aspects of legal practice, and working directly with experienced practitioners from day one. We will dedicate significant time to your development as an up and coming lawyer because an investment in you is an investment in our future (and the future of our valued clients). Work life balance – yes, it does exist! The Law is an incredibly rewarding profession, however at Thomson Geer we also recognise that it can be demanding. For this reason we aim to create an environment in all of our offices that is flexible, friendly, personable, collegiate and professionally stimulating. Our wellbeing@work program supports employees to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Our Brisbane employees are an active group, and love to get involved in sporting events like triathlons and mixed sporting teams. Other activities they enjoy are yoga, massages, healthy breakfasts and seminars.
APPLICATIONS If your ambition is to develop a career in commercial law and you possess the drive to make your ambitions a reality, then we want to hear from you. If you also have a desire to work interstate one day, let us know! We welcome the opportunity to assist our team members with personal career development. Applications open 27 February 2017 via cvMail or the Thomson Geer website.
ADVICE | TRANSACTIONS | DISPUTES Domestic & Cross Border www.tglaw.com.au Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide
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THOMSON GEER CLERKSHIP – AN INSIGHT Alexandra Meeuwsen - Graduate Lawyer
A clerkship with Thomson Geer is a great way to gain an insight into the operation of a successful, fully integrated national corporate law firm and what it can offer you in your career. Before my clerkship and graduate year I never fully comprehended the vast scope of work and projects that I would be involved in in commercial practice. You are given the opportunity to learn from and work with lawyers and partners who are continually recognised locally and nationally for their knowledge and expertise in their respective fields. Thomson Geer values and invests in continued development and training for their practitioners. Such opportunities are regularly offered and include training in hard skills, such as technical use of software, and soft skills, such as conflict resolution training and managing work life balance. Thomson Geer offers inhouse continued professional development lectures and encourages involvement with relevant professional organisations and associations. But don’t worry, it’s not all work and no play. Thomson Geer values networking and appreciates the importance of relationships with your peers. We have weekly drinks on Friday night, which provides an opportunity to get to know each other socially and professionally. We have a Social Club who arranges various events throughout the year including quiz nights, wine tours, cocktail nights and even a Mid-Year Ball. The Clerkship The four week clerkship program begins with induction week. It was evident from the outset just how invested Thomson Geer was in our development with the firm. These first few days we heard from younger lawyers and current graduate lawyers about the firm culture and general practical expectations. It was nice to have some advice and reassurance from people who had been in our position only 12 months before. We also heard from practitioners from each department who provided insight into their practice area and the type of work they do. This gave a much clearer picture of the services we offer and the diversity of our clients. At the beginning of the clerkship you are assigned to a practice area and a supervising partner. However during your time are also encouraged to experience work with other teams. During my clerkship I worked in the Property team but also assisted the Corporate, Tax, and Employment teams with work. The opportunity to experience multiple practice areas was extremely beneficial and allowed me to reflect on areas of practice I would consider pursuing. The types of work that the clerks were given included drafting, reviewing transactional documents, researching and drafting memos, attending client meetings, discovery and attending court. The work you do is real and worthwhile. Support is offered to you throughout your clerkship. We would meet with HR each week to debrief and raise any issues that concerned us. We were each assigned a mentor who worked in the same practice group – my mentor was a great support and gave a lot of practical assistance. He was always approachable and would make time for any queries I had. The Graduate Program Graduates at Thomson Geer are often recruited straight from the clerkship program. The graduate program runs for 12 months, which includes rotations in different practice areas. Graduates are assigned a mentor, who guides you in relation to your work and performance. You are also assigned a buddy, who is generally another young lawyer, to offer support and advice more generally about being a young lawyer and the transition from University to working life. The type of work you undertake in the graduate program is an extension of the work you performed whilst on your clerkship. The firm encourages graduates to become involved in matters and to engage directly with clients. The training is also ongoing with New Lawyer Training sessions being run every month or so to assist the graduates as new lawyers learn practical skills. These sessions were based on topics such as drafting, court appearances and how to manage files. The most valuable aspect of the graduate program is the rotations. The opportunity to immerse yourself and experience multiple practice areas before settling into one practice area is exceptionally beneficial. As a young lawyer you are able to learn new legal skills and knowledge from different teams and then take that as experience into the practice area in which you ultimately practice. Reviews are also offered quarterly through the graduate program. These reviews allow you to implement and act upon constructive advice before your conclusion with the practice area. The review process is a valuable part of your continued development as a young lawyer with the firm. Participating in the clerkship and graduate programs at Thomson Geer, whilst at times challenging, is very rewarding. I encourage you all to apply for a clerkship with Thomson Geer and wish you the best of luck with your applications.
ADVICE | TRANSACTIONS | DISPUTES Domestic & Cross Border www.tglaw.com.au Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide
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THOMSON GEER LAWYERS | www.tglaw.com.au | 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 |
Contact Details
About the Firm
Danielle Schmidt People and Development Manager (07) 3338 7574 dschmidt@tglaw.com.au
We have 85 Partners and more than 275 other professionals operating out of our offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Our industry coverage and client work is diverse.
Practice Areas •Advertising & Marketing •Agribusiness •Banking & Finance •Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical •Competition & Regulation •Construction & Projects •Corporate & Advisory •Employment, Workplace Relations & Safety •Energy & Resources •Environment & Planning •Franchising •Gaming & Leisure •Government •Health & Aged Care •Insurance •Intellectual Property •Litigation & Dispute Resolution •Media •Mergers & Acquisitions •Property •Superannuation •Tax •Technology •Telecommunications
Our clients include companies in banking and finance, construction, energy and resources, healthcare, telecommunications, property development, wealth management, tax, gaming and leisure, and media, broadcasting and entertainment.
Clerkship Program At Thomson Geer we are looking for law students who have excelled academically, are client focused, commercially minded, and work well in a team environment. We are especially keen to talk to students who have an additional technical degree! We offer a structured four week program where clerks learn through a combination of hands-on experience, training, coaching and observation. There are opportunities for our clerks to continue working with us in casual paralegal and administrative positions in between the clerkship and graduate programs (subject, of course, to study loads).
Our Graduate Program Students who complete a clerkship with the firm will be eligible to be considered for a position in the firm’s next graduate program, commencing in 2018. This program runs for 12 months and includes rotation among different practice areas to help determine the area of law which best suits you.
Applications If your ambition is to develop a career in commercial law and you possess the drive to make your ambitions a reality, then we want to hear from you. If you also have a desire to work interstate one day, let us know! We welcome the opportunity to assist our team members with personal career development. Applications open 27 February 2017 via cvMail or the Thomson Geer website.
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Some of the HG winners from the 2016 QPILCH soccer tournament
A unique culture and a place where people love to work HopgoodGanim enjoys a reputation as a firm where people love to come to work. We nurture a flexible working culture that acknowledges there is life outside the law. We also offer our people challenging and interesting work with a national and international client base and the chance to learn from industry-leading practitioners who are experts in their fields.
Find out more Web Facebook Instagram Twitter
Our two year graduate program includes a structured professional development framework to provide our graduates with the right mix of technical training, personal development and commercial acumen.
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hopgoodganim.com.au/careers facebook.com/hgcareers @hopgoodganim @hopgoodganim
Practical Legal Training Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Online and Onsite
2017 Intake 2 Apply by 12 May 2017 2018 Intake 1 Apply by 17 November 2017 Leo Cussen has been operating since 1972 and we continue to be recognised as a centre of excellence for providing high quality practical legal training. Our Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice is highly comprehensive and well respected by the legal profession. At Leo Cussen our trainees learn how to practise law in a very professional, yet friendly and engaging environment. In our online blended learning program, you work predominantly online but with 13 days of face-to-face instruction to give you a more personalised mentoring program. Alternatively, you can undertake our full-time onsite course from Melbourne’s CBD, where we find your professional placement for you. We believe that practical legal training should be just that, practical. That’s why both our onsite and online training programs incorporate small group training, comprehensive and personalised mentoring and feedback, to provide the finest practical training experience.
Tel:
Established since 1972, excellent reputation.
Highly practical course with ‘learning by doing’ and no exams.
Small group training to provide the finest practical training experience.
Build skills and confidence with a personalised mentoring program.
Thorough and challenging with a simulated file program to best prepare you.
Our graduates work in a range of legal and professional environments around the world.
1300 039 031
Email: pltadmin@leocussen.edu.au
+61 3 9602 3111
Web:
www.leocussen.edu.au
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Develop excellent advocacy skills through civil and criminal file work.
Access to career support services through graduate placement and career advisor.
GUEST ARTICLES
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Your Private is your Professional: EProfessionalism, Law Students and Social Media Dr Kylie Burns If a potential employer searched your name or image on the internet today what would they see? Do you know if you have privacy settings on your social media accounts? Have you ever posted comments or photos on social media you would not feel comfortable having a potential employer, a law firm or a Judge of the Supreme Court see? Do you realise your ‘private’ social media profile is also your ‘professional’ social media profile? The vast majority of law students and many legal professionals are now extensive users of social media. Many students (and lawyers) believe that their social media activity is ‘personal’ and ‘private’ and does not concern or reflect on them as legal professionals. However, this is a very misguided belief. Potential employers now frequently search potential employees’ social media accounts. Posts which contain material such as intoxication, drug use, racism, sexism, sexual content, harassment, swearing, aggression, criminal conduct and other unprofessional conduct can greatly impact on a student’s employment prospects. However, on the positive side, social media posts which show professional activity, mentoring, collegial group work, volunteering, community involvement, involvement in University activities and networking can contribute positively to employment prospects. Law students who intend to seek admission as a legal practitioner also need to be aware they must demonstrate to legal admission authorities they are a fit and proper person and of good character. Negative activity by a law student on social media can cause issues in relation to admission. For example, a law student who falsely held themselves out as practising as a lawyer on social media or breached confidentiality by disclosing client details at a clinic on social media could find their admission in jeopardy. Universities are increasingly experiencing inappropriate student conduct on social media. This can include issues such as collusion, bullying, abusive and harassing behaviour, racist comments, aggressive behaviour, defamation of other students and staff members, and inappropriate sharing of academic material. This kind of conduct can lead to academic misconduct and student misconduct disciplinary proceedings. At its worst, it may result in criminal charges or civil litigation. This can affect not only your University studies but may also need to be reported to legal admission authorities if you seek admission as a legal practitioner. Let’s also be honest- it is not kind and collegial behaviour in a setting where we know many law students are already doing it tough with issues like anxiety and depression. Here are some tips to think about: 1. Check your privacy settings on all your social media accounts. Consider what material you want to be publicly available. 2. Google yourself. What is your digital profile? Does it represent the professional version of yourself you want potential employers and the profession to see? 3. Remember your private is also your professional. As a future professional what you do in your private life, including on social media, can impact on your future professional life even when you area student.
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4. Present a professional and positive version of yourself on-line. Make sure you enhance your employability and professional identity. Have a well-developed Linked In profile. 5. Remember your on-line behaviour as a Griffith student interacting with other Griffith users and staff means you are subject to the Griffith Social Media Policy and other conduct policies. Read them. Comply with them. 6. PAUSE AND REFLECT before you post ANYTHING on social media. Never post anything in the heat of the moment. Never post anything negative or abusive. Ask yourself before you post, is it PROFESSIONAL, ETHICAL, EMPATHETIC, KIND? 7. Ask yourself before you post a comment to another person, ‘could I stand in front of that person, look them in the eye knowing their struggles and say those words to them.’ If not, do not post those words on social media. 8. Be aware of who you friend, like and comment upon- this too may reflect on you as a potential employee and professional. 9. Ask your friends not to post images of you on social media without your consent. 10. Please also be aware that the tone of your emails to law staff can reflect poorly upon you if you are disrespectful or aggressive in terms of the language you use in, and content of, the email.
Helpful Resources Griffith University Social Media Guidelines Griffith University Social Media Skills Training Module Griffith Linked In E-Module Law Institute of Victoria, Guidelines on the Ethical Use of Social Media Queensland Law Society, Ethical Issues When Using Social Media Kylie Burns and Lillian Corbin, ‘E-Professionalism: The Global Reach of the Lawyer’s Duty to Use Social Media Ethically’ (2016) Journal of the Professional Lawyer 153
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My Clerkship Experience Selena Lang My name is Selena Lang and I’m about to embark on my final year of law and business. I’m excited, yet absolutely terrified of what is to come! In summer 2016 I was lucky enough to have scored myself a clerkship at Clayton Utz, so I guess I just want to share with you a little bit of that experience. So as most of you probably know clerkships are paid legal internships that you complete in your penultimate year of university. For those who are about to begin their penultimate year, applications for clerkships open on the 27th of February and close on the 20th March, so you definitely still have plenty of time to get your applications sorted. I do suggest you check out the Queensland Law Society’s website for all relevant dates and to see which firms have subscribed to the guidelines. Just keep in mind that some firms do not subscribe to the QLS guidelines; so just check their individual websites to see what their application dates and procedures look like.
Some of fun you’ll have on your clerkship – Costume Christmas parties!
So when I started the clerkship process I applied to about 18 firms, this is obviously a personal choice, however, I really encourage you to apply to as many firms as you can, in order to give yourself the best chance possible. Make sure that you get your cover letters and resumes proof read by someone older and wiser than you, because your cover letter really is super important in helping you gain an interview. I’m not going to lie, the clerkship process is absolutely gruelling. You’ll begin by going crazy perfecting your cover letters and CVs (and we all know how pedantic law students can be), before patiently waiting to hear whether you’ve been successful in gaining an interview. If you’re lucky enough to gain an interview most firms will invite to attend a cocktail evening. These evenings are nerve-racking and exciting. Nerve-racking because you’re expected to mingle and network with Brisbane’s best lawyers and law students, and exciting because the canapé range and city views are truly amazing! If you get anything out of these cocktails evenings please let it be your love for small, decorative finger foods. After the cocktail networking evenings, you will attend an interview. I do not really have many tips in this regard, however, just know that they are not really as scary as you might imagine. Interviews normally take place with a partner of the law firm and a HR representative and it really is a chance for them to get to know you. I found all four of my interviews to be quite relaxed and very conversational. After the interviews the waiting game begins, this year offer day is on the 8th of May. So as I mentioned earlier, I clerked at Clayton Utz. I really enjoyed my four weeks at the firm, however, going from the relaxed university lifestyle to full-time work was definitely an eye-opener. During my clerkship I was placed in the workplace relations and energy and resources teams and I was exposed to real life legal work. My day-to-day tasks mainly consisted of legal research, which I then had to present in the form a memo. I really enjoyed these tasks because it allowed me to really explore that particular area of law in detail. I was also asked to draft advices, as well as an article for the Clayton Utz website. Overall, I found the work to be extremely interesting. I really enjoyed getting a taste of two practice areas, in order to recognise their differences. What I enjoyed most about the research tasks was that the answer was unknown and it was my job to reach some sort of conclusion. I was also lucky enough to have worked on some pro-bono matters, which I found to be a an extremely humbling experience. I hope that I’ve been able to shed some light on the stressful adventure that is clerkships and I wish you all the best of luck!
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FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES
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VOLUNTEER & NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS This information has kindly been donated by Beyond Law
Arts Law Centre of Australia
Visit www.artslaw.com.au
The Arts Law Centre Arts Law of Australia is a national, not-for-profit community centre which seeks to provide legal services to artists and arts organisation. In addition, it seeks to engage with Indigenous artists through the ‘Artists in the Black’ program. The centre advises clients on a number of arts related legal issues, including contracts, copyright, moral rights, trade marks, business names and structures, defamation, insurance and employment. Law students may apply to be daytime volunteers, interns or note-takers at the centre. Daytime volunteers provide invaluable assistance to the legal team at the Arts Law Centre. They are required to undertake legal research, communicate with clients, compose written instructions to be reviewed by lawyers and perform administrative tasks.
Aurora Project Internship
Visit www.auroraproject.com.au
The Aurora Native Title Internship Program places legal, anthropology and some social science students and graduates in unpaid internships at Native Title Representative Bodies (NTRBs) and other organisations working in native title, policy development, human rights and social justice, all with a focus on Indigenous affairs. The program not only provides much needed assistance to host organisations but also promotes career opportunities by raising awareness of the NTRB system and attracts students and graduates to work in the sector. The quality of the students is demonstrated by the eagerness of NTRBs and other hosts to retain alumni of the program on a longer-term basis. Unpaid 5 to 6 week full-time internships are offered to law students. We match interns to organisations working in native title, land rights, policy development, social justice and human rights – all with an Indigenous focus.
Visit probonocentre.org.au/
Australian Pro Bono Centre
The Centre is an independent, non profit organisation that aims to encourage pro bono legal services throughout the legal profession, support lawyers and law firms to make it easier for them to provide high quality pro bono legal services, and work with the profession and the community sector to match services with the clients and groups most in need of assistance. The Centre also manages the Social Justice Opportunities website (www.sjopps.net.au), which is a resource for law students and new lawyers that provides information on volunteering and finding a job in the social justice sector, including current listings. We offer volunteer placements and accept applications at any time, however we generally only do an intake 2-3 times per year.
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Refugee Advice & Casework Service
Visit www.racs.org.au
RACS is the oldest community legal centre that specialises in providing advice to asylum seekers. It is a notfor-profit incorporated organisation that relies on funding from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, donations from the community and extensive volunteer support. Nationally, RACS works to provide expert legal advice, case management and representation to asylum seekers who are applying for Protection Visas, in order to help them remain in Australia. They also provide referrals in relation to broader social concerns, such as health, welfare, accommodation, education, training and language development. RACS also provides community briefing sessions for the wider community. Furthermore, RACS also participates in policy research and development and law reform debates, particularly as it relates to the rights of those seeking asylum in Australia. This occurs via advocacy at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Refugee Review Tribunal liaison meetings. They also make submissions to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee. RACS works with a number of other organisations, including: the Red Cross; Amnesty International; the Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC); the House of Welcome; the Legal Aid Commission of NSW; and the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA). All employment positions are listed on their website. RACS also has a student volunteer program, with 8-10 volunteers working approximately one day a week over a period of 6 months.
UN Women (the Australian National Committee)
Visit www.unwomen.org.au
The Australian National Committee for UN Women represents UN Women in Australia. The National Committee raises funds for projects promoting gender equality throughout the world and advocates for greater awareness of gender equality issues in Australia. The key thematic focus areas of the organisation are; ending violence against women, increasing women’s political participation, women’s economic empowerment and including women in conflict resolution and peace building processes. The National Committee runs three major campaigns throughout the year, the largest being International Women’s Day (celebrated globally on March 8). This year more than 35,000 people attended more than 380 events around the country, raising funds to help women experiencing violence in Papua New Guinea access critical services. The National Committee has a small staff team located in Canberra. We also regularly recruits for internship rounds and has volunteer Chapters in most capital cities where individuals can register their interest in becoming more involved (more information available on our website). We also have a volunteer register for anyone interested in volunteering at our National Office in Canberra.
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UNICEF Australia
Visit www.unicef.org.au
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNICEF’s vision is of a world where the basic rights of every child will be met. UNICEF works in over 190 countries to promote and protect the rights of children. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, clean water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and HIV. In Australia, UNICEF advocates for the rights of all children to be realised and works to improve public and government support for child rights and international development. We offer unpaid internships, with quarterly intakes into the Advocacy Team. Each quarter sees us recruit one intern, so the competition is intense, but the intern role is equally challenging and important. There are also Communications Internships, but this may not be as relevant to Law Students.
Voiceless
Visit www.voiceless.org.au
Voiceless is an independent, non-profit think tank focused on raising awareness of animals suffering in factory farming and the kangaroo industry in Australia. Our vision is for a world in which animals are treated with respect and compassion. The law is central to our mission. Most importantly, we are working to grow the discipline of animal law and give better legal protections to factory farmed animals and kangaroos in Australia. We offer unpaid internships and volunteering opportunities for students in their penultimate or final year of law studies.
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority The APRA is the prudential regulator of the Australian financial services industry. It oversees banks, credit unions, building societies, general insurance and reinsurance companies, life insurance, friendly societies, and most members of the superannuation industry. The APRA offers graduates diverse opportunities and experience across the entire financial services industry. Visit www.apra.gov.au
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Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
Visit www.accc.gov.au
The ACCC is Australia’s peak consumer protection and competition agency. It is an independent statutory authority and is the only national agency dealing with competition matters. Our role is to promote vigorous and lawful competition, to encourage fair business dealings and to protect consumers from misleading and deceptive conduct. ACCC graduates: • work in a national agency applying and developing existing skills and knowledge • complete three, 14-week rotations to gain experience across a range of areas of the ACCC such as: adjudication, corporate, enforcement and compliance, mergers and acquisitions or regulatory affairs • provide input into decisions with far-reaching economic, industrial and legal implications • become part of a high-profile public service agency • develop a strong foundation for a rewarding and challenging career Head Office: 23 Marcus Clarke Street Canberra ACT 2601 Email: grad.jobs@accc.gov.au
Australian Human Rights Commission
Visit www.humanrights.gov.au
The AHRC is a national human rights institution, independent statutory organisation leading the promotion and protection of human rights in Australia. The Commission resolves complaints of discrimination or breaches of human rights under federal laws and holds public inquiries into human rights issues of national importance. It also provides legal advice to assist courts in cases that involve human rights principles and to parliaments and governments to develop laws, policies and programs. The Commission also undertakes and coordinates research into human rights and discrimination issues nationally as well as in conjunction with other national human rights institutions to address such issues at the regional level.
Fair Work Ombudsman
Visit www.fairwork.gov.au
The Fair Work Ombudsman is a statutory office created by the Fair Work Act 2009. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s functions include promoting harmonious, productive and cooperative workplace relations and ensuring compliance with Commonwealth workplace laws. The services of the Fair Work Ombudsman are free to all workers and employers in Australia. The Fair Work Ombudsman operates independently of Government, making his own decisions about all investigations.
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Australian Securities & Investment Commission
Visit www.graduates.asic.gov.au
ASIC is Australia’s corporate, markets and financial services regulator. They contribute to Australia’s economic reputation and wellbeing by ensuring that Australia’s financial markets are fair and transparent, and supported by confident and informed investors and consumers. ASIC offers a year long graduate program with four month rotations in one of their six offices across Australia.
Department of Attorney-General & Justice
Visit www.ag.gov.au
The Attorney-General’s Department is charged with upholding the rule of law and providing support to the Australian Government to maintain and improve our systems for law and justice, national security, emergency management, and natural disaster relief. The Department deals with a number of areas, including: families and marriage; rights and protections; legal systems; crime and corruption; national security; emergency management; and international relations. The Department is broken up into three groups: civil justice and legal service group; strategic policy and coordination group; and the national security and criminal justice group.
Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet
Visit www.dpmc.gov.au
The principal role of the Department is to provide high-quality policy advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Department assists the Prime Minister and Cabinet in policy matters, coordinates and monitors implementation of Government decisions, provides administrative support and facilitates government administration, intergovernmental relations and communications with State and Territory Governments. The Department provides policy advice on a range of issues, including: economic and industry policy, social policy, national security and international policy, and strategic policy.
Reserve Bank of Australia
Visit www.rba.gov.au
The Reserve Bank of Australia is Australia’s central bank. Its duty is to contribute to the maintenance of price stability, full employment, and the economic prosperity and welfare of the Australian people. The Reserve Bank offers a two-year graduate program consisting of various elements including business skills training, technical training, rotations and professional development opportunities. Many graduates have a high quality honours degree, however double-degree candidates and higher degree holders with a Masters or Ph.D. are also eligible.
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Productivity Commission
Visit www.pc.gov.au
The Productivity Commission is the Australian Government’s independent research and advisory body on a range of economic, social and environmental issues affecting the welfare of Australians. The Commission falls within the Treasury portfolio, and its role is to help governments make strong policies in the long- term interest of the Australian community. The Productivity Commission recruits employees through both graduate programs and specific vacancies. There is an online application process, which requires an essay, academic transcript and resume. The Productivity Commission seeks out graduates with analytical skills in a wide range of economic and social issues, including economic and social infrastructure, competition policy and regulation, trade, labour markets, environmental and natural resource matters, and general economic policy. Working for the Productivity Commission requires an understanding of economics, especially microeconomics. Skills in quantitative research, econometrics, law and other social sciences are also highly valued by the Commission.
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TEMPLATES
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RESUME TEMPLATE FULL NAME ADDRESS LINE 1 CITY STATE POSTCODE PH: 0412 345 678 E: email@email.com Objective: To obtain a clerkship position within a well-established law firm that will enable me to utilise the skills developed from my law (and other) degree, my professional working life and extracurricular activities. Education YYYY-YYYY
Bachelor of Laws (and Second Degree) Griffith University - Nathan GPA: 5.5
YYYY-YYYY
Secondary Education/Diploma/Other Education
Legal Experience/Employment MM YYYY
Name of Company/Employer Position held - List skills acquired /duties carried out/achievements/if you specialised in a particular area of law
Other Employment MM YYYY
Name of Company/Employer Position held - List skills acquired /duties carried out/achievements/if you specialised in a particular area of law
MM YYYY
Name of Company/Employer Position held - List skills acquired /duties carried out/achievements/if you specialised in a particular area of law
Achievements • • •
Academic Achievement Award Competition Awards Schorlarships
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Extra-Curricular YYYY-YYYY
University • Leadership Positions • Mentoring Program • Participation in competitions • Sports
MMYY-MMYY
Overseas Exchange • Completed an exchange at Edinburgh University, Scotland undertaking Human Rights Law and European Politics Courses
YYYY-YYYY
Volunteering • List any volunteering positions held
Skills & Personal Attributes • •
List any skills you may possess (like proficient in office and outlook) Tailor your skills to skills employer will value and represent you best
Referees Full Name Company Ph: 0412 345 678 E: email@email.com
NOTE: Most firms ask for maximum of 4 pages.
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COVER LETTER TEMPLATE #1 Letter in Response to Advertised Position PO BOX 27 STRAWBERRY HILLS QLD 4012 30 April 2008 Mr John Smith Manager, Human Resources The XYZ Anon Company Pty Ltd PO Box 8888 MELBOURNE VIC 3000 Dear Mr Smith, Standard opening and your present circumstances: I wish to apply for the posiUon of _______ (job Utle)_______ with ________ (name of organisaUon) ________ adverUsed in _______ on _______(name of source eg paper, and date) _______. You will see from the enclosed resume that I am at present _______ (details of what you are doing eg final- year/ graduate/postgraduate). I am extremely keen to __________(perhaps a comment on your keenness to commence in a parUcular field )___________. Match what advertisement indicates as required with what you can offer (plus any other relevant skills you possess): I note your interest in ____ OR Your adverUsement indicates you are seeking ____ OR I believe I am well suited to a posiUon requiring _______ (refer to stated major requirements of posiUons or abributes company requires) __________ . I have completed ____ OR You will note my results ____ OR As indicated in my resume, I _________ (Sentences(s) supporUng how you claim to be able to meet their major requirements) ________. I also _________ (any other skills/experiences that, while not required may also be useful)__________. Indicate your interest in this organisation and support your interest: I would be parUcularly interested in obtaining a posiUon with ____ OR I was genuinely impressed by your stated actude to ____ OR I was interested to read that you ____ OR I strongly believe in the importance of (your approach to) ____ OR I first became aware of (company acUviUes) ____ OR I read recently that you _________(statements supporUng your genuine interest in the organisaUon)___________. Closing remarks (contact details / final expression of interest etc.): I look forward to the possibility of discussing my interest in this posiUon at an interview and would be pleased to supply any other parUculars you might require. I am excited by the prospect of _____ OR I relish the opportunity to ______ (final statement indicaUng interest). Thank you for considering my applicaUon. Yours sincerely, John Brown
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COVER LETTER TEMPLATE #2 Speculative or Unsolicited Cover Letter PO BOX 27 STRAWBERRY HILLS QLD 4012 30 April 2008 Ms Jan Smith Manager, Human Resources The XYZ Anon Company Pty Ltd PO Box 8888 MELBOURNE VIC 3000 Dear Ms Smith, The reason for your letter and your present circumstances: I am wriUng to explore (eg employment opportuniUes) _____ OR I write to express interest in ______ with _____ (company)_____ OR I am wriUng about the possibility of _____(eg a graduate posiUon)______ OR I heard recently that _____ and write now to ______ OR I am wriUng to you having been referred by Ms Claire White from _____ who suggested you might be recruiUng ______. You will see from the enclosed resume that I am at present ________(details of what you are doing, eg final-year/ graduate/postgraduate________). I am extremely keen to _______(perhaps a comment on your keenness to commence in a parUcular field)______. Match what you have read they require/think they might want with what you can offer (plus outline any other skills): I have read (your annual report/graduate recruitment literature) and note your interest in graduates who ______ OR You consistently indicate an interest in (eg kind of grads, from paper adverts)_____ OR I believe I am well suited to a posiUon requiring _______(refer to stated abributes, skills etc they need or you think they would value)______. I have completed _____ OR You will note my results _____ OR As indicated in my resume I _______(Sentence(s) supporUng how you claim to be able to meet their major requirements)_________. I also ______(any other skills/experiences that, while not required may also be useful)_______. Indicate your interest in this organisation and support your interest: I would be parUcularly interested in obtaining a posiUon with _____ OR I was genuinely impressed by your stated actude to ______ OR I was interested to read that you _____ OR I strongly believe in the importance of (your approach to)_____ OR I first became aware of (company acUviUes)_____ OR I read recently that you __________(statements supporUng your genuine interest in the organisaUon) ________. Closing remarks (contact details/when you will phone to try for face-to-face discussion/final expression of interest): I look forward to discussing further my interest in ______(graduate posiUon/kind of role)_____ with _______(name of organisaUon)_____. I will phone you _____(when?)_____ about the possibility of _____(statements indicaUng your wish to make further contact)______. I am strongly drawn to ______(final statement indicaUng interest)_______. Thank you for considering my applicaUon. Yours sincerely, Sarah Brown
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