Herbert Smith Freehills
Areas of Legal Practice
Sydney Clerkship Intake
At Herbert Smith Freehills, you’ll be given the opportunity to develop the skills you need to help solve our clients’ most complex challenges in thoughtful and innovative ways. Here’s a breakdown on our areas of expertise, many of which you can get exposure to both as a vacation clerk and a graduate. • Alternative legal services • Business and human rights • Capital markets • Climate Change • Competition, regulation and trade • Corporate M&A • Corporate crime and investigations • Crisis prevention and management • Cyber security • Data protection and privacy • Dispute resolution • Employment, pensions and incentives • Environment, planning and communities • Finance • Financial services regulatory • Impact Investment • Intellectual property • International arbitration • Real estate • Tax • Technology, Media and Entertainment, and Telecom munication
Projected intake for the Sydney 2020/21 Vacation Clerk Program: 30-35 clerks
Number of lawyers & partners We have +140 Partners and +780 Solicitors in Australia. We have +940 Partners and +5740 Solicitors Globally. What specific qualities does your firm look for in a potential Clerk? Great lawyers are both curious and creative. We encourage you to challenge assumptions and open yourself up to new ideas. It’s this growth mindset that creates opportunities for you and your clients. So, what exactly are we looking for? There’s no single path to becoming a commercial lawyer. We look beyond your academic record and your technical aptitude. We’re focussed on finding people who have the curiosity to explore all the angles and the empathy to place themselves in their client’s shoes. Building great relationships takes a certain understanding and as our global village gets ever smaller, we look for graduates who think of themselves as citizens of the world. What kind of responsibilities/tasks can a Clerk expect at your firm? We select many of our graduates through our vacation clerkships. During this immersive experience, you’ll receive hands-on practical experience, actively contributing, as you work on some of the diverse challenges facing the team you’re collaborating with. You’ll truly discover what it’s like to work at Herbert Smith Freehills, working alongside lawyers and partners. We’ll support you throughout your time with us with extensive training, touching on all aspects of the firm. We’ll also invite you to an exciting range of workshops and events, giving you the opportunity to network with people across the firm and the diverse groups we engage with. This is your unique opportunity to show us who you are.
After becoming a clerk, what are the prospects of obtaining a graduate role? We select many of our graduates through our vacation clerkships. How does your firm value Corporate Responsibility? Whether we’re supporting a charity through fundraising, or providing mentoring or scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged high school students, we offer multiple ways to facilitate and support the relationships our people develop with community partners. Our practice groups provide many of our long-standing clients with a range of advice including partnership agreements, structuring, property, employment issues and governance. These include: Canteen, CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Foodbank Victoria, McIntyre Centre, Médecins Sans Frontières, Mission Australia, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Save The Children Australia, Starlight Foundation, St Vincent de Paul, The Big Issue, Yalari and Youngcare. What is unique about your firm’s culture? We’re proud of our culture. It’s supportive and it’s non-hierarchical. When you join us as a graduate, you’ll find that your growth is supported at all levels across the firm – 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 that will give you the skills you need to become a brilliant lawyer. And it’s an environment in which your perspective, ideas and experiences will make a real difference. What is your firm doing about gender equality in the workplace? We have a range of global networks focussed on Gender Equality Matters (GEM). Gender diversity is a critical component of our firm’s past, present and future. We are proud that Herbert Smith Freehills was the first major Australian law firm to appoint a woman partner. We have public targets in relation to our women in partnership and leadership positions, ensuring we have a full and robust pipeline of women. Is there support for the LGBTI community at your firm? We want you to bring your whole self when you come to Herbert Smith Freehills. We place great value in our people’s life experience and we’re hiring more graduates from diverse backgrounds than ever before. Working this way, we’re able to attract and retain the very best talent and provide our clients with the most considered and innovative advice. Our approach to diversity encompasses gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and social inclusion. “Our vision is that we are a world class firm bringing together the best people to achieve the best results. Fundamental to our vision is embedding a culture where we are truly inclusive – diverse people, perspectives, ways of thinking and skill sets – and where this diversity permeates throughout all levels.” Danielle Kelly, Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Clerkship Applications Opening and Closing Dates Open: 9 June 2020 Close: 12 July 2020
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