Corrs Chambers Westgarth

The application and interview process

The application and interview process for Corrs was refreshingly straightforward. Corrs skipped the psychometrics and rigorous testing, simply asking for clear and concise documents that allowed you to put your best foot forward. The interview was professional yet friendly and I had access to a buddy within the firm prior to the interview to quell any last minute nerves. The Taste of Corrs networking event was not only extremely informative, but also delicious (read: it involved plenty of snacks and wine tasting).

Rotations

The clerkship program at Corrs offers three rotations in different practice groups, each roughly three weeks long. This was a really important factor for me when deciding where to apply for clerkships, as I knew I wanted to experience as many practice groups as I could. Rotations are essential to help figure out where your interests lie and what type of work you enjoy, which is especially helpful if, like me at the time, you have no clue. Corrs also provided seminars on all practice groups to expose clerks to the groups they may not have gotten a chance to rotate through.

The work

Teams within the firm endeavoured to get clerks involved on a range of work, not only to keep us interested but also to show us the vast types of matters that may come across our desks. I was briefed both on brand new matters and matters that had stretched years, with lawyers happy to explain the situation every step of the way. Any initial shock upon receiving a task I had never seen before was soon soothed when I realised how much support was available and I was ultimately able to complete all tasks successfully.

A culture of continued learning

The culture of the firm truly encourages learning opportunities for clerks and junior lawyers, both formally and informally.

Casual coffee catch-ups are valued as equally as formal seminars as both offer the insights and skills needed to work in the profession. The many social events on offer allow you to actually connect and develop friendships with your fellow clerks. It may sound trite, but it is actually true: armed with learning opportunities and the support of your peers, you are in a great position to start your career

Pro bono and community engagement

Each clerkship will have a large pro bono project to work towards over the three months. During my clerkship, we had the incredible opportunity to help on a pro bono international law matter that is now on its way to the International Court of Justice! I am a true nerd when it comes to international law issues and was incredibly excited about this. There are also many opportunities to work on pro bono matters separate to the large project and the firm is receptive to new ideas on where and how we can help.

Why I chose Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Choosing Corrs was not a hard decision. I wanted to learn from some of the best lawyers in the country and work on some of the best matters. Corrs offers both with the addition of international opportunities, community engagement programs, social functions and even the chance to put on a silly comedy revue at the end of the year. You undertake serious work at Corrs, but you don’t have to take yourself too seriously and that is a rare balance to strike.

Advice for applicants

Help firms see who you are as easily as you can. That means both being yourself and putting your best foot forward. The clerkship process can be extremely stressful for applicants and is a huge responsibility for recruiters, so knowing who you are will make a firm more confident and excited to invest in you. You can also easily forget how many accomplishments you have actually achieved. Write down a list and go from there!