Aus Legal Careers Advance

Dear [your name] Thank you for your application for the 2023/24 Seasonal Clerkship Program at [firm name].  Congratulations, we are delighted to invite you to a first round interview.  Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash If you are one of the very few law students who have received or will receive an email to this effect, congratulations!  Given how competitive it is for clerkship applications (think 1000+ applications for perhaps 100-150 first round interviews and ultimately 30-50 clerkship positions at the larger firms in Sydney), you should be proud of getting at least a first round interview.  The firm has actually been "impressed" by your application (unlike those who were unfortunately rejected).     However, the clerkship process is not over yet and you may or may not end up with clerkship offer(s) at the end of the process.   Didn't receive any clerkship interviews (despite firms politely saying that they were "impressed" with yo...

As seasonal clerkship applications start to close in NSW, many students are frantically proofreading and checking their cover letters before submission. The cover letter is the first thing that the law firm recruitment representative reads before they turn to your resume.  Accordingly, it is perhaps the most important document in your application and is what gets you or costs you an interview at that firm.  For example, addressing the wrong law firm in your cover letter will certainly cost you an interview because it suggests a lack of attention to detail and care (as well as a lack of interest in that particular firm). Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash As someone who was able to score a few clerkship and graduate interviews back in the day, here is my checklist of the things that you could consider before submitting your cover letter for clerkship and graduate applications. ALCA Seasonal Clerkship Cover Letter Checklist Checklist item ✓ ...

As seasonal clerkship applications start to close in NSW, many students are frantically proofreading and checking their resumes before submission. A resume enables the recruiter to form their first impression of you.  An error or mistake on your resume (which could be replicated across multiple firms if you use the same resume across the board) can suggest to law firms that you lack attention to detail.  Therefore, your resume can either get you or cost you an interview.  Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash As someone who was able to score a few clerkship and graduate interviews back in the day, here is my checklist of the things that you could consider before submitting your resume for clerkship and graduate applications. ALCA Seasonal Clerkship Resume Checklist Checklist item ✓     Structure of your resume – the key sections: Personal details – your name as the heading and provided contact details (suc...

"And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." - J.K. Rowling As Angela Duckworth has noted , "grit" is a significant predictor of success (and, in particular, long-term success).   It is synonymous with resilience, perseverance and a "never give up" attitude in the face of adversity and failure. According to Wikipedia , grit is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual's perseverance of effort combined with the passion for a particular long-term goal or end state. Photo by Dulcey Lima on Unsplash So why is "grit" important for your professional career?  After all, for some of you, failure has been and will be a foreign concept throughout high school and university.  You graduated high school with a 99.95 ATAR, you are on track to graduate with First Class Honours in your law degree and you will secure a seasonal clerkship offer (and subsequent graduate position) at a top-tier law firm.   However, n...

"While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. “ - Rick Warren The best way to learn how to navigate any clerkship/job application process is to learn from those who have "been there, done that". Whilst you can learn valuable things from a firm's recruitment team, former clerks or partners at a networking or careers event, these events often do not provide the "safe space" that a 1-on-1 mentoring relationship tends to offer.   Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash I personally found it beneficial to have a mentor who was a BigLaw lawyer and had done a clerkship to bounce thoughts and ideas off.  What could you ask of a mentor? You might ask a mentor to: Identify areas for development as a job applicant Identify job, networking and professional development opportunities  Review and provide feedback on your resume and cover letters Assist with your interview preparation (including informing you of common law fir...

“First impressions last. You start behind the eight ball, you'll never get in front.” - Harvey Specter from Suits Acing the "Tell me/us about yourself" question As the opening question to most, if not all, interviews, this is arguably the most important question in any interview.   Why?  Well, according to HireVue, it is estimated that 30% of interviewers make their decision about an interviewee within the first five minutes of the interview .  Within the first 7 seconds of meeting you, people will form an impression of who you are . Your answer to this question will provide an interviewer (whether it is an HR representative or a law firm partner) with their first impression of you (and consequently, will set the tone for the rest of the interview).    For that reason, it is important that you can rattle off your answer with confidence (and, to do so, generally requires most people to know exactly what they will say and to practise their answer).  ...