Posted 14 days ago
Description
At Baker McKenzie, our seasonal clerks experience life as a junior lawyer at our Firm.
Right from the start, you get involved in real work and are given real responsibility, just like our junior lawyers. You will be exposed to our Australian and international clients through client meetings, phone calls, and events, and will often have the opportunity to deal with clients directly. Our clerks also have the opportunity to participate in pro bono matters and community service initiatives and attend our Inclusion, Diversity & Equity meetings and events.
Working with lawyers of all levels, you will be guided by a supervising partner and an associate 'buddy'. With the Firm's strong focus on supporting its people to learn, grow, and achieve better results, you can expect to be well-led, well-coached, and well-mentored.
You are supported at every stage of the clerkship by Talent Management, who facilitate a comprehensive development program, starting with induction and skills development including practical sessions on legal research, technology training, drafting, business communication, personal branding, client service, teamwork, and other skills crucial to ensuring you impress and succeed during your clerkship. You will also develop practical and legal skills through our national learning program for junior lawyers and Firm-wide professional development sessions.
There are many opportunities to network with colleagues around the Firm, through our 'speed networking' program, practice group sessions, and social events – including with your buddy, our graduates, and our partners/lawyers.
After your clerkship, there are opportunities to undertake paralegal roles and attend various social events to stay connected with the Firm.
Application process
All applications should be addressed to Apolonia Mendel, Talent Management Consultant, and should include a cover letter, as well as details of your work experience, extracurricular activities, interests, and academic results. We do not require you to upload your CV, as the information from your CV is used to respond to the areas above. We also ask you to complete a couple of questions, particularly as our Firm does not use psychometric or other testing, group or individual assessments, or one-way video interviews as part of our overall assessment process.
Candidates will attend one interview with a partner and a senior lawyer. In our interviews, we want to get to know all about you – your experiences, your interests, your achievements, your strengths, and your abilities. We also want to know why you want to work with Baker McKenzie. To that end, our interviews are a mix of 'getting to know you' questions and 'behavioral' questions, so that our interviewers can get to know you and you can make the best possible impression.
Candidates are also allocated a ‘buddy’ to support them throughout the recruitment process.
Successful candidates who make it through round one are invited to an information and networking evening, attended by partners and associates, so you can meet as many people from our Firm as possible.
Following the networking evening, a second round of interviews will take place, similarly with a partner and a senior lawyer.
