= Jennifer =
Active Member
i was just wandering after your first year of study are you able to do a summer clerkship or is it usually later
it's really a thing for the summer of fourth/fifth year... but you can always try to apply for volunteer/work experience/admin and later paralegal positions.= Jennifer = said:i was just wandering after your first year of study are you able to do a summer clerkship or is it usually later
I agree. Firms that advertise for seasonal clerkships generally seek those who are at least in their penultimate year of study. I think this is mainly due to two reasons: (a) you have completed the basic core subjects such as property and contract and (b) students are close to graduation (ripe for recruitment!).Frigid said:it's really a thing for the summer of fourth/fifth year... but you can always try to apply for volunteer/work experience/admin and later paralegal positions.
Yeah, the interview experience is probably what you are looking for. Really dosen't matter if your application gets rejected or not. Might do that 3rd year?1000words said:I agree. Firms that advertise for seasonal clerkships generally seek those who are at least in their penultimate year of study. I think this is mainly due to two reasons: (a) you have completed the basic core subjects such as property and contract and (b) students are close to graduation (ripe for recruitment!).
That said, and as Frigid mentioned, it would be worthwhile for you to pursue practical work experience where ever you can find it and as soon as possible. Again, I see two major benefits: (a) it improves your profile earlier on so that you can be more successful when you're applying for seasonal clerkships and (b) it will give you an idea of the different areas of law and what you might find yourself interested/disinterested in.
Many students (including myself!) had first hand experience of the law from a seasonal clerkship whereas I would have liked more practical experience earlier on. Even if you're a first or second year, and all you're capable of doing is administrative work, you get to know people in the industry (particularly to see if they are who you would aspire to become) and know what it's like to work in the law (i.e. in a law firm).
A final note though that once you're in second or third year, have a go at applying for seasonal clerkships even if you're not in your penultimate year. Some firms will nonetheless interview (and perhaps recruit) you and it's a great opportunity to have interview experience.
I hope that helps! Best of luck.
David
Hi Frigid,Frigid said:david,
i've got a few questions about clerkships:
1) a lot of firms want their interview candidates to have done some research about the firm and through that, express their interest in the firm in their cover letter. however, the problem i see with this is, aren't most top tier firms the same? i notice that in terms of resources, capability, clientele, overseas affliation and specialisation, most top firms (say top 5 firms) are very similar. the only top firm that i see that is sort of different i would say would be gadens. any idea on how i could actually 'distinguish' between the top firms?
2) what is a good way to get more interview experience (aside from actually attending the interviews themselves)? i know that there are mock interviews during Sydney Law Careers Fair, but do you know of any other interview workshops?
3) which firm did you choose go to for your clerkship? did you get other offers? if so, why did you pick the firm that you chose?
cheers mate.
You're more than welcome Asquithian!Asquithian said:Very helpful 1000words
Does everyone apply through CV mail?
That's right, they have their own online submission form like CV mail. There used to be a lot of firms listed with cvmail but they've gone on their own. With other firms that do not use CV mail or their own online submission form, you will most likely have to email or post your cover letter, curriculum vitae and academic transcript.Asquithian said:So those firms that have opted out of CV mail...Do you have to apply to them directly?
I think they're very relevant at the 'culling stage' because competition, as always, is extremely high for graduate recruitment - there are so many applications and marks are a good objective filter.Asquithian said:So. How relevant are marks?
It's a tough call, I think Asquithian. Your application can fall in the hands of anybody's and it's very subjective, and dependent on the time they spend on each application. One might be your first year foundations teacher, or a partner who wants a specific type of person on their team.Asquithian said:To narrow it down. Is your other degree any relevant? Essentially the subjects you choose. Do they make any difference?
If they see that you did well in international law or some other legally related area in your arts degree is that a plus? OR do they don't care and go straight to the law subjects?
I was told by my first year foundations teacher, who had graduated the year before as uni medalist, that employers simply don't care about the subjects you did. As long as you got good marks for them. True?
...thats what I was getting at. But as everyone knows high marks are hard to ingore.
http://www.cvmail.com.au/index.cfm - it's an online submission form that some law firms use.qwsa said:Sorry, but what's CV mail?
Anything and everything. However, it is up to you to make them convince your potential employer that your EC is relevant to being a good lawyer.Asquithian said:EC activities can be anything. Not just law related?