Summer Clerks (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter = Jennifer =
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M@C D@DDY
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I am into my penultimate year in 2008 and am very anxious about the whole clerkship process. Does any previous applicants and those who are currently in the programs offer us some advice as to how to best approach this year and what the best method of preparation is for the applications/interviews.
subdued123
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hi there M@cDaddy,
in addition to what i wrote on page 1 -
1) study hard and get those grades to above 70+ avg - (if not already)
2) get a part time job in a law related field - this really helps
3) do something extra curricular, or further some interest you have - help organise an event? Something substantial that'll make your cv quite interesting.
4) apply for a part time job at a firm you're interested in - you might be surprised. That is a "side entry" that is often overlooked.
5) start putting that cv together with some cover letters - this will spare you heartache and stress down the track.
hope this helps.
p.s. that law careers fair can often be more confusing as they all say the same thing and put their best feet forward. The stationery is a good help. The business section in the Australian/AFR can often pinpoint firms doing good work.
in addition to what i wrote on page 1 -
1) study hard and get those grades to above 70+ avg - (if not already)
2) get a part time job in a law related field - this really helps
3) do something extra curricular, or further some interest you have - help organise an event? Something substantial that'll make your cv quite interesting.
4) apply for a part time job at a firm you're interested in - you might be surprised. That is a "side entry" that is often overlooked.
5) start putting that cv together with some cover letters - this will spare you heartache and stress down the track.
hope this helps.
p.s. that law careers fair can often be more confusing as they all say the same thing and put their best feet forward. The stationery is a good help. The business section in the Australian/AFR can often pinpoint firms doing good work.
= Jennifer =
Active Member
what is the best way to do a resume for a clerkship: short and to the point or detailed?
subdued123
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re: resume
Cover letters and resumes should be to the point. If your cover letter is over 1 page, it will significantly hinder your chances - gospel!
Don't embellish - the law firms are expert bs sniffers.
And for god's sake, don't put "under 10s soccer" or "member of law students society" as your best extra curricular achievements.
Some stuff is better left out as it can make you look a bit desperate.
Cover letters and resumes should be to the point. If your cover letter is over 1 page, it will significantly hinder your chances - gospel!
Don't embellish - the law firms are expert bs sniffers.
And for god's sake, don't put "under 10s soccer" or "member of law students society" as your best extra curricular achievements.
Some stuff is better left out as it can make you look a bit desperate.
= Jennifer =
Active Member
reviving an old thread 
Just a question - I notice that some of the smaller law firms are putting out their summer clerk applications now and are having the due dates already before the mid and top tier firms. The offer/acceptance dates are also before the other summer clerk open dates.
Am I correct in saying that some students wont apply for these in the hopes they will wait for the mid and top tier firms? Is my assumption correct? or will some law students apply accept the offer and then if a better offer comes along take that? Are they allowed to do this?
Just a question - I notice that some of the smaller law firms are putting out their summer clerk applications now and are having the due dates already before the mid and top tier firms. The offer/acceptance dates are also before the other summer clerk open dates.
Am I correct in saying that some students wont apply for these in the hopes they will wait for the mid and top tier firms? Is my assumption correct? or will some law students apply accept the offer and then if a better offer comes along take that? Are they allowed to do this?
subdued123
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This is interesting.
Firstly it is important to note that there is a formal scheme that operates as a result of an agreement between the law firms and law schools.
The following doc outlines the relevant dates for the official program adhered to by the larger law firms.
http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/Current_Students/scgep/docs/SchemeDeadlines.pdf
Now, as for the smaller ones- some call them clerkships, but beware. They may not be typical schemes where they have a structured program - it might be a glorified name for an intern/clerk position. If you can apply to do it, and still do the main one in summer 08/09, then go for it.
But in my experience, not one of the summer clerks i worked with did one of these smaller ones.
Would you like to post a link to one of these early ones you're interested in? We can analyse it.
Firstly it is important to note that there is a formal scheme that operates as a result of an agreement between the law firms and law schools.
The following doc outlines the relevant dates for the official program adhered to by the larger law firms.
http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/Current_Students/scgep/docs/SchemeDeadlines.pdf
Now, as for the smaller ones- some call them clerkships, but beware. They may not be typical schemes where they have a structured program - it might be a glorified name for an intern/clerk position. If you can apply to do it, and still do the main one in summer 08/09, then go for it.
But in my experience, not one of the summer clerks i worked with did one of these smaller ones.
Would you like to post a link to one of these early ones you're interested in? We can analyse it.
subdued123
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just an afterthought - it seems illogical to have summer clerk applications so early - are you sure these aren't grad offer deadlines you're looking at?
= Jennifer =
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Yep I am positive not grad programs here is an example :
http://www.matthewsfolbigg.com.au/scripts/index.asp?pgid=133
I am positive not grad programs here is an example :http://www.matthewsfolbigg.com.au/scripts/index.asp?pgid=133
subdued123
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The MatthewsFolbigg program is not a typical summer clerkship program.
In fact, it seems like an initiative they've developed themselves to recruit young lawyers, so it's not part of the "official" program run with the unis. Hence the strange timing.
If I were going for a larger firm, i would be minded to stay away, lest it clashes with a (real) summer clerkship later in the year. That said, all experience is good experience. To be perfectly honest I think it's slightly misleading calling these programs clerkships.
In fact, it seems like an initiative they've developed themselves to recruit young lawyers, so it's not part of the "official" program run with the unis. Hence the strange timing.
If I were going for a larger firm, i would be minded to stay away, lest it clashes with a (real) summer clerkship later in the year. That said, all experience is good experience. To be perfectly honest I think it's slightly misleading calling these programs clerkships.
= Jennifer =
Active Member
Yeah me too. That is why I was a tad confused. But as you have pointed out the actual clerkship program applications don't begin until July with an agreement between the universities and particular law firms. If I just wait until that comes it will be ok