Clerkship
Recruitment Program
The Law Society of NSW Clerkship Recruitment Program is here to support final and penultimate year law students find out more about and apply for clerkship positions with participating legal employers.
Index:
Guidelines:
The Law Society of NSW Recruitment Program Guidelines are reviewed annually in consultation with legal firms and organisations and educational institutions with the aim of ensuring fairness and consistency in the making and acceptance of employment offers to students.
View the 2025 guidelines
2025 Clerkship Recruitment Program Key Dates
- Wednesday, 11 June – Applications for summer clerkships open at 9:00am.
- Sunday, 6 and Sunday, 13 July – Applications for summer clerkships close at 11:59pm.
- Wednesday, 10 September – Offers for summer clerkships can be made from 9:00am.
- Thursday, 11 September – Offers for summer clerkships must be accepted or declined by 1:00pm.
2025 Participating employers
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Allens We are one of the largest law firms in Australasia, with more than 800 legal staff in offices across Australia and Asia. We specialise in handling complex and difficult transactions that require exceptional legal, negotiation, and project management skills.
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Ashurst For over 200 years we have advised corporates, financial institutions and governments on their most complex transactions, disputes and projects. We offer the reach and insight of a global network, combined with the knowledge and understanding of local markets. |
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Barry Nilsson For 60 years, Barry Nilsson has been shaping a better legal experience for our clients. Our Insurance & Health and Family Law, Wills & Estates practices combine the highest standards of industry knowledge with local expertise to provide our clients with service they can trust.
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Bird & Bird A summer clerkship with Bird & Bird is much more than just work experience. It's an opportunity to discover your potential and kick start your career in law, taking you straight to the heart of a tech focused, global law firm.
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A summer clerkship at Clayton Utz will help you bridge the gap between law school and practice by giving you invaluable skills and knowledge to build a strong foundation for your legal career. |
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DLA Piper DLA Piper is a global business law firm based in the Americas, EMEA and the Asia Pacific. We deliver legal services seamlessly, comprehensively and proactively and are widely recognized for our impressive accomplishments and stellar credentials. Through our skills, values and commitment, we are making a positive impact on our clients, our people and our communities across the world. |
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Gadens Gadens is a leading, independent Australian law firm, with a clear vision and strategy for the future. We help people achieve their purpose in a complex world, by leading by example, inspiring others, innovating and building something we are all proud of. |
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Gilbert + Tobin |
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Hall & Wilcox We are a leading Australian law firm, delivering outstanding legal services to corporate, public sector and private clients, both Australian-based and those offshore doing business in Australia. Our purpose is to enable our clients, our people and our communities to thrive. |
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Hamers Renowned for running many of Australia's high-profile harassment and discrimination cases, Harmers is one of Australia's largest employment/IR practices. We act for corporates (ASX 100 listed companies, SMEs, NFP and public sector) as well as CEOs and individual clients.
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HFW Australia HFW is a global, collaborative law firm with deep expertise in Construction, Insurance, Shipping, Commodities, and more. We work with multinational clients, understanding their industries and communicating in their language.
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HWL Ebsworth HWL Ebsworth is a full service commercial law firm providing expert legal services at competitive rates, focusing on client outcomes.
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Johnson Winter Slattery Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS) is a leading independent Australian law firm that specialises in advising major corporates and funds on their most complex transactions, disputes, and regulatory matters. JWS is recognised for its commercial expertise, strong client relationships, and global reach through collaborations with top-tier independent law firms worldwide. The firm is also deeply committed to social responsibility, with a strong focus on pro bono work and supporting diverse and disadvantaged communities across Australia. |
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Jones Day Jones Day has a history of 130 years, and a culture of client service and professionalism based on explicit shared values. These values include providing pro bono legal services, building diversity in our profession, and supporting outreach efforts around the world. A presence in Australia since establishing the Sydney Office in 1998, and with offices added in Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne, Jones Day is a premier global law firm with a sustained and demonstrated commitment to clients based in, or conducting business in, Australia, the Asia Pacific region, and beyond. Jones Day’s lawyers in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney work together to ensure that client needs are met by securing the best teams for every matter, and by leveraging the strengths and experiences of our lawyers around the world.
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K&L Gates At K&L Gates, we foster an inclusive and collaborative environment across our fully integrated global platform that enables us to diligently combine the knowledge and expertise of our lawyers and policy professionals to create teams that provide exceptional client solutions. |
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King & Wood Mallesons As a KWM clerk, you will work as part of an inclusive and collaborative team. You will hear from leaders and industry experts during structured learning and development sessions. Our program will expose you to a variety of work that will help shape your future.
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MinterEllison MinterEllison is one of Australia's largest law firms, with nearly 200 years of business history. We're known for our legal and consulting expertise — and for our inclusive culture and authentic character. Our purpose is to create sustainable value with our clients, our people and our communities. |
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Morgan + English Founded in 2016, Morgan + English Commercial Lawyers is a growing boutique firm specialising in commercial law, with offices in Sydney and the Upper Hunter Valley. We foster a supportive, dynamic work environment where our team thrives. |
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Norton Rose Fulbright Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal practice. We provide the world's pre-eminent corporations and financial
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Thomson Geer Thomson Geer is a national corporate commercial law firm that has 720 staff servicing a wide variety of clients in private and public sector. We are growth focused and passionate about our clients and team. |
General Information
A legal clerkship is traditionally a summer program (though some private practice firms do offer a different seasonal placement) that provides you with a taste of working in a multi-disciplinary professional services firm.
For students who are hoping to work in private practice, a clerkship is an integral part of doing so. While a clerkship is not a prerequisite for working in private practice, it is a key stepping stone and the preferred method of recruitment for private practice firms as clerks are usually converted in to Graduates at the end of their program. It is important to note that while this is the most popular path to private practice it is not the only one.
Law firms that offer clerkship programs
The majority of mid and top tier law firms offer formal seasonal clerkship programs.Most boutique law firms will offer some kind of volunteering or internship opportunity. This is usually for PLT students, and they will look to hire at the graduate level instead.
Length of the program
Clerkships mostly range from 4-15 weeks but the number of weeks differs depending on the firm. The number of weeks may also alter year to year.
Program structure and aims, overview
The clerkship begins with an orientation, which can last up to two weeks, where students will be able to meet each other, their supervisors and the rest of their rotation groups. Students then begin their training under a specific department. The content of the program loosely follow:
- Being taught the tools necessary for professional growth and career advancement. Clerks have unlimited access to training and guidance and hence learn a great deal about the firm and how it conducts business.
- Gaining the opportunity to connect with people who can help guide careers. This also gives clerks the opportunity to build professional networks and interact with colleagues across divisions and regions.
- Receiving formal training followed by division- specific or department-specific training. This training is ongoing and based on specific skill needs and interests which will bolster professional development though learning in the workplace.
- Undergo formal evaluation procedures as a part of the firm’s annual Performance Review Process, which includes a self-assessment as well as input from peers, managers and internal business partners.
Work on offer
General tasks that clerks complete include:
- Performing legal and factual research
- Drafting and summarising legal documents, checking for accuracy
- Preparing correspondence, written reports and performing records research
- Organising and tracking case files
- Writing clients memos
- Recording client meetings and drafting daily correspondence, including letters and legal documents
- Attending meetings and court with lawyers
- Assisting in the preparation of matters for hearings
Details on rotations
As a summer clerk you’ll undertake a formal rotation between 2-3 practice areas so that you get exposure to a variety of work and learning opportunities. Common rotations include (but are not limited to):
- Commercial disputes
- Dispute resolution
- Public Law
- Family law
- Employment, workplace and safety
- Banking and finance
- Financial services
- Competition
- Insolvency
- Insurance
- Corporate, mergers and acquisitions
- Commercial
- Construction, property, real estate and projects
- Environment and planning
- Intellectual property
- Technology, media and telecommunications
- Tax
- Pro bono