Recruitment process

Each year, we receive around 700 applications for vacation clerkships. Applications are reviewed and a short list compiled in consultation with various partners.

First round interviews are conducted by a HR consultant and a senior associate or special counsel. Your HR consultant will advise who your interviewers will be and provide information about them and the firm on the day of the interview. After the interview a junior lawyer (usually a rotator) will show you around the firm, take you for a coffee and answer any questions you have about working at Minter Ellison.

We hold an information evening during first round interviews so that you can meet with partners from different practice groups who will answer your questions in an more informal environment.

Second round interviews are conducted by two partners who, wherever possible, are from practice areas you are interested in. Generally, the interview is held in a partners' office so you get a feel for our office environment. Again, your HR consultant will advise who your interviewing partners will be and provide their profiles for your review.

During second round interviews, we hold a cocktail party at our offices for second round candidates. The purpose is to get to know each other in a relaxed, social environment. Partners, senior associates, special counsel and junior lawyers will attend. People & Development representatives will also be there to introduce you and facilitate discussions relevant to your interests.

Offers are made directly by one of your interviewing partners.

At the conclusion of the recruitment process, we arrange a formal welcome dinner for our vacation clerks attended by partners, senior associates and special counsel from each practice group, and HR and Learning & Development representatives. At the end of the evening, you will be asked to make your rotation preferences so we can help you to design your vacation clerkship program.

Graduate recruitment is a much simpler process. We have two graduate intakes per year in March and September, each of about 10-15 graduates. Most of these graduates were offered their positions after completing a vacation clerkship with us but sometimes we need to increase the graduates in particular intakes. If this is the case, we advertise two to three months in advance.

Vacation clerkships

 You will also spend time with each other, and with graduates and lawyers already on rotation, most of whom will have been in your position and can offer insight and advice. In addition to your practice group work, you will attend a series of practice group case studies. These sessions are conducted by partners and senior associates or special counsel, and are designed to provide you with a realistic insight into how we work with clients.

A vacation clerkship at Minter Ellison provides real life work experience, working closely with partners and lawyers on live matters, taking partin several practical legal and skills training programs, meeting deadlines and producing quality work. Vacation clerks complete rotations through three different practice groups over twelve weeks, with a two week break over Christmas and New Year. The rotation program is designed to help you integrate into the team and gain exposure to a variety of legal work.

In each rotation, you will be allocated a supervising partner who will act as a mentor and assist in coordinating your work for other partners and senior lawyers in the group. You will also be allocated a buddy (a rotator or junior lawyer in your group) to help you manage your workload. During the course of your rotations, you will receive formal and informal feedback, and acquire a range of skills designed to build your confidence and ability.

Our clerkship program also incorporates an active social calendar that includes sporting competitions, cocktail parties, trivia nights and much more. In 2008/2009, Minter Ellison was the undefeated inter-firm basketball champion! Our clerks also host a firm wide Friday Night Drinks towards the end of the clerkship and show their own video production. At the conclusion of the clerkship, we invite you to enjoy a formal dinner to thank you for your hard work over the past 12 weeks.

Graduate program

When you begin your graduate program the focus will be on support and excellence. Your graduate experience will be informed by a strong learning culture. Upon joining you will attend a comprehensive one week induction. The induction will enable you to form relationships with your fellow graduates, familiarise yourself with office procedures and IT systems and learn about the resources available to you.

During your Graduate Development Program, you will also have full access to the firm's Learning and Development calendar which boasts a range of courses, workshops and seminars designed to enhance your professional development in areas such as time management, negotiation and presentation skills.

As part of your Graduate Development Program you will complete a 32 week Practical Legal Training program. This program is delivered in-house and combines face to face sessions with on-line learning. As part of program you will attend various workshops to gain the practical skills necessary for working as a lawyer such as interviewing skills; legal writing and drafting; negotiation and advocacy skills.

See Career Development for more information.

Rotations

Sydney office has 14 practice areas: Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity & Capital Markets, Financial Services, Commercial & Regulatory (our Intellectual Property, Technology and Competition practices), Commercial Disputes, Insurance & Corporate Disputes, Environment & Planning, Property, Tax, Finance, Construction, Engineering & Infrastructure and Human Resources & Industrial Relations. Vacation clerks and graduates can nominate three to four practice areas and we will make every effort to accommodate those preferences into your program to help you design your career.

In making rotation preferences it is important to gain an understanding of what the various practice groups do and keep an open mind about where interesting experiences can be gained. For example, you can gain exposure to litigation not only in the Dispute Resolution division, but also in Environment & Planning, Construction, and Human Resources &Industrial Relations. We also encourage you to consider which groups complement each other – for example, many people who are interested in a career as a Finance lawyer do rotations in Property and/or Tax to gain a greater understanding of how these areas impact on Finance transactions. Or, dedicated litigators often benefit from spending time in Mergers & Acquisitions or Real Estate where they gain an understanding of how transactions are structured at the front end of a deal. Finally, take the opportunity to speak with partners and other lawyers within the firm about their areas of interest.

Vacation clerks are asked to nominate their preferences at the conclusion of the welcome dinner that concludes the clerkship recruitment program. Graduates are given several weeks to confirm preferences – we would advise you to use the time to consult widely and make an informed decision in consultation your HR Consultant.

What work will I do?

The nature of the work you complete during your clerkship or graduate year will vary depending on which practice group you join. However, broadly speaking the types of tasks you can expect to receive include:

• preparing an initial draft of an advice
• attending client meetings and/or teleconferences
• attending court
• assisting with document management/due diligence
• preparing case chronologies
• researching points of law.

Getting admitted

To become admitted in New South Wales you must complete a recognised law degree and an approved program of practical legal training (PLT). The Legal Profession Admission Board outlines the process of getting admitted in New South Wales.

As part of the Graduate Development Program, all our graduates undertake our in-house PLT course. This program is run in collaboration with Griffith University and prepares our graduates for admission as a legal practitioner. The program satisfies the requirements for direct admission in NSW.

Minter Ellison covers the cost of the PLT program and makes all the necessary arrangements for your application and enrolment to the Supreme Court of NSW. Study leave is also granted during this period.

How to apply

To check your eligibility for clerkships please go to  Choosing the right program. Apply for a vacation clerkship or graduate position using our online application form. We cannot accept paper applications.