As a student who was once unable to secure a clerkship, I know it can be tough to stay positive after the process. However, the reality is there are hundreds of students in your position. During this period, where everyone else is relaxed, it is time for you to take action and get back on your feet. In this article I explore the opportunities that lie beyond the traditional path and how you can even fast-track your way into the legal industry.
Paralegal Opportunities
The period when clerkship outcomes come out coincide with the rise in various paralegal opportunities. This is because many seasonal clerks, who were paralegals for the firm, take the latter half of the year off to relax and be mentally prepared for their graduate program. Fortunately for you, this means that you are able to gain some short-term legal experience at these reputable law firms and build on your professional profile. Having paralegal experience at top-tier law firms are undeniably attractive to any recruiters as the firm’s reputation infers a high standard of quality and professionalism.
Avenues to look for such opportunities include LinkedIn, university job portals and directly through the firm’s Expression of Interest (EOI) application. Unlike other commercial firms, the EOI list is readily used by law firms to retain quality candidates on a short wait list. These applicants are then notified and employed on short notice once large volumes of work arise.
The Hustle into Graduate Programs
While the clerkship is the main intake for graduates at larger law firms, there are various graduate placements that remain open for law students in their final year. These range from structured graduate programs with rotation options to permanent entry level positions. While the availability of these positions vary due to demand, experience in these positions will present you with the option to transition into larger corporate firms as an experienced hire.
There are also some larger international firms that are known to recruit at the graduate level and not have a clerkship intake. However, firms that offer these can change year-to-year. Spend some time learning about these firms and finding out when their graduate recruitment opens so you are prepared to seize the opportunity when it arises.
Beyond the corporate law sphere, there are other graduate offerings that may interest you. Careers such as a government officer, analyst and tax consultant may provide an easier to transition into the legal sphere due to similarities that arise in the type of matters worked on. While this isn’t guaranteed, it may be beneficial to know that you have the option to become a lawyer if you decide to change careers. A good way to find out where these non-legal roles may lead would be to conduct some research on lawyers via LinkedIn and see how they got to where they are now.
Get admitted – College of Law
One piece of advice that my mentors stressed was to get admitted. This is done by completing a Practical Legal Training (PLT) Program with an accredited institution. Unlike other careers, your law degree and professional experience only become valuable to recruiters once you are admitted and hold a practicing certificate. In fact, for many law firms, you only begin to really “climb the corporate ladder” once you are admitted. This is because you must have a practicing certificate in order to practice and give legal advice. Getting admitted is also something you must do within five years of completing your law degree or you become barred from admission.
The process can take as little as a few months if completed full-time, with some universities having options to start PLT early. As being admitted is on every law student’s do-to list, it makes sense to get started on this as early as you can. Note that some law firms offer graduate programs that can sponsor your PLT, so look into these avenues first.
Applying for a clerkship in your Final Year
Finally, you can also decide to re-apply for the clerkship program (this is what I did). Take time after your first clerkship process to evaluate yourself as a prospective job candidate. Seek feedback from your assessors, interviewers and peers to determine which aspects of you need work – it could be your written application or your confidence in interviews. Look at ways you can address these weaknesses and be better prepared next year. While clerkships are targeted at penultimate students, some firms allow final year students to apply.