If you browse online for clerkships applications, you will often find a big list of law firms that fit that criteria and being required to filter and prioritise each application may be overwhelming. In this article, we will delve into the different categories of law firms that exist in Australia and provide some suggestions on how to best prioritise them.
Priority 1: Top Tier Law Firms
Examples: Herbert Smith Freehills, King and Wood Mallesons, Allens, Ashurst, MinterEllison, Clayton Utz, Gilbert & Tobin, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
In Australia, these few law firms are the largest law firms and have the most clerkship positions available to applicants. Each law firm has their own strengths in specific practice areas which allow them to stand out from its competitors, so look into these when drafting your written application. To learn about each firm’s practice area strengths, we recommend that you look into their recent awards and/or Chamber Rankings by practice area.
As these firms offer the greatest number of clerkship applications, we would give them first priority when applying for clerkships. Since these law firms offer more clerkship positions, they have more spaces in each stage of the clerkship process. For example, if a firm offers 30 clerkship positions, this means that they will have upwards of 80 interview slots available to prospective applicants in the first interview. As there are more position available in every stage of the process, it also makes it more likely that you will convert these opportunities into a successful clerkship position.
While it is true that top tier law firms attract more applicants than other law firms, the prevalence of COVID-19 has made this difference almost negligible. More students have begun to apply more broadly across the different law firms, so these firms remain the ones with the best opportunity to land a clerkship.
Priority 2: International Law Firms
Examples: Norton Rose Fulbright, Baker McKenzie, Clyde & Co, Allen & Overy, Bird & Bird, Jones Day, Clifford Chance, Gadens, K&L Gates
International law firms are those who have a larger international presence, whether it is in the UK, USA or Asia, with a smaller branch in Australia (Norton Rose Fulbright being an exception). The offices are smaller, which translates to fewer clerkship position available at each firm. International law firms offer clerkship positions in the single digits (with the exception of Norton Rose Fulbright offering upwards of 20 positions), and therefore also become quite competitive.
While the international presence of the firm means that there are more opportunities to perhaps travel or work in other jurisdictions, the focus for the firm is still for you to work in Australia. As a result, applicants who are offered the choice between a top tier law firm and an International Law firm would usually go with the top tier law firm for to their stronger Australian expertise and reputation in Australia. This is because you will be practicing in Australia as a lawyer for the long term, making the top tier law firm a more reputable choice. Of course, this is choice is entirely up to you when it arises. Note that some international firms have special niches which may be of interest – for example, Bird & Bird are known for their excellence in Intellectual Property – which could become the reason you select this firm over others.
Priority 3: Mid-Tier Law Firms
Examples: HWL Ebsworth, Thomson Geer, Mills Oakley, Maddocks, Holding Redlich, Arnold Block Leibler, Johnson Winter & Slattery, McCullough Robertson
Mid-Tier Law firms are becoming more prominent in the clerkship space, with many mid-tier firms beginning to offer seasonal clerkships. Many Partners or Senior lawyers from the firm also come from a Big 6 or International Law Firm background, making the expertise and experience quite similar to that of a larger law firm. Note that most mid-tier law firms operate solely within the country, with their other offices being situated across Australia. Some mid-tier law firms also offer niche practice areas such as Family law and Personal Injury.
As Mid-Tier firms also have many large domestic and international clients, many people see little difference between Mid-Tier and Top-Tier firms. This is reinforced by the fact that there are plenty of opportunities to move between mid-tier to top-tier law firms if you like, making mid-tier law firms a popular choice among applicants.
Priority 4: Boutique Law Firms
As the name suggests, these law firms are usually city-based – meaning they operate solely in a particular city in Australia. There are not many locations that offer clerkship opportunities, however those that do provide some interesting niche practice areas that are not offered in general commercial law firms.