Clerkship Testimonials

Roxann's story (Brisbane)

Making the most of it

I had clerkship interviews with four top-tier Brisbane law firms. By the time I got to my last interview I was worn down and unmotivated by the repetitive and generic questions. My final interview was with Freehills. I was delighted when a partner and a human resources representative sat me down and had a chat! We talked about my interests, the upcoming Brisbane Lions match and what I was doing on the weekend. The partner asked me questions specifically relating to my application and told me about his background and why he had chosen to work at Freehills. Freehills definitely had the most relaxed interview process, which allowed me to show them exactly who I was.

The first two days of my clerkship consisted of an induction program. This included events such as library training, IS training, meeting solicitors from key practice areas and having lunch with the Freehills graduates. The induction sessions did not only prepare me for my clerkship but they made me excited and anxious to start working in my department.

Practical experience – working in practice groups

One of the best parts of my clerkship was the quality of work I completed. Everyone took the time to explain my tasks to me and, to my surprise, the partners always had an open door. Some of the tasks I completed during my four weeks in Banking & Projects included sitting in on partner-client phone conferences, compiling transaction bibles, attending court, completing transfers, writing client letters and emails and conducting legal research, settlements, lease reviews and due diligence. I was amazed at the scope of clients that Freehills has and feel privileged to have worked on some big projects.

The people at Freehills are one of the firm’s biggest assets. On the first day in my practice group, I was appointed a supervisor and a buddy. The Freehills buddy system was a great tool for me because it meant I always had someone as a first port of call for any queries or questions. The buddies were graduates and some of them had done a clerkship at Freehills, which meant they knew exactly how I was feeling. It wasn’t only my buddy and supervisor who made me feel so comfortable at Freehills. Wherever I went within the firm, I always found the staff approachable.

More than a clerkship program

During my clerkship we had a lot of opportunities to socialise. A professional staff lunch was held every Tuesday and Thursday,  where the in-house chef prepared a very tasty buffet lunch. This event was extremely popular amongst the staff and provided a great opportunity to socialise with other departments. My favourite social event was the clerk’s lunch with the partners and special counsels, because it was such a rare and unique opportunity for me to sit down to lunch with the best lawyers in the industry. The Freehills Christmas party was another interesting social event which allowed me to see the solicitors dress according to the ‘Bollywood’ theme and dance ‘Bollywood’ style in a tent under the stars.

I was ecstatic to have been offered a graduate position at Freehills because I knew it was the right firm for me. I was also given the opportunity to work causally as a paralegal in the Corporate department during my final year of university. In this position, I have conducted legal research and attended and followed up on the Homeless Persons Legal Clinic.

My time at Freehills—whether during my clerkship or as a paralegal—has been an invaluable experience and I wouldn’t want it any other way! I would strongly recommend a Freehills clerkship to anyone seeking a challenge in a supportive and well-resourced environment where quality work is met by quality staff.

Matthew's story (Melbourne)

Making the most of it

After an absolutely frantic vacation clerkship recruitment period, I chose to do my first clerkship at Freehills. Freehills has an awesome reputation as one of the best corporate law firms in Australia. You only need to Google the M&A tables to see that Freehills has been placed number one consistently. After going through a dozen or so VC interviews, you should trust your instinct, as I did, because a Freehills clerkship definitely won’t let you down.

Practical experience – working in practice groups

I found my Freehills clerkship to be an exciting and fun experience. Most mornings began with practice group presentations where different sections within the firm showcased the interesting and varied work they do. Those morning sessions are a good chance for us uni students who aren’t accustomed to operating at nine o’clock in the morning to wake up with a dose of caffeine and an opportunity to catch up with the other clerks.

The time I spent in my practice group was extremely busy and fulfilling. To begin with, I assisted in the negotiation of trust deeds and facility agreements (read ‘big loan contracts’). Legal research was another big part of my duties. A typical question could be ‘can the purchaser under a terms contract get registered on title?’ Not knowing the answer immediately is not important, however it is important to show that you can navigate through telephone book-like statutes and find cases on the various online databases.

My buddy and supervising partner were both awesome and were the primary reason why I chose to accept a graduate position at Freehills. My buddy was simply the best. She made the effort to include me in the team and was my invaluable source for tips and answers to my stupid questions. Her mentorship was an important reason for me accepting a graduate offer at Freehills. On the other hand, I couldn’t have asked for a better supervising partner. He trusted me with real work for his clients and showed that he had confidence in me by allowing me to take responsibility for my own tasks. This gave me the confidence to believe that I could make a contribution and made me feel like I was really part of the team. Despite being run off his feet, I really appreciated the time and effort my supervising partner made to get to know me as a person. In the end, I think it is the personal relationships I established at Freehills that made a Freehills graduate position the best choice for me.

More than a clerkship program

It often still feels like just a few months ago that in 2001 I turned up at Freehills’ reception as a Year 10 student looking for work experience. After three years of university vacations spent in economics, investment banking and law, I found all of my internships and clerkships interesting and enjoyable. The choice of a graduate position was difficult, but in the end I prefer Freehills’ more personal approach. As a young grad, I think it is important to find the right mentors to help me develop into a fully fledged commercial lawyer. The way in which my supervising partner and my buddy welcomed me into their team and involved me in their work showed me that Freehills offered what I was looking for. It is a great feeling to be excited about what future holds.

Tom's story (Perth)

From the beginning

My experience at Freehills began with an unusual start. The day before the interview, I suffered a surfing injury, ending up in Busselton hospital. I arrived at the interview with four stitches and a freshly bruised face, hoping HR would assume it had happened playing rugby.

Instead of passing silent judgment, the partner who interviewed me asked how it happened. When I told him it happened while surfing, he put me at ease with a smile and proceeded to ask about the wind and swell. At this early stage, I already felt that Freehills could be the law firm for me.

Practical experience – working in practice groups

Six months later (minus the stitches) I commenced my summer clerkship. After a day of introductions and technology training, I was placed in the Corporate (Energy & Resources) group. With no previous exposure to this area of law, the initial learning curve was quite steep. However, my supervising partner and buddy provided me with some initial background to the group and ongoing support over the three weeks. Forming a good relationship with your buddy is crucial, as they have usually been through the clerkship process recently and understand what you’re going through.

During my time at Freehills I was exposed to a variety of interesting work, from drafting definitions in a mining off-take agreement to researching the commercial implications of Australia’s current international bribery legislation. I also attended a few client meetings which provided me with a better understanding of how commercial realities impact the provision of legal advice. I also took advantage of the Freehills Foundation opportunities on offer, which allowed me to participate in the annual Mission Australia ‘Christmas Lunch in the Park’.

More than a clerkship program

While the work was varied and interesting, it was the people who really made the difference. During the numerous Christmas functions, I had the pleasure of getting to know many of them. I discovered that Freehills employees are a diverse group of people—from chess champions to local rock stars.

Going into a year where nothing seems certain, my clerkship at Freehills has provided me with a strong affirmation that I am at least heading in the right direction. If you get the chance to clerk at Freehills, take the opportunity—it may change your perceptions of a large commercial law firm.

Suzanne’s story (Sydney)

Making the most of it

I can say that without a doubt my clerkship at Freehills was an all-round fantastic experience. The interview process at Freehills was actually really enjoyable. I met so many great people, particularly my two interviewing partners. To me, they represented the type of lawyer I could see myself being in 10 or 15 years and I think that ultimately swayed me to want to work at Freehills.

Practical experience – working with practice groups

My first rotation was with Commercial Litigation and I was lucky enough to work with my first-round interviewing partner. I worked on client matters and research tasks. I was exposed to a great variety of work. What I loved about the group I worked in was that when anybody in the group was going to court they would ask me if I wanted to come along and observe. It was a great way for me to see what happens on a day-to-day basis.

My second rotation was in Corporate (Funds Management). If you had asked me before the clerkship what Funds Management was, I probably would have said ‘managing funds’. Surprisingly, it’s a whole lot more than that! I really enjoyed my rotation in this area. I even got to see one matter through from start to finish. I got to be involved; I went to the client’s office to collect documents and attended settlement with the buyers. I also worked on a really interesting pro-bono matter where an organisation promoting human rights to young people were trying to get charitable status.

More than a clerkship program

Freehills offered so much more than just great day-to-day work. There were regular information sessions held throughout the clerkship, including overviews of each practice group and sessions about the College of Law and the graduate program. We also received valuable skills training, including learning to write a memo (in which I now consider myself a professional!)

The summer clerks were able to assist the Freehills Foundation to raise money for charitable organisations. Some of the ways we were involved were: a partners versus summer clerks debate (which we of course won), a cake stall and raffles. Each clerk was also offered the chance to attend ‘Shopfront’ for the day—a free legal service for homeless and disadvantaged young people.  

After carefully considering all my options for a summer clerkship, I’m very happy with my decision to go to Freehills and I am looking forward to continuing here as a paralegal during my last year of university and then as a graduate.