HUGH MORRISON – JOHSON WINTER & SLATTERY There are many firms that offer summer clerkships, how did you determine which firm was the right one for you? The firms offering summer clerkships all have their own particular strengths. In a way, it is difficult to make a “wrong” choice because each of the firms has something unique and valuable to offer. With that in mind, I took the view that any firm would be a good choice. In the end, I chose Johnson Winter & Slattery because Summer Clerks are exposed to all practice groups instead of two or three. This presented me with a unique opportunity to gain broad exposure to many different areas of law, which I felt would help me to make an informed decision about areas of specialty in the future. Additionally, the firm had a strong practice in a number of areas that interested me. The strong focus on the commerciality of legal advice was also a factor. How did you find the interview process? Were you asked anything unexpected? I found the interview process to be very grueling and somewhat repetitive. Similar questions regarding incidents where you have worked in a team, managed time effectively etc, (behavioural questions) were asked by most of the firms; this is because there are particular behavioural skills and attributes that are considered to be universally important for commercial lawyers. Some firms also make use of group interviews, which I found to be a nice change-up. In one interview, I was asked whether I thought it was ethical to advertise for legal services, in reference to a firm I had previously worked for as a paralegal. What was the most challenging aspect of your clerkship experience? I was on two occasions asked to research legal questions and draft correspondence with clients. I enjoyed the challenge of undertaking research and seeing it through to the finished product. Equally valuable was the guidance of the partners involved, and comparing my (extensively) revised drafts with what was sent to the client. What did you learn that you previously knew nothing or very little about? I learned about the operation of the GST Act and when some of the various exemptions apply. I was also able to gain an understanding of the process of litigating in the Federal Court. Did your clerkship help you make any decision/s about possible directions your career might take? The clerkship affirmed my ambition to practice in commercial law. Clerkship Guide 2013 29