What is a summer clerkship and why do one? By Kayley Rozos – K&L Gates Summer Clerk 2012/2013 So what does a clerkship involve? Generally, summer clerks are given the opportunity to undertake invaluable work experience in a commercial law firm, witnessing firsthand what it is really like to work on complex transactions and landmark litigation, while at the same time putting your university studies to practice. Generally open to penultimate year students, a summer clerkship will provide you with the opportunity to work with solicitors, senior associates and partners on a range of matters whilst typically rotating in 2 practice areas. Rotating in both litigious and transactional practice groups for example will ensure that you have the opportunity to be exposed to various different clients, tasks, and people within the firm. From the very beginning, you will be directly involved with lawyers on all levels and given responsibility and the necessary support to produce real work that will often go directly to a client. For example, during my two rotations at K&L Gates, some of the tasks I was involved with included drafting and filing court documents, assisting with due diligence, drafting correspondence to clients, completing research tasks and memoranda on important areas of law, attending court, preparing presentations to clients on current legal issues, as well as sitting in on a client meeting or brief to counsel. However, it’s not all about work when you are a summer clerk! While your entry into the firm is perfectly timed to coincide with the Christmas festivities, don’t be surprised if you find yourself attending multiple firm and practice group Christmas parties, after work drinks, client events, as well as attending the plethora of inter-firm activities that are organised. During my clerkship I found myself stitching together Quidditch robes for the Harry Potter themed firm Christmas Party, painting my face to resemble a member of KISS at the Inter-firm harbour cruise, and constructing a Big Red Car out of archive boxes and manila folders for the Australia themed inter-firm trivia night. There were also weekly inter-firm sporting events that encouraged friendly rivalry between clerks at other firms in sports such as soccer, touch footy, netball, and volleyball. So why is it important to apply for a summer clerkship? I really think the question should be why shouldn’t you apply? While you may think that the whole process seems daunting, confusing, and above all, time consuming, the benefits of applying clearly speak for itself; a fantastic experience, producing real and meaningful work, networking, and above all, providing you with options for the future. While you may be sitting on the fence as to whether commercial law really is the place for you, or even whether being a lawyer is the career you want to pursue, a summer clerkship really is the best way to figure out all these confusing questions. It is important to note that if working in a commercial law firm is where you want to end up, then a clerkship is a great way to get your foot in the door as most summer clerks are considered for graduate positions after graduation. There is also the possibility that you may be able to obtain casual paralegal work after your clerkship. Upon completion of my clerkship I was quite lucky to receive a paralegal position in the Litigation group at K&L Gates two days a week, which has ensured that I continue to maintain professional contacts within the firm, and to further build on my knowledge obtained during the clerkship. In the event that you are unsure of where your future career will be, a summer clerkship is a fantastic way to develop strong friendships with your fellow clerks, to make professional contacts with partners, senior associates and solicitors across the firm, as well has having some solid work experience to add to your CV. For me, my summer clerkship at K&L Gates was everything that I expected, plus so much more. I was given responsibility as a genuine member of the team from day one and worked closely with team members of all levels to produce real and meaningful work. This gave me the confidence and assurance that this is the area of law I want to pursue. While the benefits of applying for a clerkship really are self-explanatory, at the end of the day, what you get out of the clerkship experience really depends on you. Whether you have a clear picture of where you want your career to proceed, or maybe you are just looking for some guidance, a clerkship is a fantastic way to expose yourself to challenging work, a fun summer, and above all, a step in the right direction in preparing yourself for what might lie ahead after university. Kayley Rozos was a Summer Clerk at K&L Gates in 2012/2013 Clerkship Guide 2013 7