General Clerkship and Graduate Information

In 2010 the articled clerk and vacation clerk recruitment process in WA will be DIFFERENT to the recruitment process of recent years. For a neat summary of the new recruitment process, we urge you to look at the attached document – “Law Society of WA Recruitment Dates and Guidelines“.

The key information contained in that document is also summarised below.

Important Dates

1. Applying for a winter 2010 vacation clerkship?
_--Applications open 15 FEBRUARY 2010 and close 26 MARCH 2010.

2. Applying for a 2011 articled clerkship?
—-Applications open 5 JULY 2010 and close 6 AUGUST 2010.

3. Applying for a summer 2010/2011 vacation clerkship or Winter 2011 vacation clerkship?
—-Applications open 9 AUGUST 2010 and close 20 AUGUST 2010.

Articled Clerkships – Priority Offers and Standard Offers

The new recruitment process incorporates both “priority offers” and “standard offers” for articled clerkships.

Priority offers for 2011 articled clerkships will be made following the winter 2010 vacation clerkship period. They will be made on 23 July 2010 and held open until 27 July 2010. You might get a priority offer if you have been a vacation clerk in summer 2009/2010, or if you are a vacation clerk in winter 2010.

But if you haven’t been a vacation clerk, all is not lost!

A significant number of firms will not be making “priority offers”, and will stick to the “standard offer” system. And even firms making priority offers are likely to make “standard offers” too.

The standard offer system for articled clerkships sees applicants submit written applications (see relevant dates above), participate in interviews, and receive job offers based on their written application and interview.

Timeline for 2010

The following timeline should clarify a few things:

1. Mid Feb: Applications open for winter 2010 vacation clerkships.

2. Late March: Applications close for winter 2010 vacation clerkships.

3. Early April: Interviews for winter 2010 vacation clerkships.

4. Late April: Offers for winter 2010 vacation clerkships.

5. June/July: Winter 2010 vacation clerkships happen.

6. Early July: Applications open for 2011 articled clerkships (standard offer system).

7. Late July: Priority offers for 2011 articled clerkships made.

8. Early August: Applications close for 2011 articled clerkships (standard offer system).

9. August: Interviews for 2011 articled clerkships (standard offer system)

10. Early September: Standard offers for 2011 articled clerkships made.

11. Early August: Applications open for summer 2010/2011 and winter 2011 vacation clerkships.

12. Late August: Applications close for summer 2010/2011 and winter 2011 vacation clerkships.

13. September: Interviews for summer 2010/2011 and winter 2011 vacation clerkships.

14. Late September: Offers for summer 2010/2011 and winter 2011 vacation clerkships.

Further Information

1. If you have any questions about any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact Blackstone Careers Vice-President, Daniel Brando, at careersvp@blackstone.asn.au.

2. A representative from Allens Arthur Robinson will be giving a presentation in the first week of Semester One to explain the above in more detail and to field questions and concerns.

3. The Blackstone Society Careers Handbook will be available from early on in Semester One and will also explain the above in more detail.

Blake Dawson Recruitment Process 2010

As you are no doubt aware, Blake Dawson will be adhering to the Law Society guidelines in regard to graduate recruitment for 2011.

Students in their final year, who have completed a vacation clerkship with us or who have been working with us as a law clerk, are eligible to be considered under the new priority offers system. This system also includes students completing their law degree in the first semester of 2011.

We are very pleased to advise that we are now accepting expressions of interest for a graduate position with us in 2011. If you would like join our fantastic team, we would be pleased to receive your expression of interest. To keep this process as simple as possible, please reply to this email attaching an updated CV and academic transcript. Expressions of interest will remain open until Monday, 12 July 2010. If you would prefer to be considered for a deferral offer for our 2012 graduate program, please let us know.  This will not be a factor in whether or not your receive an offer, it is purely for our planning purposes.  If you would like to discuss the possibility of deferral, please do not hesitate to give me a call.

Finally, SAVE THE DATE! Blake Dawson will be hosting a Graduate Information Night on Thursday 17 June 2010. The night is designed to give you an opportunity to hear a bit more about the firm and catch-up with some of our partners and staff.  There will also be plenty of opportunity to ask any further questions about the firm and our graduate program. The evening is completely optional – please do not feel that you need to travel from interstate or overseas to attend!  We will be sending out invitations and further details shortly. In the meantime, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to give me a call and we hope to receive an application from you in due course!

Kind Regards,

Kiri King
People Development Coordinator
Blake Dawson

T 61 8 9366 8058
F 61 8 9366 8111
kiri.king@blakedawson.com
www.blakedawson.com

On behalf of
Lisa Cooney
People Development Consultant
Blake Dawson

T 61 8 9366 8127
F 61 8 9366 8111
lisa.cooney@blakedawson.com
www.blakedawson.com

Clayton Utz Recruitment Process 2010

Corrs Chambers Westgarth Recruitment Process 2010

Freehills Graduate Recruitment Process 2010

The Freehills Perth graduate recruitment process is conducted in line with the recruitment guidelines as set out by the Law Society of Western Australia.

Freehills will be participating in the graduate priority offers system. Students eligible to be considered under the priority model must have completed a vacation clerkship with Freehills and must also be in their final year (this includes students completing their law degree in the first semester of 2011 and who are therefore eligible for commencement in 2012).

Eligible students who are interested in being considered for a graduate position are encouraged to email their expressions of interest directly to Charissa Mitsikas (see details below).

Feedback and assessment will be gathered during your clerkship and candidates will be made offers on the basis of clerkship performance and fit with the firm. No further interviews or applications will be necessary.

Key Dates

Monday 3 May 2010
- Expressions of interest for law graduate positions can be made by eligible students from this date.
- Please email Charissa Mitsikas, Perth Graduate Recruitment Consultant, at Charissa.Mitsikas@freehills.com with the following details: your clerkship intake (date and year); and your anticipated graduate start date and intake (Freehills has a February and October intake for graduate positions)

Monday 12 July 2010
- Expressions of interest close on this date

Friday 23 July 2010
- Priority offers made to former vacation clerks (from 9am

Tuesday 27 July 2010
- Priority offers must be accepted or declined (by 5pm)

For further questions or clarification of the graduate priority offer system and how it relates to Freehills? graduate program please contact Charissa Mitsikas via email (above) or T + 61 8 9211 7544

Norton Rose Recruitment Process 2010