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.

Kind regards,

Henny Smith (Blackstone President) and Daniel Brando (Blackstone Careers Vice-President)