Can you briefly tell us a little about your background before starting with the firm?
Prior to working at Clifford Chance I completed an Arts & Business / Law degree at the University of New South Wales (2019). During my time at university I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study internationally at the University of British Columbia and University of California, Berkeley and gained professional work experience as a paralegal at a large Australian law firm and as an intern at global private equity house. I undertook a winter clerkship program at CC in 2019, completing rotations in the Corporate and Litigation + Dispute Resolution practises as well as spending a week in the Hong Kong office. I started as a Graduate at CC in March 2020.
How did you know you wanted to be a lawyer? (Or maybe you didn't?)
During high school and throughout university I had a fantastic mentor and role model in Greg McDonald who is a well known partner in the industry. He encouraged me to always challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone. In my opinion being a lawyer is unique in that you are required to develop critical thinking, communication, team work and management skills whilst also being commercial aware and responsive to change. As a lawyer your day is never the same and is dynamic and fast paced which is something that particularly drew me towards the industry.
How did you find the application process for the firm? Anything stand out from your interviews?
Unlike other firms CC adopts a unique approach to the clerkship and graduate application process. Notably during the interview stage you are given the opportunity to interview with associates, senior associates, counsels and partners across all practice areas. This is refreshing as it gives you a true insight into the types of people who work at the firm which is pivotal when deciding whether CC is the place for you. In addition to this, the interviewers do not have you CV in front of them to ensure the process in unbiased and the interviewers are focused on getting to know you rather than what is on paper. From my perspective this results in CC hiring more well rounded and balanced candidates who align with the culture and values of the firm.
Can you tell us a little about your clerkship – what kind of work did you do, what was your key takeaway, did anything surprise you, did it make you think differently in anyway?
As a clerk the trip to Hong Kong was a huge highlight for me. The opportunity to experience the global network of Clifford Chance in practice was a real eye opener for me and reinforced the importance of working for a firm that would provide me with every opportunity to better my skills as a lawyer and develop my commercial acumen. Another highlight has been the large interaction I have had with senior lawyers and partners and the time they have invested in me to ensure I get the most out of my clerkship and graduate programs. Unlike other firms, CC truly does have a flat structure meaning you are always working with different people throughout the network internationally and on different deals. I have found this had given me a breadth of experience and the opportunity to develop my team work and communication skills.
What set CC apart from other firms you clerked with?
There are three reasons I chose to work at Clifford Chance. First, the culture. Clifford Chance offices in Australia are unique in that you get the benefits of a small firm culture against the backdrop of the vast Clifford Chance global network. Second, Clifford Chance is a truly global firm which means you are working and interacting with colleagues across its different offices daily. Third, Clifford Chances encouragement of international secondment opportunities. Appreciating COVID-19 makes things difficult at the moment but ordinarily as a graduate one of your rotations is overseas in one of the firm's 36 offices across 26 countries around the world. As a clerk I even had the opportunity to go to Hong Kong for a week which is an opportunity you don’t get at other firms.
What qualities do you see in your peers and colleagues?
From my perspective the people who work at CC are very relaxed and easy going. I have found people to be genuine and trustworthy. I feel I could go up to anyone in the firm to discuss any issues I may have whether they be work related or personal. A real standout for me is that everyone is always up for a laugh and a god time we are all friends outside of work which contributes to the tight-knit culture of the firm.
Top tip for someone looking to get into law?
Be ambitious! Clifford Chance is a firm which rewards people who are willing to step outside their comfort zone, be challenged and are committed to doing that extra bit for the client. Take the opportunity to network, learn about the firm, its markets, clients and the people who work there. Clifford Chance is a firm built on strong relationships and you should adopt this mentality when applying for clerkship and graduate employment.