The benefits of completing a Seasonal Clerkship

Are you in your penultimate or final year of your law degree? Are you considering your seasonal clerkship options?

It’s been a long time coming and you are now getting to the pointy end of your law degree and possibly starting to ask yourself “what next?”, “how do I get a role as a Lawyer?” “Do I want to practice in the area of law that I enjoyed most at uni?”. It’s a daunting process. Added to that, all the usual pressures that come with life.

Having been in this position myself, I know exactly what it’s like, so you are not alone.

A great way to help you navigate the next steps and see what life might be like after law school, is to complete a seasonal clerkship.  A seasonal clerkship provided me an invaluable opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world legal practice.

Practical experience

One of the most significant advantages of a seasonal clerkship was the practical experience it offered. Unlike your studies where the focus is often on theoretical concepts and hypothetical cases, a clerkship allowed me to see legal work in real-life. As a Seasonal Clerk at Coulter Legal, I was given the opportunity to be hands-on, including working on real matters, sitting in on client meetings, attending court hearings, drafting documents, researching etc. This hands-on experience helped me to gain a better understanding of what life as an early career Lawyer would look like.

Exposure to practice areas

You might have a clear direction on where you want to practice. You may also be open to any practice area. Either way is ok!  However, a Seasonal Clerkship will broaden your exposure to various areas of law. As a seasonal clerk at Coulter Legal, you are given the chance to work across a number of practice groups in order to explore these areas and gain insights. It can also help identify your strengths and where your interests lie.

Try before you decide

Completing a seasonal clerkship gave me an opportunity to get to know the law firm. It was as much about them getting to know me as it was me getting to know them.  A clerkship gives an inside view of what it would be like to work with the firm; the culture, the values and building a network.

Entry into a Graduate role

For most firms, completing a seasonal clerkship is the gateway to a Graduate position. Coulter Legal is no exception. Law Graduates positions are offered to a select number of students who completed a seasonal clerkship. Although you can still enter the legal profession without completing a seasonal clerkship, completing a seasonal clerkship definitely has its benefits as I have already mentioned.

You will not regret completing a seasonal clerkship – I promise you!

So, what now? If I have enticed you to complete a seasonal clerkship, make sure you check out our website for recruitment dates. Or if you would like to know more, reach out to Amelia Pilcher (HR Consultant) for more information.