Updating Results

King & Wood Mallesons

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4.5
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Jamee Bender

The clerkship exceeded my expectations on all levels. I appreciated KWM’s commitment to ensuring the clerks were well supported and integrated into the life of the firm.

THE APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS:

The interview process was focused on the firm getting to know me, and it offered a great opportunity to learn about what makes KWM stand apart from other firms. My interviewers were friendly, and they based a lot of their questions on the information I provided in my application. There were no “trick” questions, and I felt like the firm went to great lengths to make the process as enjoyable as possible.

THE WORK:

The quality of work at KWM is outstanding, and no two days were the same. Some of the tasks that I was asked to help with included legal research and drafting, analysing contracts, writing case notes and verifying that documents had been properly executed. I accompanied senior lawyers to client meetings and calls and attended my practice groups’ weekly team briefings.

THE CULTURE:

The KWM culture is friendly and supportive, and I appreciated how the firm fosters a genuine environment of inclusivity. Each practice group that I rotated through made me feel like part of the team from day one.

THE SUPPORT:

I was assigned a buddy (graduate lawyer), development coach (senior associate) and supervising partner during each rotation, and this provided a fantastic support system for me. The other lawyers were also great about involving me on their matters and offering feedback. Additionally, the firm has amazing support staff who are there to help with a range of different things such as general health and wellness, legal research, training and technology.

PRO BONO AND COMMUNITY:

Pro Bono is a valued area of practice at KWM, and as clerks, we were encouraged to get involved in a variety of pro bono-related matters. For example, I helped with some legal research for an Aboriginal arts group and spent a day volunteering at the Salvation Army. Our clerk cohort was given a special “Change Challenge,” which involved pitching our ideas to a panel of KWM lawyers about how to grow and expand one of the firm’s existing pro bono programs.

THE SOCIAL LIFE:

The social life at KWM is vibrant and fun, and there were several events held especially for the clerks, such as Monday night sports and a kayaking trip with the M&A team. Many of the practice groups organised team-specific social events, which included a themed ping pong challenge, team lunches and Friday drinks.

WHY I CHOSE KING & WOOD MALLESONS:

KWM stood out not only for its high-quality work and excellent training but also for its people. Going through the recruitment process allows you to get a feel for each firm's culture and values, and I was impressed by how approachable and passionate the lawyers at KWM were.

MY CLERKSHIP VS. MY EXPECTATIONS:

The clerkship exceeded my expectations on all levels. I appreciated KWM’s commitment to ensuring the clerks were well supported and integrated into the life of the firm. I was inspired by the lawyers that I worked for, and the experience affirmed my interest in commercial law.

WHO WOULD I RECOMMEND A KWM CLERKSHIP TO:

I would recommend a KWM clerkship to all students who are interested in commercial law and looking to learn from some of the top lawyers in the industry. It’s not at all necessary to know exactly what area of practice you’re most interested in, and having an open mind can be really helpful for figuring this out.