Build a stronger application, perform with confidence, and stand out at every stage.
Welcome to the Clayton Utz Clerkship Masterclass: From Application to Offer.
Clayton Utz is one of Australia’s leading independent law firms, working on some of the country’s most complex and high-profile legal matters. Each year, we recruit up to 150 clerks across six offices through a structured process that goes well beyond academic results – assessing how candidates think, communicate, and present themselves in a professional environment.
In this masterclass, you will step into the role of a law student preparing to apply for a clerkship at a large law firm. Across four tasks, you’ll work through the key stages of the recruitment process – from early planning and written applications through to networking, interviews, and clerkship performance.
Along the way, you’ll build practical skills in:
approaching clerkship recruitment with a clear, targeted strategyunderstanding what firms like Clayton Utz are genuinely looking forturning your experience into strong written applications that are specific, evidence-based, and hard to forgetcommunicating effectively in networking settings and building professional relationshipspreparing for interviews and performing well during the clerkship itself
This is not generic careers advice. It is built around what we actually see, what we value, and what makes the difference between an application that gets noticed and one that does not. This masterclass is designed to help you regardless of the firm you ultimately apply to – but if you do choose to apply to Clayton Utz, you will finish with a much clearer sense of what we are looking for and why.
By the end, you will have a complete application pack that you can refine and use for your clerkship applications, consisting of a strategy plan, CV, cover letter, short-answer responses, networking materials, interview preparation, and clerkship readiness plan.
This program is self-paced. It takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete.
Skills Learned:
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Intro & Scenario
Background context and your project team -
Understanding the Clerkship Landscape & Your Strengths
Build a clear, targeted plan and turn your strengths into evidence.- Strategic Thinking
- Self-Awareness
- Job Application
- Professional Judgment
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Building a Compelling Application Portfolio
Turn your experiences into clear, targeted application materials.- Written Communication
- Structured Thinking
- Job Application
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Networking & Digital Professionalism
Show up well—introduce yourself clearly and leave a strong impression.- Professional Communication
- Verbal Communication
- Professional Networking
- Relationship Building
- Professional Presence
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Interviewing Well & Excelling as a Clerk
Show how you think, communicate, and perform under pressure.- Structured Thinking
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Reflection
- Verbal Communication
- Professional Judgment
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Finish Line
