8 tips to succeed in law firm clerkship and grad applications

The reality is that there is no single formula for success. There’s no binding authority on how to impress legal recruiters. But there are practical steps that every law student can take to improve their chances of progressing through the application process.

Here are eight tips that may help you secure that clerkship or graduate offer.

Tip 1: Don’t rely on AI

This might sound extreme. You can use AI, but don’t rely on it.

If you ask an AI tool to “draft a cover letter for a graduate position at a commercial law firm”, it will likely produce a well-structured but very generic response. You’ll often see phrases such as: “I am drawn to the firm’s reputation for global excellence, local insight, and commitment to innovation in the legal sector.”

Legal recruitment teams read hundreds of applications every year. They are very good at spotting generic or AI-generated responses. The same applies to interviews. If your answers sound overly scripted or robotic, you may struggle to build rapport with interviewers.

VIEW ALL

Instead, focus on genuine research. Look at recent matters the firm has been involved in, read about their key clients, and develop an informed interest in two or three practice areas you could see yourself working in.

Lawyers haven’t been replaced by robots just yet.

Tip 2: Be professional

Law is a profession. After completing your university degree, practical legal training, and admission requirements, you may be admitted to practise as a lawyer in your state or territory. You will then need to hold a practising certificate each year in order to practise.

Most careers do not involve this level of professional regulation. That means expectations around professionalism are high from the very beginning.

In practical terms, this means:

• Dress appropriately for interviews and networking events.
• Speak respectfully about previous employers, colleagues, and classmates.
• Listen carefully when others are speaking.
• Conduct yourself courteously and confidently.

These behaviours may sound simple, but they make a strong impression.

Tip 3: Be prepared

Preparation is one of the easiest ways to stand out.

Before an interview, find out who you will be meeting. If the firm does not provide the names of interviewers, ask politely. Then, research their professional background and practice area.

For example, if one of your interviewers works in tax, you may be asked whether you would consider rotating through that team. Be prepared to explain whether that interests you and why.

You may also consider reaching out to a junior lawyer at the firm, such as a solicitor or associate, for an informal coffee before your interview. However, treat this conversation professionally. It may feel casual, but it is not entirely separate from the recruitment process. The lawyer you meet may share feedback about the conversation with the firm.

Think of it as a pseudo-interview. Be prepared, engaged, and respectful.

Tip 4: Be resilient

“Resilience” is a word that often gets overused, but in law, it is genuinely important. Even the most successful lawyers experience failure regularly. Litigators lose cases. Transactional lawyers see deals collapse after weeks of work. The clerkship and graduate recruitment process can feel similar. You may walk out of an interview thinking it went extremely well, only to receive a rejection. That is normal.

Treat each application and interview as a learning opportunity. Reflect on the experience, improve where you can, and keep applying. Persistence is often what separates successful candidates from the rest.

Tip 5: Identify your interests

When interviewing for a clerkship or graduate program, try to identify at least one or two practice areas that genuinely interest you. You do not need to have your entire career mapped out. Most students don’t. However, it helps if you can explain:

• Which practice areas interest you.
• Why they appeal to you.
• How your skills or university experiences connect with that interest.

Showing curiosity and enthusiasm about a particular area of law demonstrates initiative and self-awareness.

Tip 6: Take your studies seriously

Grades matter, particularly early in your career. While marks are not the only factor recruiters consider, they do provide an indication of your discipline, work ethic, and analytical ability.

You don’t need to achieve top marks in every subject. But consistently solid results will strengthen your application. The skills required to succeed academically – organisation, attention to detail, and critical thinking – translate directly into legal practice.

Tip 7: Be more than just a law student

You don’t need to join every law society committee, play three sports, and volunteer every weekend. But it helps to have experiences outside the classroom.

During interviews, you may struggle if all of your examples come from law school group assignments. Having interests, hobbies, or part-time work outside university provides richer experiences to draw on. Importantly, maintaining interests outside the law is also essential for long-term career sustainability. The legal profession can be demanding, and having passions outside work helps maintain balance and perspective.

Tip 8: Stay on top of application deadlines

Timing matters. Clerkship applications typically open around June or July, while market graduate applications open up throughout the year. Make sure to check the guidelines for the state or territory you are in, as well as firm websites.

Missing these deadlines usually means waiting another year before applying again. However, there are still ways to gain experience in the meantime. Many students work at law firms as paralegals or administrative assistants, which can provide valuable exposure to legal practice and help open doors later.

Hugo Morgan is a solicitor in employment and safety at Dentons.