Application Process & Interviews at Clayton Utz

My interview was in two stages with a first interview with a SA and then a follow up interview with two partners. I had situational questions asked which due to my preparation I was able to answer

The interview process is filled with typical behaviour questions, e.g., "tell us about a time where you dealt with a difficult legal problem in work or in university" or "tell us when you have dealt with competing interests so we can appreciate how you might deal with that same problem from clients in a law firm".

2 rounds of interviews. 1st round interview was 1 partner, 1 person from HR. 2nd round was 1 partner and 1 senior associate. There was also online psychometric testing.

The process was really comfortable and the firm made it really easy to navigate the process. There were buddies assigned to guide us along the way and no shortage of information.

I found the application process quite seamless and felt guided along the way

Overall not a bad interview process. 2 rounds. First P&D and a partner, followed by a second with 2 partners.

Interviews are friendly and welcoming, seeking to get the best from applicants.

Application, psychometric testing and two interviews.

I got my job through the clerkship process which was quite standard. Psychometric testing, answering written questions, then two interview rounds following by some assessments.

Interview process was very casual and comfortable. I found it similar to other firms but definitely felt most comfortable at CU.

Very good. Approachable interviewers and clear management of expectations.

Standard.

The interview process was very structured. May be better to have more of a conversational interview process. But great that it was 30 mins.

Long.

Not a lot of transparency in respect of clerkship/graduate offers.

Standard application and interview process for clerkships and then subsequent application for graduate position.

Digitally uploaded resume, transcript and cover letter (can't remember if this firm requested a cover letter my year) --> interview --> offer Pros of the process: no video interview prior to actual interview (all candidates collectively agree those are really awkward and hard to do) Cons: not CU specific but annoying having to manually enter your whole transcript, resume etc onto the digital platform when those documents have already been uploaded (don't know if this is still the process but doing that for nearly every firm was very time consuming)

P and D has implemented many initiatives to make the process as comfortable as possible for new graduates and clerks.

Being a grad - I went through the typical clerk and grad process, which was fine (esp during covid).

I underwent the standard clerkship process for law firms - written application, psychometric testing, and then two rounds of interviews, with some information/networking evenings in between. Nothing notable compared to other law firms I was also applying for at the same time.

One of the classics is if I got given two pieces of tasks, how do I prioritise the work order. Another one was about describing a situation where I had to deal with conflict

There was a mix of behavioural questions and general questions but it did depend on who was interviewing you. Experiences could differ from person to person.

I was asked general questions about myself, why I wanted to work at the firm and then some behavioural questions

1. In your work, what is the most challenging legal issue you have worked on? If you have not worked in the legal industry, can you explain the most challenging legal issue or case you have come across during your studies? 2. Describe a time when you had to solve a difficult problem with competing priorities or deadlines? 3. Describe a situation when you had to handle an unhappy customer or client. How did you resolve the situation?

Life, experience, how I would handle specific circumstances.

Mix of behavioural/why I was interested in CU specifically.

Questions about my lifestyle, my skills, my resume. Stock standard

A range of behaviour questions and general rapport building questions.

Previous work experience, why CU, why commercial law, which law would I change.

Questions regarding skills, behaviour, interest. nothing abnormal

Some situational and behavioural. A question about adversity.

I was asked very standard interview and behavioural questions, and a couple questions off my resume e.g. Tell us about yourself, why study law, why choose Clayton Utz, tell us about a time you overcame a challenge, what would you do in a situation where you received competing work deadlines from two different partners etc. The one curveball question I received was: If you could change/amend/create a new law, what would it be and why?

My interview was quite some time ago. The only question I specifically recall was being asked about when I have encountered a diversity and inclusion problem and how did I resolve it. Otherwise, I was just asked general questions about my CV.

Behavioural and technical

I don't remember specifically, I just remember "what is one law you would change?" which was a good one to think on the spot about (good to have a question like this that changes every year to gauge what a candidate can do without a pre-prepared answer)

Give us an example of x, y or z. Tell us about yourself. What is one area of the law you would change if you could?

*time management *prioritisation *interpersonal skills *knowledge of the law

From memory, it was pretty standard questions except for the question about what legislation I would introduce.

Describe a time when something didn't work well in the workplace and what did you do - I thought this was an excellent question!

It was mostly about getting to know me as a person, as well as an opportunity for me to get to know the individual interviewers and their work history. It felt very much like a conversation.

They need to understand the culture of the firm and what CU stands for, especially in Canberra. A know how about the firm and it’s place in the market will be essential

Best way to prepare is to personalise all of your answers whether it is written answers or interview answers. The firm wants to know you as a person and also wants to know what compelled you to apply to Clayton Utz.

I think the best way to prepare is to have a well-rounded CV that encapsulates you as a person, whether that's in extracurriculars, jobs or academia

Know the firm well, have good questions to ask.

Be aware of the general questions you could be asked. Have your personality come across through your answers.

Really take the time to read about the firm, and reflect on how your experience could be an asset.

Be authentic to yourself. Prepare by knowing your skills and how they would translate to working in a commercial law firm. Don't make skills or experience when it isnt truly there, harness your strengths and be confident in them.

Try and speak to as many CU people as you can and get a real sense of the firm. Ask about what clerks/graduates do day-to-day and why they chose CU. Review CU's instagram, linkedin and website for more information.

Learn about the company and the people who work there as much as you can. Tailor your questions to account for that. Also, don't be afraid of asking questions to see if they provide what you want in an employer.

Learn about the Partner interviewing you and about the company.

Do practice interviews with common interview questions, read news (legal and non-legal).

My advice to candidates I have met with is to try and tie in your unique experiences where you can. You won't always have something personal for every response, but where you can show how something personal to you reflects the qualities/skills/values the firm is looking for, this can help you stand out and will often be a jumping off point for interviews.

Know the culture of the company - fitting in is quite important and this means being personable and easy to deal with.

By having experience they can speak about

I think that candidates should attend CU information sessions and understand what it is about the firm that is different from others e.g. it is an independent Australian law firm, allowing it to partner with the best suited law firms in other jurisdictions for a range of international matters. This was personally something that attracted me to Clayton Utz that was very different from the other big law firms. Other than that, I think that the process isn't too different from other standard application processes so just firm up your resume, practice the interview questions, have coffee with people working at the firm you meet through info sessions and so forth.

Attend firm events leading up to the application process and the interview. When doing cover letters, what firms say on their website is not really useful to put in cover letters and does not come across as genuine. Speak to people who work there and who can tell you about what the day to day is like and provide anecdotes etc., then leverage that insider knowledge in cover letters and interviews.

Try and really understand why you would like to work at CU over other law firms

1. learn about company and people and what they do 2. network and catch up for coffee with people 3. be yourself 4. be open-minded and willing to try new things

I would suggest candidates allow their individuality and personality shine through in their cover letter, as well as an honest desire to work at the particular firm as opposed to other law firms. I would recommend they practice mock interviews with a friend or colleague before hand.

Try to relax, be yourself and don't over-prepare. People notice when you come across as contrived. You only want to be part of an organisation that wants you for you.