Melbourne Seasonal Clerkship Program (Nov 2026)

If you aspire to be an outstanding lawyer, your journey to a world-class commercial legal career begins here. Start with Australia's first global law firm and set yourself on the path to excellence. Kickstart your career with our world-class clerkship program. Build your technical and legal expertise through our graduate program. Receive outstanding work and mentoring so you can become an expert in your field, as an associate.

What to expect

Melbourne Seasonal Clerkship Program

If you aspire to be an outstanding lawyer, your journey to a world-class commercial legal career begins here. Start with Australia's first global law firm and set yourself on the path to excellence. Kickstart your career with our world-class clerkship program. Build your technical and legal expertise through our graduate program. Receive outstanding work and mentoring so you can become an expert in your field, as an associate.

At Baker McKenzie, we understand that the transition from university to legal practice can be challenging. We provide our seasonal clerks with a comprehensive induction program, with legal, technical, and soft-skills training sessions, to help make this transition as smooth as possible. Our training program is designed to help you get the most out of your clerkship and set you up for success.

We consult with our clerks before they commence to understand the areas of practice in which they are interested in gaining experience. We structure the clerkship program according to these preferences, where possible.

In Melbourne, our key practice groups are:

- Banking & Finance
- Corporate Markets (including Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Capital Markets)
- Funds
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Commercial Real Estate
- Construction
- Dispute Resolution
- Employment & Compensation
- Commercial, Data, IPTech & Trade (including Intellectual Property; Technology, Communications & Commercial; and Media).

Most importantly, as a seasonal clerk, we want you to experience what life is like as a graduate and junior lawyer at Baker McKenzie. So,



right from the start, our seasonal clerks get involved in real work. You will be exposed to our Australian and international clients through client meetings, shadowing, research, and other everyday activities within your assigned practice group (such as drafting correspondence, preparing court/transaction documents, drafting advices/agreements, legal research, document review, attending court/mediations, attending meetings with barristers/witnesses, attending settlements, and preparing client alerts). You will also have the prospect to participate in pro bono files and community service initiatives.

Our seasonal clerks work closely with our lawyers, are guided by a supervising partner, and enjoy the extra support of an experienced associate "buddy". With the Firm's strong focus on supporting its people to learn, grow, and achieve better results, you can expect to be well-led, well-coached, and well-mentored.

You will develop practical and legal skills through our dedicated clerkship program and by attending Firm-wide/practice group sessions. Throughout the clerkship, our partners and associates run professional development sessions. These sessions will give you the chance to (amongst other things):

- build your network within the Firm;
- develop your legal and commercial skills;
- learn about our practices, clients, and Firm structure;
- learn about our pro bono program, community service initiatives, and inclusion, diversity & equity areas; and
- hear about our global training and work opportunities.

We will also provide you with opportunities to network with colleagues around the Firm – through our 'speed networking' program and various social events with your buddy,



our partners, and our lawyers.

The majority of our graduate positions are offered to former seasonal clerks. We also offer our former seasonal clerks the opportunity to undertake paralegal roles with the Firm.

To be eligible for a 2026/2027 seasonal clerkship position with Baker McKenzie, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or have the right to work in a full-time role in Australia during the clerkship periods set out above. You must also be enrolled in a law degree or equivalent which will qualify you for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. At Baker McKenzie, our seasonal clerkship program is primarily aimed at students in the penultimate year of their law degree. However, final-year applicants are also considered.

What qualities do we look for in our clerks?

Baker McKenzie looks for people who genuinely want to work with us and who understand Baker McKenzie's unique offering and position in the market.

We look for well-rounded, motivated individuals who have a performance mindset and strive to be the best in whatever they do; who are intellectually curious and have sound academics; who display business acumen and are practical in their approach; and who have a global mindset and who are passionately committed to service excellence. We look for people who enjoy a challenge and seek new opportunities; who constantly look for ways to achieve better results while learning and growing; and who take proactive ownership and responsibility for their careers. We also look for people who act with integrity, honesty, and candour in their dealings, decisions, and actions; who express themselves confidently while staying open to new ideas; who seek a friendly, inclusive, and diverse culture; and who take seriously our role in making a difference to our local and global communities.

We pride ourselves on our diversity too and recognise that all of our people have something unique to offer and contribute to the success of the Firm.

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📌 Melbourne Seasonal Clerkship Program (Nov 2026)
🏢 Baker Mckenzie
📍 Melbourne