1. What drew you to this firm?

Clerk 1: I was drawn to HDY because of its outstanding reputation, blue-chip client list and pervasive culture. Situated in the heart of Martin Place, the firm has a strong presence about it; reinforced by the teamwork and spirit of all the lawyers that work there.

Clerk 2: I was drawn to Henry Davis York because I had heard that it boasted a down to earth culture, and really valued its staff. In particular I really liked the idea that even though HDY was a big Sydney law firm with top notch clients, it only really had one office - a heritage listed building in Martin Place - which I think made it more likely it would deliver on its friendly and supportive reputation. And it did!

2. What areas have you worked in?

Clerk 1: Corporate Advisory, Commercial Disputes and Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency.

Clerk 2: I've just completed a Summer Clerkship, rotating through three different practice groups. I've worked in the Commercial Disputes Group, Environment and Planning, and Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency. Now I'm back in Insolvency as a Paralegal while I finish university.

3. What type of work have you done in each of these areas?

Clerk 1: Each practice group brought to the table exciting and wide-ranging experience – this included: drafting a third line forcing legal immunity for a large multinational, attending the NSW State Coroner’s Court for a coronial inquest, and interviewing witnesses with Senior Counsel in preparation for insolvency proceedings in the Supreme Court.

Clerk 2: I've done everything from attend court, participate in practice group meetings, prepare letters, draft advices and affidavits, prepare case notes and conduct research. I also completed some business development work so HDY can better understand the needs of its banking clients.

4. What clients have you done work for?

Clerk 1: HDY has an outstanding reputation and this is reflected in its impressive list of strategic clients. This will see you working for a variety of private and public sector clients, ranging from leading banks to large government bodies.

Clerk 2: Too many to count! Government bodies such as Roads and Maritime Services, NSW Health and RailCorp. And then of course the 4 big banks.

5. Have you had much client contact?

Clerk 1: My supervisors and mentors took a genuine interest in my development as a future lawyer and ensured that I was involved in meaningful work with extensive client contact. This included: client meetings, telephone conferences, advisory presentations and court appearances. Overall I was given responsibility well beyond my expectations.

Clerk 2: As a clerk you don't have much face-to-face client contact, but I did regularly draft emails reporting back to the client after court. In Insolvency I was lucky enough to attend a conference with counsel, which was really insightful.

6. Have you been given much responsibility?

Clerk 1: Yes, the partners at HDY have an “open-door” policy and really encourage summer clerks to get involved and take the initiative. Despite the often challenging nature of the work, at no point are you thrown in the deep end. Your supervisors and mentors will ensure that you are comfortably challenged, providing guidance and assistance every step of the way.

Clerk 2: I was actually surprised by the amount of responsibility I was given. I even got to draft a couple of advices to clients which really helped me learn and gain confidence.

7. What type of training have you undertaken at the firm?

Clerk 1: HDY appreciates the often difficult transition faced when stepping from university into the corporate world, incorporating an extensive training program which runs throughout the summer clerkship. This consisted of an introductory orientation week, as well as ongoing additional training involving drafting and writing skills; legal research; witnessing and executing documents, computer and IT, as well as career planning and guidance.

Clerk 2: The training was really comprehensive. We had all the general sessions you would expect on Legal Research, Time Entry and so on, but there were also some really insightful sessions on things like "Managing Your Career" and "Teamwork at HDY".

8. What hours do you generally work? What is expected?

Clerk 1: A typical day was from 8.30am until 5.30pm; however, given the exciting matters I was working on, this would occasionally see me working over my expected hours. Monday night inter-firm sports and other such functions often gave me an added something to look forward to at the end of the day.

Clerk 2: As a clerk your hours are 8.30am-5.30pm. However if I had work to finish up I would stay back a little longer, but I never stayed back later than about 6.00pm. The good thing about working here is that if you don't have work to do, you don't have to put in "face time".

9. How have you received feedback about your performance?

Clerk 1: At the completion of each rotation I received structured feedback from my mentor, Senior Associate/Special Counsel and Partner who would review my overall performance. However, on a more day-to-day basis, I continually received feedback for each task I was given, my supervisors and mentors often going above and beyond to offer me guidance and assistance.

Clerk 2: During the clerkship we had a performance review after each rotation and received informal feedback throughout. Everyone you work with is really keen for you to learn, so they take the time to give you the feedback you need.

10. How would you describe the culture and working environment within the firm?

Clerk 1: The culture of HDY is what truly sets it apart from other firms. The culture is professional, yet down to earth and approachable, and it is a genuinely enjoyable place to work. HDY truly invests in its summer clerks, and this is reinforced by a willingness of the staff to provide guidance and mentoring at every opportunity.

Clerk 2: The culture is one of excellence, but at the same time very inclusive. I've noticed that professionals from different practice groups regularly work together on matters.

11. What do you like most about working for the firm?

Clerk 1: HDY has the perfect balance – it has the top-end clients and the reputation of a tier one firm, without losing its sense of identity and culture. Working at HDY you feel as though you are part of a team, not just a number, and it this positive and supportive environment that makes HDY such a great place to work.

Clerk 2: The things I enjoy most are the interesting, high profile matters, the inclusive culture and that there are always exciting events in my calendar. Like our end of clerkship party for example.

12. What tips would you give to someone applying to your firm?

Clerk 1: Learn about the values of the firm and align these with your own. Each firm is a product of its people, so try and identify with the identity and culture of the firm. This needs to be reflected in your written application, so do your research. When it comes to the interviews, be yourself and try to relax.

Clerk 2: Think about what actually draws you to that particular firm. Do your research. We all want to land a Clerkship, but I think it's still important to think about where you'll be happiest. If you enjoy going to work each day, or enjoy the people you work with, you're more likely to perform at your best.

13. Any other comments?

Clerk 1: A summer clerkship at HDY is an invaluable experience, combining high-end work with an extensive training program. I highly recommend HDY as a first preference to anyone looking for a career in corporate law.

Clerk 2: Good luck! Summer Clerkships are a great opportunity, so be as prepared as you can.