International Clerkship Report

Michael Hope, 2006

Sponsoring Office: Sydney, Australia
Receiving Office:    London, England

Having completed a Summer Clerkship at Baker & McKenzie’s Sydney office during the summer of 2005-2006, I was afforded the enviable opportunity to participate in the Firm’s International Clerkship Program.  My time in the Sydney office was incredibly enjoyable both professionally and personally, and this prepared me well for the time I was to spend in the London office during November 2006.  The day after I finished my final university exam, I flew out from Sydney bound for London.  On arriving early in the morning, I was greeted at the terminal by a driver who took me to my accommodation for the next four weeks, a fabulous apartment right in the centre of the City area within walking distance of the office.

On my first Monday morning, I made my way to the office and was introduced to the lawyers I would be working with in the Dispute Resolution Group, from the partners to the trainee solicitors.  I was made to feel welcome immediately, participating in a mediation training session for trainee lawyers that one of my supervisors, Kate Stephen, had organised.  I also participated in practice group and client meetings. 

Over the next four weeks, Kate and my other supervisor, Paul Benjamin, made sure that I had plenty of work to keep me occupied.  I became involved in a lot of work that allowed me to see just how far the scope of Baker & McKenzie’s global practice extended.  For instance, I was asked to review the arbitration rules of Lesotho regarding whether an arbitral decision in that country could be appealed; I drafted letters to the International Court of Arbitration in Paris requesting an arbitration between a client and another party; and was also involved in research into whether the Professional Practice Rules of England and Wales extended to solicitors practicing in other countries.

I was also able to attend court on many occasions.  I soon learnt the basics of the English court system, and it was really useful to compare the differences (and similarities) between the courts in England and Australia.  The solicitors I accompanied were only too happy to explain the intricacies of the cases in which we were involved.  One of the cases required having a meeting with counsel in chambers at the Inns of Court, and this meant I was able to see how court room tactics and advocacy were meticulously prepared.

It was also an invaluable experience to get involved in the ‘nuts and bolts’ side of the Dispute Resolution Group.  This involved seeing how witness statements are prepared, how bundles for court cases are put together, and how the discovery and disclosure process works.  Of course, my role also involved a lot of legal research, and it was particularly edifying when one of my research pieces was added to the knowledge management database for future use.

At the conclusion of the clerkship, I was able to travel around the UK and a lot of Europe, where I had many fantastic experiences such as Christmas in Rome and New Years in Edinburgh.  Opportunities like these are rare, and I feel extremely privileged I was able to experience them.  For this, I owe a great deal to Baker & McKenzie’s International Clerkship program.

My experience within the London office was wholly positive.  Everybody I met went out of their way to make me feel welcome, whether it was inviting me to lunch or going to an after-work drink function.  I particularly thank Simone Beckenham and Justine Beedle for the huge effort they put in making sure my time in London was as enjoyable as possible.  I also thank Kate Stephen and Paul Benjamin for making sure I was not overwhelmed with the work I was given and for providing constructive feedback to the work I completed. 

Without doubt, the International Clerkship program was one of the most productive and rewarding experiences in which I have been involved.  When I start as a Graduate Lawyer in the Sydney office, it is a time I will look back on with affection.