Georgia Hunt, Seasonal Clerk, December 2009
My seasonal clerkship at Cornwall Stodart was an excellent way to get a feel for being a lawyer. The work I was asked to do was varied and, most importantly, interesting.
Georgia Hunt
During my Commercial Litigation rotation, among other things, I
prepared a brief to counsel, did several pieces of challenging
research and prepared affidavits for both Victoria and New South
Wales. In my Commercial Property rotation, I prepared a contract
for the sale of land, drafted many letters to clients and conducted
searches for various documents such as Certificates of Title.
I was given a 'buddy' for each rotation and both were senior
associates. This was one of the most valuable parts of my seasonal
clerkship. It put me in close contact with the work I hope to be
doing as I pursue a corporate legal career, and allowed me to fully
understand the relationships that lawyers build with their clients
- and with each other. It also meant I always had somebody I felt
comfortable talking to and asking questions.
The culture and environment of Cornwall Stodart was supportive and
understanding. I would like to highlight the level of trust placed
in seasonal clerks in terms of the work we were given. While work
was always checked by partners or senior associates, lawyers at
every level felt we were capable of doing, or at least attempting,
many different tasks that were often foreign to us. This meant I
was both challenged and reassured, because I knew the people around
me believed in my capabilities and potential.
I had a wonderful time at Cornwall Stodart and learnt so much.