Completing a law firm clerkship is one of the most rewarding early experiences of your legal career. It gives you the opportunity to see commercial legal practice up close, test your instincts, and understand how you want to begin your career.
Below you will find an overview of the clerkship experience, advice on crafting your application, and a glimpse of what a clerkship looks like at KHQ. If what you read resonates, and you think KHQ is the place for you, we would be pleased to hear from you.
We run clerkship programs in July and November each year. The current application and clerkship periods are as follows:
July seasonal program:
November seasonal program:
Our clerkship program is structured to give you exposure to lawyer life. That means real work, real clients, and real responsibility, with guidance and support. As a clerk, you can expect to be involved in legal research, drafting correspondence and documents, preparing summaries and memos, attending client meetings and calls, and assisting with transactions.
You will sit with the team to which you are assigned, not in a separate clerk pool. That proximity allows you to join conversations, absorb context, and develop an understanding of how matters actually run.
Every clerk is supported by a principal solicitor or senior associate as their primary supervisor, and a buddy (often a junior lawyer who has completed the clerkship program and understands exactly where you are at). You will receive structured feedback throughout the clerkship, not just at the end.
Our directors and principals are accessible, which is a structural feature of how KHQ operates. If you have a question, you ask it; if you need guidance, you get it. Students considering alternatives to top-tier firms will find a home here. Not only will you gain meaningful exposure to legal work, you will know the partners by name from day one … and they will know yours.
KHQ’s clerkship program is deliberately sized to preserve the quality of the experience. You will be known, challenged, supported, and assessed as an individual. The relationships you build during your clerkship at KHQ are relationships that last. Many of our current lawyers first clerked here, a fact of which we are very proud, and one that reflects the culture clerks encounter during the program.
Clerkship program applications are open to all penultimate and final year law students. To submit an application, send an email to recruitment@khq.com.au, attaching a cover letter and a certified copy of your academic transcript.
The application process is competitive, and this is true for every firm. Below is an overview of what we look for, what makes an application stand out, and how to approach the interview process.
Academic results matter. We are a technically excellent firm and recruit people capable of doing technically excellent work. But grades are a threshold, not a differentiator. Beyond academic performance, we look for evidence of:
KHQ is a values-driven firm. Cultural fit is assessed alongside technical capability, ensuring candidates will thrive and contribute to our culture.
Your cover letter is the first piece of writing we will see. It should be clear, well-constructed and tailored to KHQ, including the areas of law you are drawn to and why our service model appeals to you.
Research the firm before applying. Review our website and social media channels to understand our practice areas, clients and industries. Demonstrating an understanding of what makes KHQ different is valuable.
Your CV should be clean, accurate and concise. Include academic results, relevant work experience (legal and non-legal), and any leadership, community or extracurricular involvement that reflects who you are.
Our interview process is conversational. We want to understand who as a person, what you know and how you think, and we want you to leave with a clear sense of whether KHQ is the right place for you.
Be prepared to discuss your academic background, your interest in specific practice areas, and current legal and commercial developments. We are interested in what draws you to our firm and where you see your career developing.
Be yourself. KHQ does not have a “type”. Our people come from diverse institutions, backgrounds and career paths. What they share is intellectual capability, commercial awareness and a commitment to the work and to each other.
The best clerks arrive curious, ask good questions, and engage with the work without waiting to be invited. A clerkship is a short window so make it count. If you do, the path from clerk to lawyer at KHQ is a very natural one.