About Dentons Kensington Swan
Dentons Kensington Swan is different. We make no secret of our willingness to challenge the traditional or expected. From our polycentric approach, to the diverse geographic and cultural backgrounds of our talent, our unique nature allows us to better serve our clients and offers a career path with unprecedented opportunity.
Dentons Kensington Swan is part of Dentons, the world’s largest law firm. With unparalleled access to the legal expertise of over 12,000 lawyers in more than 80 jurisdictions. Dentons Kensington Swan is a leading commercial law firm in New Zealand.
Our Practice Groups:
Find our more about each of our practices and industry sectors on our website: https://www.dentons.co.nz/en/industries-and-practices
We hire students studying
Law
Available Positions
Our Difference
The Dentons vision is to be the law firm of the future—right now. We are working to reinvent the business of law, capitalizing on new technologies and talent management approaches to better serve our clients. With Dentons, you will have the unique opportunity to pilot and test new technologies and partake in innovation programmes.
The challenges that our clients are navigating and the opportunities they are advancing are changing at an accelerating pace. We are a law firm that embraces change and can help you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation. This is why Dentons is organised to offer more than legal insight; we help find business solutions, in a seamless fashion, across the globe.
How We'll Support You
Our Summer Clerks and Law Graduates are given countless opportunities to learn and develop in an environment that is challenging, forward-thinking, and values all our people at every stage in their career. Our comprehensive graduate programme offers the opportunity to:
- work alongside internationally recognised lawyers
- gain hands on work experience with real work
- begin a comprehensive, structured training programme through NextTalent NZ, starting with our Foundation Legal Skills programme
- a buddy and supportive HR team to help the transition into full time work
- encouraged to prioritise your wellbeing through our wellness programme
- great package and benefits
- enjoy an active firm social, cultural and sporting life.
Our Summer Clerk and Graduate Programme
About You:
You'll need to be a person who does what you say you'll do and be willing to help others. Individuality is prized just as much as willingness to collaborate or take responsibility.
You will probably have a record of work experience (paid or voluntary), team involvement, great academic grades, and have experienced challenges and successes both academically and in employment.
FAQ
Applying for a Summer Clerk role at Dentons Kensington Swan – FAQs
What opportunities are open to me?
We are looking for law students in their penultimate year of study to join us as a Summer Clerk between November 2022 – February 2023, and with availability to return as a Law Graduate in February 2024.
Joining us as a Summer Clerk provides the opportunity to get a taste of life working at Dentons Kensington Swan. You will work alongside our teams over the summer period, taking on real work and learning through experience.
When will I be working at Dentons Kensington Swan?
As a Summer Clerk, you will join us in mid-late November, and work with us over the summer before finishing up in early-mid February to return to your final year of study.
Do I get a break over the summer?
Yes! We have a shut-down period over Christmas and New Year. You’ll be on paid leave over this period, allowing for time to recuperate after your first few weeks on the job.
Which practice group will I be working in?
As a Summer Clerk, you will rotate through two practice groups during your time with us, spending 4-5 weeks in each practice. This gives you the opportunity to experience work in various areas of the firm.
For more information on our practice groups, check out our website: https://www.dentons.co.nz/en/industries-and-practices
What does the recruitment process look like?
Once you have applied, we will review your application and may invite you to participate in a video interview to help us get to know a little more about you.
Following this, if we think you’d be a good fit at Dentons Kensington Swan, you will be invited to join us for a virtual interview with some of our Partners.
Throughout this process, you’ll be paired up with one of our Solicitors or Law Graduates, who are there as a buddy and available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
If you are successful in your first interview, we will invite you along to our offices for the second stage of our interview process, where you’ll meet more of our people and have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the work we do.
Post this final stage, offers will be made to successful candidates.
How should I prepare for an interview?
We want to get to know you, and we want you to get to know us and understand how we work and what we do! Bring your authentic self, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. However, we have outlined out some tips to help you, below.
When preparing for an interview, think of the three P’s - Prepare, Plan and Practice.
Prepare
- Do your research of the organisation and come prepared with your own questions to ask.
- Prepare some answers to behavioural based questions using the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
| Situation – a brief overview of where you were working and when it was. | |
| Task – what was your objective? | |
| Action – what actions did you take to ensure a positive result? | |
| Result – what was the outcome? | |
Plan
- If the interview is virtual, plan in advance which room you will set yourself up in. The best place is a quiet room with few distractions that is clean and tidy! Make sure you test your technology in advance too.
- If the interview is in person, plan in advance your travel arrangements.
- For both virtual and in person interviews, plan what you will wear on the day. Think clean, tidy and professional.
Practice
- You will get a lot of value out of rehearsing your answers to the behavioural based questions out loud or with a friend!
What benefits / support does Dentons Kensington Swan offer?
- $1,000 clothing allowance for all new Summer Clerks.
- A buddy to support you throughout your Summer Clerkship.
- Access to free in-house legal advice.
- My Balance – we work flexibly and remotely at all levels in our business.
- We are a global business but locally run and operated, giving us the best of both worlds.
- We invest in our people, so learning and development are key, starting with our Foundation Legal Skills programme.
- An extra paid holiday for Dentons Kensington Swan Day.
- Lifestyle leave - we recognise that people have busy lives so there is the opportunity to buy extra leave each year.
- Paid parental leave of 18 weeks/ 3 weeks for non-primary caregiver.
- We dress for our day and our role.
- Regular social events, including Friday Fives, sporting and charity events, annual balls, family Christmas parties, and an end of year function.
- Dedicated wellness programme including EAP support.
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