HWLE Lawyers Clerkship Application
Australia's largest fully integrated commercial law firm.
Program Overview
- Criterion: Merit‑based rewards and promotion - Criterion: Hands‑on client exposure - Criterion: Commitment to work‑life balance - Criterion: Emphasis on social networking events - Mentoring: Paired with supervising partner and mentor - Mentoring: Comprehensive feedback at program end - Development: Structured legal skills training sessions - Development: Workshops on negotiation and client management - Program: Branded Clerkship Program with customized induction
Locations
- NSW
- VIC
- QLD
- WA
- SA
- ACT
- TAS
Firm Values
- - Identity: Australia's largest fully integrated commercial law firm with origins dating back to the 1890s
- - Identity: Offices in every Australian State and Territory
- - Values: Merit‑based rewards and promotion
- - Values: Hands‑on client exposure
- - Values: Commitment to work‑life balance
- - Values: Emphasis on social networking events
- - Culture: Mentoring paired with supervising partner and mentor
- - Culture: Structured legal skills training sessions
- - Culture: Collaborative environment with national pro bono practice
- - Culture: Strong focus on supporting First Nations communities
- - Differentiator: Adopted Legora AI platform for legal research drafting and review
- - Differentiator: Pro bono practice delivering nearly 40
- 000 hours in FY25
- - Differentiator: Lowest solicitor‑to‑partner ratio in Australia
Awards & Recognition
- - Award: Best Lawyers in Australia 2027 — 146 lawyers recognised across 59 practice areas
- - Award: Lawyer of the Year — 9 HWLE partners recognised in Best Lawyers 2027
- - Award: Best Lawyers in Australia 2026 — 137 lawyers recognised across 56 areas of law
- - Award: Lawyer of the Year — 7 lawyers named in Best Lawyers 2026 (Defamation Media Entertainment IP OHS Native Title Venture Capital Government Practice)
- - Ranking: Best Law Firms in Australia 2027 — 90 Tier 1 rankings (9 national 81 state/territory)
- - Ranking: Best Lawyers guide Top Listed firm for Commercial Law Health and Aged Care Law Shipping Maritime Trade Law 2026
- - Matter: Advised Bargain Car Rentals sale to Tokyo Century Corporation — Corporate M&A
- - Matter: Advised Citation Group on off-market takeover of foundU Holdings — Corporate M&A
- - Matter: Advised SAGE Group acquisition by Tetra Tech — Corporate M&A
- - Matter: Advised Officeworks acquisition of Box of Books — Technology Media
- - Recognition: Delivered nearly 40,000 pro bono hours in FY25 — Pro Bono Leadership
- - Recognition: Adopted Legora AI platform for legal innovation — Technology Adoption
Community & Pro Bono
- Program: National pro bono practice providing legal assistance to community organisations - Program: Pro bono secondments with community legal centres across Australia - Focus: Victims services legal support - Focus: Employment law assistance for vulnerable individuals - Focus: Consumer law support - Focus: Support for First Nations communities via targeted pro bono services - Initiative: Reconciliation Action Plan supporting First Nations engagement - Impact: Nearly 40,000 pro bono hours contributed in FY25 - Partner: Collaboration with community legal centres nationwide - Partner: Partnerships with registered charities and not‑for‑profit organisations