Big Sis Briefing: The Junior Lawyer Hunger Games (And Why Missing a Clerkship Isn’t the End)
The pressure starts early.
Before you’ve even wrapped your head around what a barrister actually does or what “commercial law” really means, someone is already telling you about “clerkships”.
The gold standard.
The main game.
The narrow, high-stakes golden pathway to a graduate job in a big commercial firm.
It’s intense. It’s competitive. It feels like everyone else knows what they’re doing. If you don’t get one, it can feel like you’ve already failed at law before you even begin. I call it the hunger games for a reason.
This post is long for a reason. I want to really deep dive on a topic that comes up over and over and over again.
No gatekeeping here. Just a clear-eyed look at how this whole system works, why it’s not a reflection of your worth and what you can do about it. Know the rules of the game etc etc.
Bookmark this page. Revisit it when you need to regroup.
This one’s for the long game.
My Story: I Applied for Every Clerkship and Got Zero
Back when I was a law student, I did the thing you’re told to do. I applied for every clerkship. Sydney. Brisbane. Melbourne. If there was an application portal, I was in there uploading my cover letter and academic transcript.
I didn’t get a single offer.
Now, looking back, it makes complete sense. I didn’t have epic grades. They were…. okay… but nothing to write home about. I didn’t really have the kind of CV that made law firm recruiters jump.
At the time, I felt crushed. Embarrassed. Like I’d missed my one shot.
What I didn’t know then was that this system is just one funnel.
And it’s not designed for everyone.
The Supply and Demand Reality
Let’s talk about the numbers. There are thousands of law students in Australia and only a tiny fraction of them will get a clerkship. Law is oversupplied. Firms are inundated.
That doesn’t mean the firms are evil or unfair. It just means they’re in a buyer’s market. When you have 500 applicants for 20 spots, you lean into what’s familiar.
You pick:
The unis you’ve hired from before
The grades you know will get through the workload
The profiles that “look like” your current grads
The candidates who had the inside info and polished coaching early on from friends or family who understand the game
That’s not meritocracy. That’s path dependency.
And because the system works well enough for firms (and their clients haven’t demanded broader inclusion) there’s no real pressure to change it. Why would they?
Privilege and Proximity Still Matter
Privilege plays a huge role in how early you learn the rules of the game and whether you even know you're in a game to begin with!!
If you come from a family where people work in law, business, government, or professional services, you’re ahead. Not because you’re smarter or more talented. But because you’ve been absorbing the unspoken codes since before uni even started.
You might know what clerkships are by first year.
You might know how to talk in polished ways that land in interviews.
You might have someone review your cover letter, flag typos, explain the difference between M&A and insolvency and coach you on how to “sell yourself without sounding desperate.”
But if, like me, you didn’t grow up with lawyers at the dinner table or alumni connections on speed dial or if you went to a school where Year 12 was more about getting a job than choosing between sandstone unis or maybe if your uni experience included late-night shifts, Centrelink and figuring it all out as you went, then yeah, you might already be on the back foot….
This is the part where elitism shows up. Quietly. Systemically. Without needing to announce itself.
We don’t like to talk about how many clerkships and grad roles still come down to proximity and polish (or the fact that some people get tapped on the shoulder for opportunities before they even apply).
Nepotism might not always be blatant, but it exists in soft forms. The “my mum’s friend at XYZ firm said he’d put in a good word” form. The “this candidate reminds us of us” form. The “we’ve always hired from these four unis” form. The “we know they’ll ‘fit’ the culture” form.
Firms aren’t doing this to be cruel or exclusive.
In many cases, they’re doing what’s worked for decades.
The pipeline is still so full.
The applications are still rolling in.
There’s no incentive to radically change the way talent is sourced… especially when clients and stakeholders aren’t demanding it.
But that doesn't mean the system is fair.
And it doesn’t mean you can’t win (i did it) it just means you have to be more strategic, more self-aware and more resilient than some of your peers.
That is exactly what you're doing right now. Reading this. Staying in the game. Learning how it actually works, not how it’s sold in glossy law school brochures.
You belong here. Even if the system hasn’t made it easy for you to believe that… yet.
But Here’s the Truth: This Isn’t the Only Path
It feels like the clerkship is everything. It’s not.
Most lawyers I know didn’t get a clerkship. Or they did and left their firm within two years. Or they pivoted entirely. Or they started in admin roles and worked their way up.
This profession is wide. It is changing rapidly.
There are other ways to get in, grow and thrive.
Big Sis Action Plan: If You Didn’t Get a Clerkship
You don’t need to spiral. You need steps. Here’s your next move.
Process the disappointment
Let yourself feel it.
Vent, cry, rest. Then get back up.
You’re allowed to be gutted. Just don’t unpack and live there.
2. Reframe it
This isn’t rejection, it’s redirection.
A clerkship is one entry point, not the only one.
You’re not behind, you’re just taking a different path.
3. Audit your skills
Write down everything you’ve done: casual jobs, volunteering, life experience.
Communication, initiative, emotional intelligence and work ethic all count.
You have more to offer than your GPA / WAM.
4. Look sideways
Consider boutique firms, government, community legal centres, policy roles, compliance, legal ops, legal admin or paralegal gigs.
Many lawyers build brilliant careers from alternative entry points.
You don’t need the “big name” to get your foot in the door.
5. Build your network
Follow junior lawyers and grads on LinkedIn.
Reach out for virtual coffees.
Ask thoughtful questions and show up with curiosity.
Most legal jobs come through people, not job ads.
6. Show your thinking
Share reflections, learnings or questions on LinkedIn.
Talk about what you’re learning and how you’re growing.
Firms value clarity and initiative. Let them see it.
7. Keep applying but do it smart
Don’t mass-apply to every job with “law” in the title.
Be strategic. Tailor your CV and cover letter to each role.
Focus on the value that YOU bring, not just what’s missing. If you aren’t sure, we need to chat asap sis!
8. Invest in growth
Take a free course. Watch legal explainers. Read. Listen to podcasts. LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, MasterClass….
Keep your brain switched on and your confidence high.
This season won’t last forever, but how you handle it matters.
Final Big Sis Pep Talk
Missing out on a clerkship doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you part of the majority. The myth that it’s the only way in is just that: a myth. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re not less-than.
You’re just taking the scenic route.
That’s where most of us find out who we really are and what kind of lawyer we actually want to be.
💖
