Clerkships


We offer summer and winter clerkships which typically run for a period of three weeks for winter clerkships and four to eight weeks for summer clerkships, depending on university term dates and requirements at the time. Winter clerkships are offered to students in their second or third year of study and summer clerkships are offered to students in their penultimate or final year.  Winter clerkships are only available in our Adelaide office.

Where possible, you will be placed in your preferred area of practice. You will be appointed in this area for the duration of your clerkship, as we feel this ensures continuous development, supervision and an opportunity to integrate into a group. However, there will in most circumstances, be opportunities for you to assist with work across other practice areas if desired.

Graduate Development Program

All of our graduates are chosen from our clerkships programs. Once you have completed a clerkship with us you will have the opportunity to apply for a position in our year long Graduate Development Program. During the program you will work across two of our key practice areas, completing six month rotations.


Rotations during the Graduate Development Program 
If you are unsure which area of law you wish to specialise in, our program can help. You will be given the opportunity to nominate two to three practice groups that you would like to experience and we will do our best to ensure your program is tailored to incorporate your choices. One rotation will ideally be completed in a litigation based practice area. At the end of each rotation, you and your supervising partner will review your performance.


What will you be doing?
The work you undertake as a clerk or graduate will largely depend on the practice group you are assigned to. However, certain core responsibilities are common to all placements, including:

  • General research such as due diligence, sourcing case examples, recent legislative changes and their impact on clients
  • Drafting letters of advice, minutes, contracts or court documents
  • Discovery
  • Conflict searches
  • Interviewing clients/witnesses
  • Specific research tasks relating to procedural questions, which arise out of litigious matters
  • Attendance at a variety of internal and client meetings and court hearings.


What’s in it for you?
A graduate or clerk placement at Thomson Playford Cutlers will assist you in developing skills to take through your career. Besides gaining invaluable experience, there’s also the added bonus of a competitive salary.

Some placements are just a month long, others a whole year, but they all offer a really worthwhile experience. We want you to enjoy your time with us, but we also want to give you a realistic and stretching introduction to the legal profession, so from day one you’ll be working hard on interesting matters and will start to learn the skills you need to flourish in the world of law.

How to apply 


Please apply by going to the 'career opportunities' page where all our current vacancies, including clerkships are listed.

Summer Clerkships

In Adelaide applications open on 1 April each year and must be submitted by 30 April.  In Sydney applications open on 2 July  and must be submitted by 1 August 2008.  Applications will be short listed and successful applicants will be invited to attend a panel interview.

Graduate Recruitment

All of our graduates are selected from our clerkship programs which involve a detailed selection process. Clerks are invited to register their interest in a graduate position with us and then participate in a formal interview and selection process.  Graduate intake commences in March each year. 

Adelaide Winter Clerkships

Applications for winter clerkships open on 1 April each year and must be submitted by 30 April.  Applications will be short listed and successful applicants will be invited to attend a panel interview.


For further information please contact:
hr@thomsonplayfordcutlers.com.au