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You reach for the elevator.
A mix of heels and RMs shuffle in behind the closing doors.
Suits pressed, watches checked. The whiff of freshly brewed coffee corners you.
"Hm, you must be here for your clerkship”, a sharp voice interrupts your thoughts.
Your answer matters. Let us tell you why.
Here’s the thing about landing a grad job: it’s no walk in the park but it’s also not assembling IKEA furniture.[1]
We’ve clerked, we’ve graduated, and we’ve been on the other side of the table, helping decide who gets the nod. We’ve seen it all.
There are do’s and there are don’ts. Sure, luck is a factor too. But luck loves preparation—and a little finesse goes a long way.
So here are 10 principles that helped us. We hope they improve your luck too.
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[1] Which is oddly difficult.
1. Your first move sets the game
You’re reading this because the first sentence sparked your interest. The same applies in person. You have seven seconds to make your first impression. That’s seven seconds[2] to make them think: “This one’s got potential”.
Hold up, we know what you’re thinking.[3] If you’ve fumbled your first encounter, not all is lost. You can recover, but it’ll take about eight positive interactions to get back to square one.
Better still is to start strong. When uncertain, people judge based on what they’ve seen. An expectation of what you will say is a product of what you have said. The work you get is a product of the work you produce. So dress sharply, arrive early and be prepared.
Greet everyone with confidence and let your energy be palpable. In the initial days, say less and listen more. Observe your team’s rhythm and sync up. By all means, when you have value to add, add it. But remember every interaction shapes the final judgement—make each one count.
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[2] More or less.
[3] “Well, shit”.
2. You’re already in the room
When you’re sitting in the boardroom on day one, remember that many don’t have a seat at the table.
You earned your spot; that’s no small feat. Confidence breeds competence and the firm already thinks you’re capable. But let's not get carried away now.[4]
The clerkship is an opportunity to reaffirm the firm’s belief in you. Don’t second-guess your worth or feel like an imposter. Be present, take ownership of your tasks, and seize this chance to prove you belong for good.
You’re already in the room, so remember that.
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[4] The world doesn’t need another arrogant law student.
3. Seek guidance but Google it first
Here’s the kicker: asking questions is encouraged, but not all questions are created equal. The thoughtful ones? Gold. The stupid ones?[5] Red flags.
Before you tap a senior on the shoulder, tap into Google. Nothing says “lack of initiative” quite like asking a question you could have answered yourself.
If you’re still stuck, don’t let your confusion compound. Speak up sooner rather than later. It is better to clarify early than spend hours off track. Juniors are your lifeline here.
And when you do approach someone for help, frame your question with the effort you’ve already put in. This signals your exhaustive attempts and narrows the problem to help them drive the solution. So seek guidance when it counts, but do your homework first.
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[5] Yep, there is such a thing.
4. Your seniors are your clients
Client service is at the centre of what we do. Clients want their lives made easier and solutions delivered yesterday. When you’re a junior, your immediate seniors—partners, senior associates—are your clients.
Let our new clerk Gary drive this point home. He’s been given his first big task: draft a research memo. He spends days crafting a masterpiece with perfect citations, clever legal reasoning, and all the details. When he hands it over, his senior glances at it and says, “This is great, but… what’s the answer?” Gary freezes. Turns out, his senior didn’t want War and Peace—they wanted a simple solution supported by clear analysis.
When seniors delegate tasks to you, they’re trusting you to help them deliver. Always ask yourself, “What would make this easier for them?” If Gary was any good, he would do the research. If Gary was better than good, he would have an answer. Now if Gary was an absolute weapon, he would consider what we should do next.
Above all, be responsive. Time is currency in the corporate world. When a task lands in your inbox, acknowledge it promptly. If you can’t start right away, provide an actionable timeline. If something more pressing unfolds, provide an update. This is how you build trust and show you’re dependable—two traits every senior values in a junior.
5. Don’t undersell, but do overdeliver
Don’t undersell yourself—it’s not humility; it’s sabotage. You will signal a lack of competence. Instead, be assertive in your abilities and truthful to your limitations.
Don’t over promise either. When estimating timelines, be realistic and leave room for unscoped issues. Ask how long you should spend on the task, and say what’s on your plate. If you have five tasks due, perhaps don’t accept a sixth. Your seniors can always reallocate your workload if you’re stretched too thin.
The sweet spot is delivering exactly what you said you would, and then adding a little extra. Overdelivering is about thoughtfulness. Think about how your analysis fits into the matter’s context—not simply what the law says. Connect the dots between the law, the client’s objectives and the next steps. The clearer you lay out that path, the more value you create.
6. Be precise, speed will come
While speed is impressive, precision is essential.
Our friend Gazza[6] thinks he’s got everything under control. He’s zipping through his tasks, getting things done fast. After all, speed is the name of the game, right? Well, fast forward a few hours, and Gary’s senior is reviewing his memo. She frowns at the page trying to erase the glaring typos into invisibility.
Speed is a skill you’ll develop with experience. While attention to detail is also a skill to develop, the hard truth is that it’s what you’ll be judged on. Producing errorless work signals care, diligence and reliability. Be precise. Be thorough. This is your shot to impress.
Whether it is a simple email or an extensive memo, repeat these three words: Print, Proof, Provide. Before providing any work, print it out, find a quiet spot and read it with a critical eye. Typos, mistakes and inconsistent formatting will undermine your work. Oh, and firms have a style guide for a reason. Use it.
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[6] Gary’s new nickname.
7. Be commercial
You have to know the commercial side of law. Latin woven between pages impresses no one. Commerciality is the true language of practice. This is because clients are, by their nature, commercial engines. Almost all engage in commerce in some way. And so clients only care about the law as it applies to their commercial context. You must keep your finger on the pulse if you want to excel in this game.
A rigid application of this principle will serve you well in your career. But for now, let’s keep things simple.
- First, ask your team who are their major clients, and then monitor them for developments. This can simply be news on the broader industry.
- Second, be in the conversation. Take your newfound knowledge and open up a conversation, letting everyone else chime in. You signal competence by speaking to commercial issues that tie back to the firm’s clients.
We feel strongly about this principle. That is why we started Point Blank.
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8. Have touchpoints, but don’t overdo it
Here’s an important concept for you: customer touchpoints. These are the interactions between a business and a customer. Touchpoints influence how customers feel about the business’ brand.
Multiple positive touchpoints mean a better customer experience. And so, you want to have a solid few positive interactions with people during your clerkship. Doing so elevates your brand from clerk to candidate, which means a better chance at a grad job.[7]
At the recruitment meeting, your team will be the one backing you.[8] But you want supporters in the room to nod along when your name pops up. Now don’t go oversaturating the market. A few very positive interactions beat several somewhat positive interactions. Too many supporters and people will begin to question your authenticity. And one slip-up can drown out your supporters – remember principle one.
Let’s also talk about the biggest benefit on offer here – you could be one coffee chat away from career-changing advice. Seriously, don’t take these chats for granted. People have decades of experience to give, you just have to ask nicely.
Now we do get that some people are more approachable than others. Lean on the juniors to make the introductions, and don’t overcomplicate who to talk to. You will make a better connection if you share common ground. So follow your curiosity and ask away.
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[7] Told you – it’s easier than assembling IKEA furniture.
[8] That’s if you’ve been following our principles.
9. Cooperation beats competition
People pay too much attention to the competition. You’ll see clerks doing the coffee rounds, and you’ll think, should I be organising more coffee chats? You might see a clerk reach out to other teams for work and you’ll think should I be taking on more work?
This isn’t Survivor. You’re not getting voted off the island. Sure, you’re surrounded by people who want the same thing as you. But competing won’t put you ahead. Be the person others want to work with. Share knowledge, help your fellow clerks and take credit only when it’s due. People notice team players. Your ability to collaborate will make you indispensable. Show that from day one.
10. Play the long game
It may seem tempting to take the edge now but this may be fatal down the track. Cheap wins don’t build careers. The real win is creating a reputation as someone who is in it for the long haul.
Some steps to play the long game:
- Take the time to get to know your team and your fellow clerks. The industry is small. You never know where people will end up.
- Make an effort to stay in touch with your team. Don’t be another name on the whiteboard. A quick check-in can keep you top of mind.
- Think beyond your new grad position. Never lead firms astray. If you need to decline an offer, do it with grace.
The impression you leave now will set you up for your next big play.
Final thoughts
That’s it. You’re now on your way with a little more luck.
And once the dust settles, you’ll wonder why you put so much emphasis on the process anyway. But that’s a principle for another day.