Our summer clerk programme is for law students in their penultimate year – so for law students who are scheduled to finish all of their University studies no later than June 2028. As we look to our summer clerk cohort to fill our permanent law clerk roles, you’ll need to be available for a permanent full-time role starting in January or July 2028. If you have other plans after University which means that you are not available until after July 2028 (such as an exchange or overseas travel) please note this in your cover letter.
Law Clerk applications open 3 March 2026
Our law clerk programme is for law students who will have finished all of their University studies by the end of 2026, and are available to start a permanent full-time role in January 2027.
Applications opened at 9am on Tuesday 3 March 2026 and will close at 12pm on Tuesday, 24 March 2026. Interviews will be held in late April in Christchurch and Dunedin and in early May in Auckland and Wellington.
Intern applications open September 2026
If you are a law student from the University of Auckland or AUT with a passion for excellence, and want to kick-start your legal career, and . . .
- have already completed at least two of the second year law papers; and
- will complete all your university studies by January 2029.
. . . then we are keen to hear from you when applications open in September.
Applications will open in September. Please note this only applies to our Auckland office.
Applying for a role with us: What happens
Submit your CV and cover letter by the deadline
Overall, try to show your personality. Our HR team reviews all applications and we’re keen to hear what makes you who you are!
Remember to submit your application before the deadline and leave plenty of time to do this. Our application process is straightforward – we don’t ask you for references or to complete a long questionnaire.
Some key tips from our previous graduates:
- Keep your CV succinct – 2 to 3 pages is ideal. It should be simple but ordered well. You don’t need fancy fonts or pictures!
- Tell us about your education, achievements (both academic and non-academic), work experience and your interests.
- Triple check your spelling and grammar – a great CV can be let down by typos and small mistakes.
- Include your contact details!
- Write a one-page cover letter to accompany your CV – tell us who you are. Why law? What interests you? What are you most proud of? Talk to us in a conversational tone.
We review all applications
Our people are smart, resilient, friendly, fun and diverse. They also have a passion for excellence and always strive to be the best they can be. So, we look for the same in our interns, summer clerks and graduates. They’ll be well-rounded and show areas of interest and passion, whether sporting, cultural, charitable, sustainability, or in the community.
We’re looking for candidates that are enthusiastic and genuinely interested in our work. They’ll be from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, have different life experiences and be interested in a variety of practice areas.
The culture at MinterEllisonRuddWatts is unparalleled. I was able to immediately build connections during my interviews, which have continued during my summer clerkship. I felt that the firm was genuinely interested in me as a person, and it was great to be able to be myself and have a good laugh with my interviewers.
– Caitlin Read, previous summer clerk now law clerk in our Corporate team
As a summer clerk at MinterEllisonRuddWatts you are provided with constant support from juniors in the team who are always happy to provide guidance.
– Matthew Gould, previous summer clerk now law clerk in our Construction and Infrastructure team
The interview: A conversation
The interview is to help us and you decide if we are a good match. We’d like to hear what you can bring to our firm, and we’d like to share our values and direction to help you decide if you’d like to join us.
We match everyone we interview with a buddy (one of our junior lawyers). You’ll meet with your buddy a few days before your interview and have lots of time to ask any questions you have in a low key, informal setting. We do this to help put you at ease and give you a friendly point of contact – as your buddy will also meet you immediately before the interview and a familiar face can help put your nerves at ease. They have been in your position before and know how daunting it can feel.
Before the interview, we suggest you:
- Find out what you can about our firm, our culture, and the Partners who will be interviewing you. Knowing who you’re meeting in advance can help you build rapport more quickly.
- Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time so you are not rushing.
- Think about the types of questions you may be asked and consider how you will respond. Be ready to discuss all aspects of your CV – the key is to be prepared, but not scripted.
Please let us know if we can provide you with any assistance on the day of your interview (for example, assistance with accessibility to our office or any other support that you might find helpful).
Interview tips
The purpose of the interview is to get to know the real you – your personality, skills, experience and values – so be authentic and show us who you really are.
You will be interviewed by two partners or a partner. Your interview will cover aspects of your CV as well as your knowledge of the law.
You will also be asked during the interview to do an impromptu one-minute presentation on a subject we choose. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to think on your feet. No preparation for this part of the interview is required and we will choose a non-legal topic. Most candidates say this is the most fun part of the interview!
At the interview
Here are some tips our previous graduates have shared to help you feel prepared for your interview:
- Listen carefully to the question asked and answer it succinctly. If you’re not sure how to respond, ask for a moment to consider it before answering – it’s ok to pause.
- Ask questions that reflect your values and interests – this will help you make your decision about where you want to start your legal career.
- Try to relax and be confident. We know that’s easier said than done, but you will perform better and enjoy the interview more if you can relax and be yourself.
Insights from our Graduate Recruitment Partners
Hear directly from Graduate Recruitment Partners Holly Hill and Nick Frith, as they share what we look for in summer clerks, how to stand out, and how the process works from first interview to offer.
Learn more about our wider Graduate Recruitment Partner team, and who is likely to be interviewing you across New Zealand:
Auckland Recruitment Partners
Wellington Recruitment Partners
Christchurch Recruitment Partners
Dunedin Recruitment Partners
After the interview
Thank you for taking the time, effort and energy to meet with us! After the interview our team of graduate recruitment partners get together to discuss all the candidates they have met across the country and decide who to offer roles to.
Candidates that have been offered a role are invited back to our offices for a ‘post-offer function’ to get to know our teams and people further. This is your chance to see the office and to ask any questions you have about working at our firm, our practice areas, or anything else you would like to know about our firm. This function is usually held a few days before offers need to be accepted. We also arrange flights and accommodation for those who live out of town.
Although I was nervous about the interview, it was clear that the firm takes real care to ensure you feel comfortable at every stage. The interview felt more like an engaging conversation, and I appreciated being encouraged to ask my own questions about the firm.
– Emma Gilpin, previous summer clerk
It was the way I was treated throughout the interview process that stood out to me. The communications were clear, the interview was engaging, and the post offer function meant that I got to ask questions of the partners whose teams I would get to work with. This made the decision to come to MinterEllisonRuddWatts easy for me.
– Connor Turton, previous summer clerk now law clerk in our Corporate team