Hannan Seddon

Summer Clerk

Applications for our 2024/2025 programme are now closed

Why choose a summer clerkship at Corcoran French?

Our programme is designed to immerse you in all facets of life in a law firm in a supportive, realistic and inclusive way. 

You’ll receive mentoring and exposure to meaningful work right from the start, as well as a genuine work-life balance.  You’ll spend time in each of our teams, working on client-facing projects and learning from some of the best in the business.

Some of the benefits a summer clerkship at Corcoran French offers are:

  • Rotation through each of our teams – family, commercial/property and litigation, in our Christchurch and Kaiapoi offices
  • Hands-on experience doing meaningful work, including attending client meetings and court
  • A genuine commitment to work-life balance, and a competitive salary
  • Paid holiday over Christmas
  • Dedicated and relatable mentors
  • Supportive and approachable partners
  • A comprehensive induction programme to ensure you have a supported entry into our firm and to set you up for success
  • Full inclusion in our firm’s social life, including CF sports teams, Christmas events and young lawyer events
  • Pathways to graduate roles
  • Support and guidance throughout the clerkship from our HR team

Find out more details about our programme here.

Application Information

Applications for our 2024/2025 Summer Clerk programme open Friday 1 March 2024, and close at 5pm on Thursday 28 March 2024.

Interviews will be held at the beginning of May, and shortlisted candidates will be notified of these in mid-April.

To apply, send your covering letter, CV, and a copy of your academic transcript to jo@cflaw.co.nz  We’ll acknowledge your application and make sure you know how to get in touch if you have any questions.

Lucy Roberts

Summer Clerk 2022/2023, Law Clerk 2024

My Summer Clerkship experience at Corcoran French can only be described as top tier. From day one I felt both supported and welcomed into the team.

The programme is carefully designed so that you experience four very different areas of the law. Throughout each rotation I was exposed to lots of interesting work and the opportunity to not only sit in on client meetings but be involved too. I found the experience to be incredibly rewarding primarily because I had the chance to transfer skills learnt at university to the workplace.

A unique feature of the Corcoran French programme is the mentor system. During each rotation I was paired with a junior lawyer, enabling me to feel well supported. Additionally, I was able to see and experience what a typical day is like for a junior lawyer. The mentor system provided me with the confidence required to work with staff at all levels of the firm.

The culture at Corcoran French is something that sets it apart. Over the summer I was involved in many different social and sporting events which helped me get to know staff across all offices. If you are looking to apply for a firm that is dedicated, supportive and excellent at what they do look no further than Corcoran French.

Hayley Hutchinson

Summer Clerk 2022/2023, 2023/2024

My experience with Corcoran French has been a unique opportunity that allowed me to grow and gave me a very positive insight to the practical side of working within a law firm. With the flexible and wide-ranged nature of the firm I was able to be based in my hometown while still being able to experience the legal field. While it was scary at first to join an established firm as a summer clerk, I was quickly reassured by the kindness and courtesy shown by all the staff.

Being able to jump on board as a summer clerk enabled me to bridge the gap between study and work as I was able to take the knowledge I already had and use it to facilitate practical skills. Corcoran French supported me further by showing me respect along with the relationships I was able to build with the staff that helped to build my confidence.

My time with Corcoran French has provided me with a strong foundation for my future as a lawyer. I gained skills professionally as well as personally that I could not have predicted which will benefit me in different aspects of my life in my continuing study. I am beyond thankful to Corcoran French for putting their faith in me and giving me the opportunity to grow my skills outside of a textbook.

Zia Garcia

Summer Clerk 2021/2022

Law Clerk 2022 – 2023

As someone who has had the pleasure of spending their second summer in a row with Corcoran French, it has been the most rewarding experience. Over the summer months, I have had the opportunity to continue working in a Law Clerk role as well as transition into a permanent position. Corcoran French has been very understanding and accommodating in allowing me to complete my final year of study whilst still working part-time in the office. Every day I feel more and more at home with the team and being involved in many team bonding activities outside of the office has allowed my relationships to grow even further.

As I continue to grow into my role and learn more about my current position, I am glad to be surrounded by such an uplifting team. I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way since starting in 2021 and could not be more proud to be working for Corcoran French.