Application Process & Interviews at Gilbert + Tobin

I went through a written application form and two rounds of interviews.

The interview process is more of a workshop. About 18 candidates come to each workshop. At the start, all of the candidates are given an introduction to the firm by partners from each practice group. The candidates are then split up - some have short (~15-20 minute) individual interviews with two partners, some have a sit-down chat in small groups with senior associates from each practice area to find out more about what they do, and some go on an office tour with the graduates which ends with going to grab a coffee. Everyone rotates through each phase, before ending with drinks and canapes with everyone in the office. I found it a surprisingly enjoyable process. It was much less stressful than sitting opposite a panel and being grilled for an hour. I found the structure really allowed me to be myself, because I was more comfortable. Plus, you got a chance to meet and speak to almost everyone in the office, so you got a better feel for the culture of the firm.

Relaxed - very much based on whether you are someone who would fit in with the other lawyers - you spend a lot of time with your colleagues, so they really want to know that you are someone they can get on with and therefore work with for long hours

Different structure to other top tiers. You attend the office for a few hours for a number of different activities including interview, drinks, office tour, coffee, talks from graduates and partners etc. Allows you to feel more comfortable going into your interview.

I was recruited through the summer clerkship process which involved 2 rounds of interviews with partners and senior lawyers, as well as attending 2 cocktail nights.

Interview 'open day' is very successful and a much more relaxed and enjoyable process than other similar firms. Slow introduction to people is less confronting and allows opportunity for candidate to be their best self. The pre-interview questionnaire was quite long and open-ended compared to other firms and was initially a turn-off, leading me to delay completion but in hind-sight is a good way to see who wants to go to the effort.

Very friendly people, I was given the opportunity to work as a paralegal before being offered a grad role, in many ways this was my interview. Generally people are given a chance outside of the normal clerkship process, to show how they can work in an everyday environment

The interview process was fairly relaxed and I enjoyed having a buddy at my level who was best placed to answer questions about the clerkship and graduate program

The interview process was brief and to the point. There was one 20 minutes interview followed by a cocktail event where we were able to meet most of the staff.

The interviews I had were largely informal (i.e. not someone from HR being present asking set questions), which I found help put me at ease and allow me to put the best version of myself forward.

From the clerkship: CV, cover letter and questionnaire application, follow up 30min interview and coffee

In Melbourne, applications are first made for the clerkship process, where one relaxed, informal, conversational interview of up to an hour is held between the applicant and a partner / HR / senior lawyer.

CV and cover letter submissions and response to questions. Invitation to an interview. Cocktail evening.

Interview process was pretty standard for the legal industry recruiting through clerkships. The selection process was a written application with a CV, covering letter and additional questions. There was one formal interview and then some less formal opportunities to get to know the firm (cocktail evening and coffee with a junior Lawyer/Graduate). Some of the additional written questions can be tedious but those kinds of questions weren't asked in interviews.

The application process was quite involved, however the interview was an informal conversation and did not feel like a structured Q&A.

Well informed throughout the process, many opportunities to ask questions and connect with existing employers

Given the recruitment process in the clerkship is governed by the law society, G+T does well to distinguish itself and make the process more personal.

Interview process through the summer clerkship applications; requires written questions, cover letter, resume; series of interviews and networking evenings

2 interviews, fairly conversational, 2 cocktail networking events

Two interviews, conducted in quite a casual manner

The interviews were mostly informal - I was asked about my interest in G+T, law, and even my musical experience and views on the Dyson Heydon 'bias' scandal which broke in late 2015.

I think they asked me to describe myself and what I was passionate about. They also asked "why law?"

Describe yourself? Why law? Why this firm? What can you contribute?

Can't remember too much. It was a pretty relaxed interview though.

The questions focussed on my experience I had articulated in my resume and cover letter. As a commercial law firm, the interviewers are very interested in the interviewees motivations in entering the legal profession.

Nothing too challenging, natural questions about what I was interested in, why I wanted to work here, what helped me to deal with stress.

The interview process was a chat about my interests and why I wanted to work at the firm.

Questions were about me as a person and as a law student, about my aspirations, previous work experience and about why I thought G+T would be a good fit for me.

Why are you interested in the firm, they picked out parts of my CV that they found interesting and asked me to talk to that, very relaxed.

Very conversational, based on my CV, about my interests, experiences, what I want in a firm.

I was asked to elaborate on my response to the question in my application "what has been your greatest achievement in life to date"

The interview followed a relatively informal structure that was more like a conversation. The interviewer used my CV as a starting point to talk about my experiences, interests and the firm.

I was asked about my interest in the firm, why I wanted to be a commercial lawyer, whether there were any transactions that I had been following and how I would contribute to the firm.

Summarise a challenging situation, describe your strengths/weaknesses, why did you choose to study law

The questions are not behavioural as at similar firms; discussion mainly around why the candidate chooses to apply for G+T; questions differ from partner to partner, not dictated largely by HR

A few basic behavioural questions but it was more conversational

Mostly about my past experience

Why did you study law? Why do you want to work in corporate law? Why do you want to work at this firm in particular? What practice areas are you interested in? Why?

It is best to prepare by genuinely thinking about why they want to work for the firm, and their own strengths and weaknesses. G+T isn't looking for the 'perfect' corporate lawyer because such a paradigm does not exist - they're simply after the best version of each candidate as an individual.

Just be yourself. The point is for both you and the firm to work out if you're a good fit.

Be yourself. Relax. Be enthusiastic and willing to learn. You learn everyday of the week so you have to be ready to be a sponge and absorb everything that is given to you.

Have an idea of some situations that show a number of different things like leadership and overcoming challenges etc. Good to have them ready to go. Know what you want them to know about you.

G+T does not look for a specific type of person with specific marks or work experience. As long as you have had interesting experiences and are able to articulate how you could transfer the skills learnt from those experiences into a role at G+T then you are doing well. Don't spend your university life moulding yourself to what you think is the perfect candidate because likely that will look generic and disingenuous. Participate in the activities which interest you, and likely, these will build character in a way which is desirable to a law firm.

Focus on legal innovation and how that is changing the industry, and where you see yourself fitting into this.

Think about why you'd like to work at the firm and talk to as many people as you can about their experience of the firm

Think about what you bring to the table as an individual. Identify what you're passionate about and speak to that.

Try to show the interviewers that you are someone they can see themselves working with. Do your research on the firm and your interviewers so that you have plenty of questions prepared to ask them during your interview

They are looking for people with whom they think they can work with, so an approachable, positive attitude is best. Best to prepare by knowing stories that show off your talents and relate to your CV, cover letter, questionnaire you've given them well, so you can weave them naturally into conversation and questions that may come up.

Relax, be yourself, and think about something unique about yourself or an experience you have had (that does not have to be work or law-related by any means) - they really just want to get to know you and whether you would be a good fit for the firm.

Don't feel that you need to do the cookie cutter law school extracurricular activities for your CV (mooting, law students society, etc.). Your CV will stand out much better if you do something a bit different that you can show you're really passionate about.

Understand the position of the firm in the market (look at things like league tables rather than just size) and show that you understand. Know your CV inside and out because that will be the basis for the interview.

Speak with as many people as you can about their experience at the firm, to get a sense of the work we do and whether our culture would resonate with you personally.

Think laterally, don't give textbook answers

Be aware of what the firm is doing in the market in the legal sphere but also in innovation, corporate responsibility, pro bono, etc; this all makes up the brand

If you have a unique interest or skill emphasise it

Talk to as many of the people as possible - this will give you a true sense of the culture to figure out whether the firm is a good fit for you

Think specifically about which practice areas you are interested in. Each firm has its strengths and weaknesses when it comes to practice groups, and each team/practice group within a firm is like its own little business. You should be as concerned about the particular practice groups you are interested in as you are about the overall firm name and culture.