Overall highlights of your clerkship program at CC:

Socially, my highlight was the amazing time that we had in Singapore, where we spent a week soaking in the sights of the city and spending time in an overseas office. Professionally, I thoroughly enjoyed working on international tasks and getting the opportunity to see transactions and litigation across the global Clifford Chance network.

What surprised you about the culture of CC

I was surprised by not only how connected the office is to the global network but also internally amongst the teams. While we only sat in two seats throughout the clerkship, I felt I was able to gain great exposure to all aspects of corporate law. Moreover, experienced lawyers were also always willing to lend a hand or explain a complex area of commercial law, which was incredibly helpful.

What are some examples of the work/ matters you have been involved in during your clerkship (keeping in mind confidentiality)

In my corporate seat, I got to work on tasks related to mergers and acquisitions and was involved with several projects regarding foreign investment approval. I was also able, very fortunately, to sit in on some contract negotiations where I got to see some of my research and earlier work put into practice. In antitrust, I was able to do research regarding competition law across a variety of sectors, which was incredibly interesting as I had not gained any exposure to competition or consumer law prior to this opportunity.

What did you enjoy about the recruitment process at CC

I enjoyed the first round of interviews, where I was able to meet a variety of associates who gave me an honest look into the firm and allowed for an open discourse. The associates stemmed from a variety of practice areas and thus were able to give me a varied take on the work that Clifford Chance does.

Support network – buddy/ supervisor across each rotation  

I really enjoyed having a support network in the firm. My buddy was a junior lawyer who I was able to approach for any issues or concerns and always lent a hand. Alternatively, my supervisors in each team were both amazing and always had time to take me through an area of the law, teach me about Clifford Chance, or give me interesting and sustaining tasks.

Life outside of work

We were encouraged to get involved with the affiliate groups of Clifford Chance even though we were only in the office for a short amount of time. For example, we could give proposals regarding Lunar New Year celebrations (which turned out great with a very fun Lion Dance). We also all got the opportunity to participate in various business development events, such as the Christmas party, and even help out with certain client-facing opportunities.

Top tips/ one piece of advice to potential clerks

While the whole process can feel stressful going in, everyone involved is there to make sure you succeed and get the most out of the experience. It's important, as a result, to always seek feedback and take it on board so that you can most effectively learn and develop.