Australia

We also provide local and global advice in key practice areas and sectors, and via integrated solutions.

• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Dispute Resolution
• Energy, Mining & Infrastructure
• Environmental
• Intellectual Property
• Information Technology & Communications 
• Healthcare
• Private Equity
• Tax

From Summer Clerk to Partner: Ryan Grant's Journey at Baker McKenzie

What makes a successful legal career? Sydney partner Ryan Grant provides a hugely insightful overview of his career with the Firm in our case study.

Find out more about Ryan Grant's Journey at Baker McKenzie

Seasonal Clerkship Program

Our Seasonal Clerkship Program provides insight into life at Baker McKenzie. You’ll get the chance to do substantive work for market-leading local and global clients, build your network, learn about our practices, clients and structure, and hear about our global training and work opportunities. The majority of our Graduate positions are given to former Seasonal Clerks. We also provide Seasonal Clerks with the opportunity to undertake Research Clerk roles, and apply for our unique International Clerkship Program where you can work for four weeks in one of our overseas offices.

Find out more about life as a Summer Clerk and International Clerk - Sydney

Find out more about life as a Summer Clerk and International Clerk - Melbourne

Graduate Program

Our Graduate Program builds on the Seasonal Clerkship. You will complete three rotations across our practice groups, working with the world's largest local and global companies, and will be assigned a supervising Partner and Associate 'buddy' in each rotation to maximise your mentoring, development and on-the-job and formal learning.

We organise seminars on core legal topics and practical skills sessions (such as business communication and drafting) for Graduates, and cover the costs of your Practical Legal Training, admission and practising certificate.

Find out more about life as a Baker McKenzie Graduate

For more information on our Clerkship and Graduate Programs, please contact:

Sydney: Nicola Bell, Talent Management Consultant, +61 2 8922 5272 or Email: Nicola Bell

Melbourne: Natalie Mascarenhas, Senior Consultant - Graduate Resourcing, +61 9617 4349 or Email: Natalie Mascarenhas

Trainee Secretary Program

Our Trainee Secretary Program is your first step into a Legal Secretary career at Baker McKenzie. You’ll be mentored by experienced Senior Secretaries and rotate through various legal practices and Business Services departments to develop practical and administrative skills. Our tailored national learning program and exposure to market leading transactions will set you up with the skills you need to take advantage of genuine and permanent career opportunities in our global firm.

For more information on our Sydney Trainee Secretary Program, please contact:

Sydney: Holly McKnight, Talent Management Coordinator, +61 2 8922 5212 or Email: Holly McKnight

For more information on our Melbourne Trainee Secretary Program, please contact:

Melbourne: Savannah Miles, Talent Management Coordinator, +61 9617 4319 or Email: Savannah Miles

Pro Bono

We believe that providing pro bono legal services is a fundamental professional responsibility. As lawyers, we have specific skills and the best way to assist those in need is to utilise those skills.

Underscoring our commitment, all our lawyers are expected to work on pro bono matters and we have a dedicated pro bono practice group. We are also a signatory to the National Pro Bono Target of at least 35 hours of pro bono legal work per lawyer per year. We have our own Australian office target of at least 50 pro bono hours per lawyer per year.

In FY23, we contributed more than 12,358 pro bono hours to individual members of our community, charities and other not-for-profit organisations, equating to an average of 45 pro bono hours per lawyer.

The nature of our work is vast and varied. Our work covers many areas including youth, poverty, health, the environment; domestic violence; the elderly, asylum seekers and refugees, people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, human trafficking and modern slavery; LGBTI issues; and much more.

Our pro bono work extends globally, including the Asia Pacific region.

Community Service

Our people have the opportunity to make a contribution in the community by participating in a variety of community engagement initiatives which are structured under the pillars of:

• Charity Partnerships

There are many opportunities to support our nominated Charity Partners. We are currently supporting ID. Know Yourself (First Nations mentoring organisation for kids in out-of-home care), Project Etico (social enterprise hotel - disability training, employment and independent living) and RACS (Refugee Advice & Casework Service).

• Volunteering Programs

Some volunteering initiatives include the Gawura Morning Reading Program (focused on improved literacy skills for First Nations children), Eat Up sessions (to provide lunch to kids that would otherwise go hungry leading to improved health, learning and social outcomes) and The Alfresco Community Kitchen sessions (a meal service for people in-need).

• Workplace Giving

Through our Workplace Giving Program everyone is encouraged to donate to causes they feel are important and contribute to appeals the firm organises to raise funds or in-kind donations.