Based on surveyed graduates working at King & Wood Mallesons. Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate.
4.3
Based on 975 reviews
Pros & Cons
The people, the top tier work, top tier clients.
Firstly, the people. I have really enjoyed working with all the teams that I completed my rotations with. Everyone is welcoming, friendly and generally interested in your wellbeing and learning. Secondly, the work. KWM has a great reputation and attracts some of the best legal work in Australia. For me this has meant exposure to some very high profile deals at an early stage in my career.
Fantastic training, great resources, exposure to brilliant legal minds, personal development opportunities, interesting work, perks such as gym membership/subsidised food/etc.
It is highly regarded in the legal world so, by association, I too have the opportunity to become highly regarded in the legal world.
There is a very structured graduate program where graduates are able to rotate through different practice areas and discover where their interest lies. We are also supported by friendly colleagues and ongoing training and development. There are also flexible working arrangements.
Lack of control over deadlines and working hours.
Long hours, hard work - but that's the nature of the industry.
Sometimes the job is demanding and leaves little time for work life balance.
There are not many minuses about working for KWM, perhaps the high pressure environment can be stressful at times. However, this environment can also be highly motivating and pushes me to work at my maximum level.
What Insiders Say
6.8
Career Prospects
6.8
Career Prospects
Very linear, have to put lots of time and effort in. Building a good brand is key.
KWM is involved in a lot of pro bono work. I have worked on regular initiatives including the Refugee/Homeless legal clinic and the National Youth and Children's Cyber Law Centre. We also assist the Human Rights Law Centre and other special interest groups with projects, and not-for-profit organisations with their legal arrangements, which I have worked on at various times.
Very social - lots of team bonding, firm events, drinks, etc. The experience really varies between teams so it's hard to comment on the firm as a whole generally the firm's culture is a supportive and friendly one.
Great facilities - lots of meeting rooms, great kitchen area, a cafe on one of the floors! The dress code, although corporate, is flexible and we have casual Fridays.
The firm uses the clerkship program for majority of graduate recruitment. There is a drinks event which is quite informal and is a good way to learn some names/learn where to come for your interview. You then have your first round interview (with one partner and one HR person). If you make it through to the next round, there is another interview (with one partner and one senior associate).
Interviews usually started with informal questions about my interests. They usually then went on to my work experience and how it might help me at the firm. That was usually followed by what I was looking for in a law firm/what I wanted to gain from the clerkship program.
Be friendly. The work and social environment (particularly in the Brisbane office) is quite relaxed - i.e. as long as the work gets done by the time frame needed, there aren't really many issues with what else you are doing with your time. Try and remember the names of people you have met from the firm at the drinks event - it's a good ice breaker. Make sure you have a question prepared for the interview so that you can engage in conversation rather than it seeming like a formal interview.
Hours fluctuate week-to-week. Some weeks involve 10pm (or later) finishes every night if a deadline is approaching. Other weeks, I may leave at 6pm every night.