About Russell McVeagh

Russell McVeagh is New Zealand's premier law firm committed to operating at the cutting edge of legal practice. Our award-winning team of lawyers across Auckland |Tāmaki Makaurau and Wellington | Te Whanganui-a-Tara are internationally recognised and work on Aotearoa New Zealand's most significant and highly complex transactions.

Our values of Respect, Curiosity, Excellence and Tenacity reflect who we are and how we work together. We actively encourage diversity and are committed to the success of all our people.

About the opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for law graduates to join our 2025 law clerk programme in our Environment, Planning and Natural Resources team based in Auckland.

Our market-leading Environment, Planning and Natural Resources (EPNR) practice advises the blue-chip development, infrastructure, energy and renewables sectors throughout New Zealand. Our lawyers help clients to navigate the changing legal, regulatory and political frameworks around urban planning, infrastructure development and environmental issues like freshwater quality and climate change. Assisting them to get a project approved, planned, consented, funded, built, commissioned, and operating.

As a law clerk at Russell McVeagh you will:

Work with some of the leading lawyers in Aotearoa New Zealand, on some of the most significant cases and transactions;
Be supported as you transition from university to your professional life, including with your professional studies and admission to the Bar;
Participate in a comprehensive induction programme, 12 months law clerk development programme and ongoing training;
Have a wide network of peers and seniors to lean on; and
Have a meaningful and enjoyable start of your career.

Law clerkship at Russell McVeagh will provide you with fantastic opportunities for growth while you are involved in a variety of interesting work in our supportive, collaborative and social environment.

About you

We are looking for students who are in the last year of their law degree (planning to finish university studies by the end of 2024 and be available to start in early 2025) and have:

A strong interest in commercial ;
A strong interest in the Environment, Planning & Natural Resources practise area;
A strong academic record;
Drive, ambition, and a positive attitude;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and

Benefits

We offer a wide range of employee benefits focused on supporting our Law Clerks to succeed and thrive, some of which include:

Competitive remuneration package;
Sign-on bonus;
Relocation allowance if transferring cities;
Support, coaching, and considered training and development programmes to assist with your transition into the workforce;
Annual wellness subsidy; and
Team charity days, sports days, annual ball, and regular team events.

Application

Applications close Midnight 1 April 2024

To begin your application with us, please upload your CV, academic transcript and written exercise submission.

Written Exercise

We have found cover letters to often contain a wide range of information. Instead, to make it easier for you to know what to include, we just need you to answer 3 questions. This helps us understand a little more about you in a fair and consistent way.

Tell us what a typical week looks like for you? (This could include your study, work, volunteering, family | whānau, community, sport, culture, anything that you typically spend time doing in a usual week).
What appeals to you about working in commercial law and Russell McVeagh?
Russell McVeagh's values are 'Curiosity', 'Excellence', 'Tenacity' and 'Respect'. Thinking of these values, why do you believe you make a great addition as a Law Clerk at Russell McVeagh?

Your answers should not exceed one page total, and ideally should be submitted in a PDF format.

We believe in enabling a supportive and inclusive workplace for everyone. Click here for further information about Russell McVeagh's diversity and inclusion vision and commitment.

Our firm is invested in achieving transformational change and having a positive impact – and our 2023 Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Report captures our firm's progress on our commitment to helping to shape a sustainable and thriving Aotearoa New Zealand. You can read our 2023 report, 'Our Contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand | Tō tatou ki Aotearoa' here.

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