Dentons New Zealand
Dentons New Zealand Graduate Programs & Internships
Dentons, is a firm steeped in heritage but with a vision of a different future, and we are looking for challengers to join us in this journey. We believe in being ‘in and of the community’ and are passionate about making a difference in New Zealand.
In 2020, Kensington Swan combined with Dentons, the world’s largest law firm. Joining a global community of over 12,500+ lawyers, across 80+ countries, giving the Firm access not only to a global talent pool of experts, but also the best-in-class legal technology to streamline our business and provide advantages to our clients.
Working at Dentons is a rewarding experience, where you’ll get the chance to develop your career on both a local and global stage. As well as working with great people in a collaborative environment, we focus on acknowledging the contribution you make, and ensure you are provided with benefits that support both your work and personal life.
Whatever stage of your career you are at, we will actively mentor and support you. Our success is built on the strengths of our people, so we will cultivate and promote your talent so that you reach your full potential. Working together, we will establish and plan your career goals and provide top level training and development to ensure your achieve your goals.
Across the Dentons network of firms, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to the success and strength of our Firm and the quality of our advice to, and representation of our clients.
We have a Social Impact Framework and a Diversity Vision Statement which supports our values and drives our performance in this area. We value the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our people, and we believe we have a responsibility to contribute to the positive development of the communities in which we operate.
Our Social Impact Framework brings together all of our inclusion and diversity, cultural and corporate social responsibility initiatives and is employee led. We also have a “Valuing diversity and fair employment practices” policy which outlines our commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all staff and includes positive steps to identify and eliminate discriminatory practices.
We are recognised leaders in the legal market in the promotion of gender diversity and we are committed to attracting, supporting, prompting and retaining individuals from all backgrounds, inclusive of race, ethnicity, faith, religion or spiritual beliefs, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, abilities, social perspective and other characteristics.
Through this we create a dynamic and inclusive work environment, which is reflective of both our community and our clients. The diversity of our people leads to a diversity of thought which enables us to challenge the status quo and serve our clients better.
As one of New Zealand’s leading firms, with a legacy of excellence and new global outlook, we are always on the lookout for talented and enthusiastic staff, to help us build the law firm of the future, now.
Recruitment Process
Building the law firm of the future requires exceptional people, those who are challengers.
Summer clerks join us for a 12-week period from November to February and enjoy a break while receiving full pay during our shutdown period, as one of the benefits of working at Dentons.
If you are ambitious and ready to take on significant challenges from day one, we’d like to hear from you.
We are recruiting for summer clerks for the upcoming 2024 - 2025 summer and our applications open in March 2024. This is your opportunity to help take us from largest to leading. From now to next. We redefine what is possible and shape the future. Together. Everywhere.
Our summer clerk programme is focused on providing you with ways to challenge yourself, give you opportunities to break tradition and assist your team to achieve results and grow professionally.
We provide our summer clerks with the opportunity to rotate between two teams over their time in the firm, providing a broader understanding of the work we do and how our teams operate.
But it’s not just about doing legal work; it’s also about being part of our team and building networks. To shape and define what law looks like next.
You will be assigned a supervising partner, a buddy and a great professional team to support you over your summer at the firm. Your buddy will help you with day-to-day questions and concerns. And your social life will be busy!
Recruitment Process
Once you have applied, we will review your application and may invite you to participate in a short video interview to help us get to know a little more about you.
Following this, if we think you’d be a good fit at Dentons, you will be invited to join us for a virtual interview with two of our Partners.
Throughout this process, you’ll be paired up with a Solicitor or Law Graduate, who will act as your recruitment buddy and be available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
If you are successful in your first interview, we will invite you along to our offices for our Meet the Firm day. This event gives you the opportunity to further understand the Firm, meet our people and learn about our practice areas. This is as much about us getting to know you better, as it is you seeing where you might work over the summer!
Post this final stage, offers will be made to successful candidates.
About you
You'll need to be a person who does what you say you'll do and be willing to help others. Individuality is prized just as much as willingness to collaborate or take responsibility.
You will probably have a record of work experience (paid or voluntary), team involvement, great academic grades, and have experienced challenges and successes both academically and in employment.
We work hard to offer summer clerks a great environment for working and learning, and we will help you develop so that you add value to the team.
When we make you an offer, we recognise you as a person who can add value to our firm through your confidence, talent and creativity. If you are committed to fast tracking your future, then you can be confident that summer clerking with Dentons Kensington Swan will give you what you need as you take the first steps in forging your career.
Preparing for your interview
We want to get to know you, and we want you to get to know us and understand how we work and what we do! Bring your authentic self, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and demonstrate curiosity. However, we have outlined out some tips to help you.
When preparing for an interview, think of the three P’s - Prepare, Plan and Practice.
Remuneration & Career Growth
At Dentons Kensington Swan, we offer a competitive remuneration package along with benefits that will make a positive difference to your work/life balance.
As a Summer Clerk, you will enjoy:
- $1,000 clothing allowance for all new Summer Clerks.
- Payment over the 3 week Summer Shutdown period – enjoy Summer while you get paid!
- A buddy to support you throughout your Summer Clerkship
- A “Dress for your day” policy so we dress for our day and our role.
- Regular social events, including Friday Fives, sporting and charity events, family Christmas parties, and team and firm end of year functions.
- Dedicated wellness programme including EAP support.
As a permanent employee, you will enjoy:
- Access to free in-house legal advice
- Annual Wellness allowance
- An extra paid holiday for Dentons Day
- Lifestyle leave - we recognise that people have busy lives so there is the opportunity to buy extra leave each year
- Paid parental leave of 26 weeks/5 weeks for non-primary caregiver
- Access to global learning and development programmes and study support
- Regular social events, including Friday Fives, sporting and charity events, family Christmas parties, and mid-year and end of year functions.
- Dedicated wellness programme including EAP support
- The ability to join our Social Impact Framework Groups and make a difference in an area you are passionate about.
Your Development
Summer Clerkship
You will rotate through two practice areas during your Clerkship. During these rotations you will have a Supervising Partner who will work closely with you and review your work. At the end of your rotation, we will gather valuable feedback from the team you worked with and have a discussion about your development.
Graduates and beyond
Throughout your time with us your development will be support by the Dentons Professional Continuum which will signpost your progression through the varying roles within the Firm.
We hold regular Development Discussions where you will connect with your Supervising Partner/Manager to discuss your progress. This is an opportunity for you talk about what has gone well and what areas you would like to progress in.
Law Graduates undertake their Legal Professionals Course through The College of Law, on a part time basis – developing and applying what they learn on the job, whilst completing the course.
Course fees are paid by Dentons and we provide one paid day off per week to use as a study day. Additionally, any time where the Law Graduates are required to be onsite for the course - approx. 18 days per year - is paid as normal.
Our Foundation Legal Skills (FLS) programme for our Law Graduates has been designed to run alongside the Legal Professionals course. The FLS programme runs fortnightly over 15 sessions and follows the lifecycle of a business.