We are a global law firm with longstanding offices in the markets that matter today. Our on-the-ground experience, cross-border integration and the depth of qualified lawyers help our clients work with confidence in any one market or across many.
Over the past 100 years, we’ve built an unrivalled network of 44 offices in 30 countries. This investment is the foundation for White & Case’s client work in 180 countries today.
Our innovative approaches create original solutions to our clients' most complex domestic and multijurisdictional deals and disputes. We believe global exposure is an integral part of becoming a great lawyer, and our graduates and trainees are encouraged to take up international secondment opportunities, either as a part of the grad program or early in our careers.
“So far I’ve been to Melbourne, Sydney, Tokyo, and Seoul, and the transition is seamless” - Justin Chang, Associate, Seoul (Previously Melbourne)
Australia
Our Melbourne and Sydney teams work with clients in every state of Australia, and across the globe on a multitude of legal matters in the energy, infrastructure and mining & metals sectors.
These services include land, environment and planning; project structuring; project development; project finance; financial restructuring and insolvency; corporate advice; M&A and private equity; antitrust/competition; debt finance; dispute resolution and international arbitration.
Hong Kong
The Asia-Pacific region's rising economies, where many regulations are still being developed, are the main focus of the Hong Kong team.
These markets consist of sophisticated cross-border transactions and legal matters arising from the dynamic context and potential risk profile. At a glance, the key areas of work in Hong Kong are capital markets; investment funds; M&A and private equity; debt finance; and dispute resolution.
We're shaping an environment where people thrive, feel they belong and are supported to make their mark. It's important that this work never stops and that everyone who works at White & Case contributes to our diverse, inclusive and welcoming culture.
Pioneering, united, human—these are the three values that shape our distinctive culture and differentiate us from others. They capture the unique spirit of our Firm and guide the behaviours and actions that enable us to deliver on the promises we make to our people and clients.
We attract people who value learning about different cultures, experiences, languages and viewpoints. The diversity of our team is a source of strength, and the nature of our client's needs requires collaboration across borders.
Our mission is to continue to build upon this strength and create an environment where all who work here are encouraged, assisted and inspired to reach their potential. Our commitment to inclusion has made us an employer of choice worldwide.
Our affinity networks are open to everyone, including allies. You can join a welcoming community who are committed to helping each other find opportunities for growth, networking, coaching, and mentorship.
Our networks are also forums to raise concerns, and challenges or provide feedback and to advocate for change.
In Australia, we have the following local affinity networks and committees:
"I saw and worked alongside so many impressive people from a background of color, as well as queer-identifying lawyers and extremely strong women leaders with genuine lived experience that many other clerks and I could totally relate to” - Lucas Chen, Associate Melbourne
At White & Case, Global Citizenship comprises pro bono, volunteering, charitable giving, legal education and environmental sustainability. It helps us fulfil our responsibilities to the global community with the greatest possible impact.
Lawyers from every office and practice area participate in pro bono work; last year, we dedicated more than 120,000 hours globally to pro bono legal services.
As part of our team, you will have unparalleled opportunities to participate in cutting-edge work on the issues that matter to you — with many of the world's leading NGOs, both locally and internationally.
We offer a summer and winter vacation clerkship in the Melbourne office and a winter clerkship in our Sydney office. Regionally, we offer summer and winter internship opportunities in our Hong Kong office for law students with fluency in Mandarin and an interest in qualifying in Hong Kong.
Throughout our four-week programs, you can expect to:
“My clerkship experience helped me develop a more well-rounded understanding about life as a lawyer” - Alistair Leung, Associate, Sydney
Australia: 18-month Program; Hong Kong: 24-month Program
Throughout our program, you'll join a diverse group of graduates and trainees with an eye set on the world. You can expect to take on real responsibility, and continuous learning, and feel supported at every stage. Along the way, you'll build your global network and make meaningful connections.
In Australia, you will rotate through three six-month rotations: two domestic and one overseas.
In Hong Kong, you'll have four six-month rotations; three domestic and one overseas.
Most of our clients are multinational organisations, so almost everything you will work on will cover more than one jurisdiction. To complement the global mindset that underpins everything we do, we encourage and support a six-month seat rotation in one of our offices across Asia-Pacific and beyond.
Our graduates and trainees are assigned a supervisor, mentor and buddy for each rotation, whose job it is to expand the skills, knowledge and experience you need to become the best lawyer that you can be.
Your training includes some formal elements, to support your qualification to practice, such as completing modules of the Practice Legal Training provided by the College of Law over the course of the first six months of the program (Australia graduates). We also run in-house training, specialist seminars and workshops for graduates and trainees.
Are you ready to make your mark?
Applications need to be submitted during the application window, directly via our careers website: www.whitecase.com/australiagrad
Initial application:
Second stage:
Final stage:
Graduates with the Firm are entitle to an array of benefits, such as: