Be prepared to talk about yourself and your background. They aren't trying to trick you.
Midlevel, Melbourne - 30 May 2021
Make sure you demonstrate an interest in international commercial legal work. Speak to people that work at Bakers - ask what their experience has been and what they like about working at the Firm.
Graduate, Melbourne - 21 May 2021
Apply early, ask questions, and network with others who have had prior experiences with or who have worked at Bakers.
Graduate, Sydney - 21 May 2021
The general sense I get is that everyone has a story to tell at Bakers. Yes we are all lawyers but we also have ex-professional athletes, dancers, actors, singers and so much more. At Bakers we are equally interested in who you are as a person in addition to what you will be like as a lawyer. So do not be afraid to showcase your individuality in your application - you are so much more than just your grades.
Graduate, Sydney - 20 May 2021
Why do you want to work at Bakers (for me there were genuine reasons based on experience with pro bono work, insights into the culture from friends who worked there, global nature). Show your personality - people are here because they're engaging humans and good lawyers.
Midlevel, Sydney - 20 May 2021
Go to events the Firm attends at universities, do a little research on the Firm generally, and have a genuine reason why you would like to work here.
Graduate, Melbourne - 20 May 2021
Trying to understand the business of the Firm as best as you can is the most important technique for interviewing. Separately, try to articulate why you wish to join the Firm and why the Firm should hire you.
Midlevel, Melbourne - 20 May 2021
Very much the best advice I can give is to be yourself. For one thing, the interview is too long to simply wheel out a sequence of pre-prepared answers - the Baker McKenzie interviewing partners / senior lawyers will see through this. It is also a marathon, not a sprint - so while you do want to show off what you know, don't do all of this in the first 15 minutes of the interview! If you have made it this far to secure an interview, then you are clearly an intelligent and well-rounded candidate. The interviewers are not there to trip you up. You can best prepare by having a few draft responses to behavioural questions (from memory, there were only one or two of these at most during my interview), be comfortable speaking about commerce and the commercial legal environment (read the Australian Financial Review and similar publications) and know something about the Firm.
Midlevel, Melbourne - 20 May 2021
Try to meet people from the Firm and discuss the work and culture so that you can better articulate why you want to join the Firm, what the Firm has to offer and what you can bring to the Firm.
Midlevel, Melbourne - 19 May 2021
Be yourself and find an attribute/skill that differentiates you from other candidates. You NEED to stand out.
Graduate, Sydney - 19 May 2021
Do your research and reach out and speak with people at the Firm.
Graduate, Sydney - 19 May 2021
Learn about the work of the Firm and why you think you would enjoy a career in corporate law.
Graduate, Melbourne - 19 May 2021
Have an answer of why you chose the law (especially in the commercial sector) and why this particular firm. Read up on your interviewers for talking points and questions to ask (even though most of this wasn't used); good to have under your belt. Have 4-5 questions ready to ask your interviewers about E.g.., the Firm, why they are there, why they have stayed, the culture vs. other firms, the performance in the industry, what a grad experience is like in their team, their feedback structure/culture, etc. Take a deep breath and relax. These interviewers aren't here to intimidate you. Just be yourself, and be open and honest. Try to approach it as a more casual experience (whilst being appropriate also). Everyone at this stage has great grades/experience, so how you express this and your social interaction with the interviewers is probably the most important. Also, I was given this tip - try not to use your hands too much or to fiddle with things as it can be distracting.
Graduate, Sydney - 12 May 2021
Be yourself! Be a normal, genuine human being and enjoy the process. This way, you can learn the most from the experience. While the need to impress is always in your mind, remember that people genuinely want to work with kind, smart and polite people. Be the person you want to work with!
Graduate, Sydney - 11 May 2021
Be yourself and be genuine. Also, people that have international experience/background and language skills are also highly sought after.
Midlevel, Sydney - 11 May 2021