Duncan Cotterill
Summer Clerk Programme (Nov 2025)
Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson
Opportunity details
- Internship, Clerkship or Placement
- NZD 52,000 - 56,000 / Year
- 10-15 vacancies
- Apply by 29 Mar 2025
- Start date 17 Nov 2025 - 15 Feb 2026
Our summer clerk programme is the best way to gain a true appreciation of what it’s really like to be part of the team at Duncan Cotterill. Rest assured you won’t be lumped with filing and scanning. You can expect to gain hands-on experience, have fun and put some of that theory into practice as you contribute to team discussions. You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to work with our solicitors, associates, and partners to explore your particular areas of interest.
We put a lot of time and thought into making Duncan Cotterill a great place to work - a place that rewards excellence and, at the same time, recognises and encourages individuality. Our summer clerks are encouraged to get involved in firm social events alongside partners and colleagues at all levels. We recognise a healthy work-life balance as the key to delivering great work and building a strong culture.
Your experience at DC:
- Partner access
- Challenging and interesting work opportunities, including early interaction with clients
- Multiple levels of support from peers, colleagues, partners and other professionals
- Training and development
- Buddy and mentor programme
- Regular constructive feedback
- Great professional support networks
- Great culture
- Pro bono and community involvement opportunities
We invest a lot of time in making sure our summer clerks have a rewarding experience and are given the tools they need to become excellent lawyers. We are very proud of our achievement of being voted winners of the Grad New Zealand Top 100 Graduate Employers for the past 3 years.
We are looking for summer clerks across all 5 offices to join us in November 2025 through to March 2026. Pre-register now!
Hiring criteria
- No experience required
- New Zealand Citizen +more
- Law, Legal Studies & Justice +more
- Bachelor or higher
Reviews
Helping out with - Sale and Purchase of property - Settlements - Finance - Company resolutions
As a graduate my role is to learn as much as possible and to complete work for a client while under the supervision of a partner. As our office is smaller I have more responsibility and more variety of work than other graduates.
Research, resolutions, bundling, draft emails, memos.
About the employer
Duncan Cotterill
4.3
100 - 500 employees
Law
We value your career. We'll welcome your fresh ideas, include you as part of our client team from day one, and celebrate your success along the way.
Pros and cons of working at Duncan Cotterill
Pros
The firm gets involved in very complex projects and allows grads to be involved in them and provide input into strategy - as a junior, it is cool to be able to observe and contribute to discussions with senior lawyers in that context.
Great emphasis on wellbeing - work-life balance and looking after yourself are encouraged by everyone. It's quite comforting to know that people are genuinely concerned about you.
100% of the people and the work-life balance they promote.
Great mentoring/support. Lots of interesting work. Very social office.
The exposure to a high calibre of work opportunities as well as the firm culture.
Cons
Maybe earning slightly less than grads at other firms. However, the difference is insignificant and not something I'm worried about.
Sometimes things can be a bit disorganised.
Everyone is very friendly and helpful but there's not much out-of-work culture.
Sometimes the level of assistance at work is not as good as it could be.
Grads who live in Auckland and Wellington get paid more than grads who live in Queenstown.