2021 Law Grads Being Directed to Centrelink Hotline in Rejection Emails From Top Firms
No less than one business day after clerkship applications closed did I see the first “due to COVID-19” email slide into my hotmail account. As they all progressively came through, each cancelling their winter clerkships, my already slim chances of securing an opportunity of working my ass off on Eagle Street alongside other students started to get even smaller. It was not until the QLD Law Society extended clerkship deadlines that I realised I was completely f**ked.
To make matters worse, I recently saw a linked article from a student, albeit mature age and not studying law, suggesting that in the future, HR managers should be mindful of those who graduated in 2020 when looking at applications. What about us 2021 graduates Maureen? We are the real losers here!
There’s also been whispers amongst 2020 graduates (with SECURE grad job positions) that one of the TOP firms is requesting that grads defer their commencement date. The soon to be grads of this firm were outraged that they may have to defer starting at their full time, minimum wage job.
“I am honestly just devoed about not being able to wear my new Scanlan Theodore crepe knit skirt. I was also really looking forward to scanning documents and proof reading precedent contracts for absolutely no purpose other than for something to do!” – direct quote from one of those said graduates.
The gals and I had planned a 2020 June/July Europe trip however, those plans were cancelled out of the hope that we would each obtain a winter clerkship with a Top firm. At this stage, I am thinking of booking a ticket to sail week in Croatia because it’s looking more likely that international airways will be more of a go ahead than Winter clerkships with the recent WHO announcement to re-open Wuhan wet markets.
Suffice to say, I cannot wait for the next 6-8 weeks of rejection emails.
Written by Crystal McPhillips
This satire piece first appeared on The George Street Journal on April 29th 2020