Davies Collison Cave Law (DCCL) offers a focused Intellectual Property (IP) Law seasonal clerkship program. The program enables you to gain hands-on experience in a top tier IP law firm, where you will work alongside world leading IP lawyers. The work you will undertake will be contentious and non-contentious IP work, including major IP litigation (often international), covering multiple IP statutory regimes, the Australian Consumer Law and associated contractual, administrative, procedural and evidentiary law. At DCCL you will have the opportunity to begin your IP law career from the day you start your clerkship!
The DCCL Seasonal Clerkship Program
We believe the most valuable clerkships are those that provide students with hands-on experience. We won’t spend half of your clerkship putting you through induction training - instead, you will be learning on the go, from day one. You will gain direct supervision from the lead principals of the practice and senior practitioners. You will experience the diversity of the industries and technologies we work with locally and globally.
Due to the ongoing success of the DCCL seasonal clerkship program over the years, we will recruit our 2028 graduates from our seasonal clerkship candidate pool.
Benefits of a Seasonal Clerkship at DCCL
- Work directly with world leading IP lawyers on a variety of case work.
- Mentorship from practice principals, and senior lawyers.
- Buddy system, where you will be paired with a junior lawyer.
- Attendance at social events, where you will meet and network with principals and professional staff across the firm.
- Personalised, one-on-one learning and development in IP law.
About DCCL
Davies Collison Cave Law is the associated intellectual property legal practice to Davies Collison Cave (DCC). Davies Collison Cave is Australia’s largest patent and trade mark attorney firm and has been servicing clients for over 145 years from its major offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. DCCL practises across all states and territories and regularly conducts litigation in each of the state Federal Court registries, Full Federal Court, Administrative Tribunals and occasionally the High Court of Australia. DCCL is consistently ranked in the top tier of IP litigation and commercialisation firms.
Our practitioners are consistently recognised as being amongst the best in Australia and worldwide. We have a vast network of top tier clients and international networks of associates which provide us with top quality IP work. We invite you to find out more about DCC and DCCL by visiting our website at dcc.com.
The key attributes we are looking for in a Seasonal Clerk
- You must be completing your penultimate year of a law degree.
- A science or engineering qualification in addition to your law degree is beneficial but not essential.
- Strong English communication skills, both verbal and written.
- A penchant for carrying out analytical and detailed work.
- An appreciation for the delivery of superior client professional services.
- A personal drive and motivation, friendly disposition and team orientation.
- An excellent academic record.
Application Instructions
Please submit a cover letter, CV and academic transcripts. No application will be considered without transcripts.
Applications for 2026/27 clerkships with DCCL’s Sydney team open on Wednesday 10 June 2026 and close on Sunday 12 July 2026.
Davies Collison Cave Law is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment that welcomes and values everyone. All students fitting the above criteria are encouraged to apply.
