Summer Clerk - Legal

The summer clerk will have the opportunity to work with senior professionals and learn certain basic legal skills in a range of different financing businesses in an atmosphere where they are mentored and trained.  They will cultivate key skills including drafting, transaction management and legal research, and they will have the opportunity to work with and develop relationships with business and legal staff in the Sydney and APAC offices of Societe Generale including Hong Kong and Singapore.

This role offers a great entry to a legal career in banking and finance, with an opportunity for the summer clerk to gain exposure to a range of banking and finance areas and to elect afterwards to seek graduate in-house legal roles or to head into private practice with some initial professional experience.

Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge Required

• Current student in Law (completing their second last or final year of studies) and another discipline (for example, Arts, Commerce, Economics or Science).  Please note any applications outside of these parameters will not be considered at this time.
• Pre-graduate experience in a financial or legal institution desirable and considered favourably but is not necessary for the role
• Strong ability in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, and Microsoft Office generally
• Knowledge and understanding of Australian laws, regulations and guidelines in relation to banking and financing activities and a working knowledge of related areas of law and regulatory environment
• Ready to work under Australian visa and work permit requirements

Behavioral Competencies Required:

• Proven analytical skills including the ability to apply legal analysis to different fact patterns
• Good communication skills with the ability to clearly explain complex financial and legal issues
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to develop working relationships with front office teams in Sydney and the wider APAC region
• Curious and keen to learn with a genuine interest in the banking sector
• Team player

Functional Relationships:

Internal: staff from business divisions and Legal and support functions (including operations, risk and credit, compliance) locally, regionally and globally    

External: clients and external advisors (e.g. other lenders and external legal counsel)

Behavioral Skills:

• Client - Client focus: I put long term relationship with our clients at the center of my actions, whatever my position
• Client - Understanding and Respect: I listen to clients and colleagues in order to understand and anticipate their needs
• Commitment - Sustainability: I strive to develop my skills and knowledge
• Team Spirit - Synergies: I make cooperation with colleagues in and outside my team a priority
• Team Spirit - Collective mindset: I Favour the team’s interest over my own results
• Innovation - Simplification: I make things & ideas simple 

Our Culture:

At Societe Generale, we live by our 4 core values of commitment, responsibility, team spirit and innovation. We are engaged and demonstrate consideration for others. We act ethically and with courage. We focus our talent and energy on collective success. We experiment and propose new ideas. This way, we maximize our ability to serve client needs and anticipate market changes. Societe Generale is committed to strengthening bonds with colleagues, communities, and the world in which we live, because relationships are at the heart of how we operate. Please visit our APAC career website: https://www.societegenerale.asia/en/careers/building-your-career-with/ for more information.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I):

Our mission: Recruit, develop, advance, and retain a diverse workforce that is united in our efforts to enhance our competitive position and deliver innovative solutions to our clients.

Our vision:

• Engaged workforce that is demographically diverse in a way that reflects the communities in which we operate
• Inclusive culture and workplace that recognizes employees' unique needs and utilizes their diverse talents
• Engage our community and marketplace, and position the organization to meet the needs of all its clients

Check out our DE&I initiatives: https://www.societegenerale.asia/en/careers/diversity-equity-inclusion-dei/

Department Description:

We are currently accepting applications for a paid 4-week summer clerkship in our Legal team in Australia. This is an exciting opportunity to get hands-on experience within a fast-paced, results focused, global organization that values diversity.

The Legal team is responsible for providing legal advice services in relation to all of the Lending and Markets based businesses which are located in the Societe Generale Sydney office. This includes providing legal advice covering a range of responsibilities from drafting, negotiation and review of related documentation to advising on the interpretation of laws and regulations and liaising with external counsel. It also includes staying up to date on developments and change in the regulatory sector which could affect the Australian business, including in relation to financial services laws, the Corporations Act and modern slavery legislation. The team also provides assistance in updating internal guidelines and procedures.