New Physical Aptitude Testing Component for Clerkship Applications

Volume 1, Issue 6 (Originally Published on 1 April 2012)
 
As if clerkship applications were not already sufficiently intense to reduce jaded law students into tears of despair, the 2012 Seasonal Clerkship Guidelines, to which over 50 firms are signatories, contains an additional requirement from previous years. In line with new OHS regulations, the signatory firms will now be required to include the Legal Physical Aptitude Test (LPATs) in their interview processes. The LPATs will measure the applicant’s physical capacity to withstand the rigours of working in a commercial firm, and the ability to work as a team under extreme pressure.
 
The three rounds of testing are:

 

1. Complete physical examination by a doctor.

 

1. Fitness test including, but not limited to:

• Grip Test, minimum 30kg in each hand; ensure firm, trustworthy handshake

• Agility Run, course to be completed in under 2 minutes; ability to dodge. traffic/bicycles/prams/trams to arrive on time at cross-town meeting and/or court.
• Swim Test, 100m in under 4 minutes without stopping; lung capacity to speak for sufficient length of time without pause that would allow interruption by opposing council.

 

1.  Simulated client event wrapping up at 2am, followed by a day of team orienteering, to begin at 5am (to be conducted in sudden death elimination rounds).

 
De Minimis has been informed by an anonymous source that a timed stair climb to the 50th floor (testing dedication and tenacity in getting to the office in cases of lift failure) was removed from the LPATs as it was seen to be as excessive. The concession was made in acknowledgement of the firms’ stance that their lawyers have laptops and mobile phones with them at all times, therefore their ability to continue working is unaffected by any disruption of lift services in their buildings.
 
When asked for comment, HR representatives recommended that law students seeking clerkships should enrol in an intensive boot-camp fitness program in the 10 weeks leading up to the interviews.