Interning at MC could be the start of your litigation journey.

We welcome applications in March for our unique Winter Internship programme that runs from June/July to September/October.

Location: Auckland and Wellington.

Areas of expertise: We serve as the Office of the Crown Solicitor at Auckland, and have done for more than 100 years. But most of our work now comes from litigation beyond the Crown warrant. We’re a blended firm, with our litigators doing Crown prosecutions, advisory and every other kind of litigation and legal work.   

Staff: 160 Lawyers

Contact: To find out more, contact  recruitment@mc.co.nz or visit our website.

MC is by far Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest litigation firm.

Working at the firm

Interning at MC is a unique opportunity to learn from the best at Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest litigation firm.

In your first year as a solicitor, you’ll be working with clients and appearing in court. As part of our industry leading training, you’ll be taught by Aotearoa New Zealand’s top litigators in our MC Courtroom, the first of its kind in Australasia.

We’re about collaboration, honesty, accountability, excellence, supporting each other and the communities we serve. You’ll find everyone at MC is approachable, friendly and casual while also being hard-working and professional.

Our people increasingly reflect our clients and communities in terms of background, experience and thoughts.

Sound good? Look out for our internship application dates on our site. 

Meet Rosie Hayden

Solicitor, MC

“The people who work here are some of the best in the legal industry, the environment is so intellectually rich. The depth of the knowledge of law, and range of experience, is amazing to just soak up.”

What made you choose to intern and then work at MC?

Criminal law really interested me, and I was always wanting to get experience with that. I also found the structure of the winter internship a perfect fit, due to its placement in the year amongst the university schedule, MC really catered to us as law students.

The training opportunities for grads are incredible, especially with court time. You are exposed to a lot of court in your first year, weekly if not daily, but there is so much training to support you in that. It’s scary, but the best way to learn!

What kind of work have you been involved with at MC?   

I started off working in the Crown team, as a grad, which is criminal work but with lots of variation. As a grad, I helped draft sentencing, pre-trial hearing and bail appeal submissions. Since my admission in May, I have appeared on bail hearings, sentencings, juniored on two trials, had my own criminal files, and so much more. Now, I have joined the Proceeds of Crime team.

How does MC support professional development and career growth?

First and foremost, the training is a huge aspect, covering matters both essential but also interesting. Because MC really encourages getting out there and into court, having that support structure of training and preparation makes you feel so much more confident. I’ve been given agency over decisions in criminal files, but also always have the backing of my seniors and peers. Everyone is more than happy to review your decisions and be a sounding board.

More generally, the people that work here are some of the best in the legal industry, the environment is so intellectually rich. The depth of the knowledge of law, and range of experience, is amazing to just soak up. It’s also really special at MC to be just starting out but be so involved in multiple aspects of the court process – from drafting submissions to appearing on them!

What has been a highlight from your work at MC?

My highlight was definitely being a junior on two criminal files. I was so lucky to work with two experienced prosecutors and incredible advocates. It was so different seeing the law play out practically in a courtroom – watching the interactions between the jury, the Judge, what kind of issues that arise. Being a part of that, and seeing justice in action was priceless. It has fostered a real passion for a law and being a part of the justice process.

What are the social opportunities like at MC?

There is quite a strong culture of connection here, there are obviously the staff groups, and sports clubs, and different events throughout the year. But more than that is the interconnection between other lawyers, especially within my cohort. It’s more than just colleagues, we have formed friendships. We often pool our collective knowledge and experience to help each other out if one of us is grappling with an interesting (or difficult) legal issue, start the day with a coffee in our café, it’s a really nice environment that encourages connections. Because of the different work opportunities across the firm, that is also a great way to form relationships outside of your team and cohort.

What has been your biggest challenge while working at MC?

The nature of the work can be really confronting. I’ve had to learn to address this with the right amount of objectivity, while still remaining empathetic – it’s a real balance. This is where the social aspect and wider support comes in, like forming supportive relationships with your peers.

Also just the wider challenge of trusting yourself, jumping in to the work after coming from uni is quite a daunting experience – especially appearing in court opposite experienced defence counsel! It’s a journey in learning to trust and back yourself, recognizing you have the skills to do it. In all of these challenges however I am so lucky to have a lot of support not just from above me, but around me too.

How does MC reflect contemporary Aotearoa while staying true to the law?

A massive part of this job is service, particularly within our criminal work. I think the firm does a really good job at interrogating what it means to be the Crown, to be a reasonable prosecutor, considering who to take into account, listening to other voices. MC will always reflect on our role, what we do and how we do it. These values are really integral to the firm and I really admire that we consistently try to be better.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career at MC?

Focus on what you are passionate about and take the papers that you find interesting, or think would challenge you. There is such a broad range of people that work at MC and you are valued for your character and your life experience as opposed to just your grades or what particular papers you took. For me, becoming involved in community law during uni was a great way to get to see the law in practice. Seeing how the law applies to, and interacts with, different sectors of our community was really good for personal and professional development.

Meet Wiremu Te Hiko

Solicitor, MC

“I really enjoy the diversity of work you are exposed to at MC, as opposed to just one niche.

There’s no other place in the country where you can get that same range of work, as MC holds the Crown warrant but is also a full service firm, meaning you can learn about multiple areas of the law.”

What made you choose to intern and then work at MC?

I had a few good friends who worked here either through the internship or as grads, and the feedback was really positive! It was a great environment to have a few familiar faces to make the frightening transition into the legal sphere a little less frightening.

I really enjoy the diversity of work you are exposed to at MC, as opposed to just one niche. There’s no other place in the country where you can get that same range of work, as MC holds the Crown warrant but is also a full service firm, meaning you can learn about multiple areas of the law.

What kind of work have you been involved with at MC?

I started out in the Crown team, doing lots of criminal work which has included junioring on trials, court appearances, sentencing, bails, High Court appearances and extradition matters. Now I have moved into the commercial litigation team, working on big files in the regulatory space. It’s challenging, but interesting!

How does MC support professional development and career growth?

I would say it’s very holistic support at MC. Every aspect of work here contributes to that. Everyone is very willing to help with work you are unsure about, review critically, and pass on constructive feedback for improvement. Something I have also found valuable for my professional development is actually getting that positive feedback – it’s not uncommon for someone to tell you that you’ve done well – which is a great boost! To hear, ‘good job, you’re getting the hang of it’ makes a difference.

Outside of the work sphere, there are lots of opportunities for extra-curricular engagement, and this makes you feel like you matter more than just a ‘cog in the wheel’, and is also an amazing way to build genuine relationships both personally and professionally.

What has been a highlight from your work at MC?

A big overarching theme for me is being trusted to appear in court at such a junior stage. You’re never given more than you can handle, but you are expected to get into court, and that experience is really great.

Another highlight is the collegiality of MC, being able to sit down with my colleagues and talk through low lights, I admire how the team are really open with not just wins but losses too – it brings welcome vulnerability and perspective to the job.

What are the social opportunities like at MC?

At MC it’s really what you decide to make of it – but I’ve found it’s best to get out of your comfort zone, find a new niche that you enjoy, or align your interests with an existing group! The staff-led groups, sports teams, and out-of-work opportunities are the things I really look forward to, as something to break up time and change up the work day. We are so lucky that our Partners are fairly flexible, there is a big understanding here of all the different things going on, and you are equally valued for that as much as your work.

What has been your biggest challenge while working at MC?

As much as I’ve enjoyed it, the challenge has been the wide range of work. It can be a bit jarring when you get better and more sure of yourself in one area and then get thrust into something new – but the flip side is the beauty of that! Every day is a new opportunity, and being in the deep end is often where you learn the best!

How does MC reflect contemporary Aotearoa while staying true to the law?

I think MC really does away with the stereotypes of law and continues to push away from that. With the introduction of trainings outside of solely what makes you better at the law, including both mandatory and optional trainings on languages, cultures, engaging with our communities – MC is evolving with the dynamic landscape of Aotearoa. We have more of a diversified perspective on what law is, and who it represents. It is always good to have people from all backgrounds representing on any side, who bring their life experience, perspectives, and interpretations from their homes and communities – that is what makes MC the best. We aren’t one size fits all, we have people from all walks of life, and their experiences makes the work we do meaningful.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career at MC?

Definitely apply! This internship is so unique being in the winter, it’s flexible and manageable alongside Uni work, and the team will really accommodate you. Give it a go!