Vanessa Taal
People and Culture Advisor
tel:+64 7 927 2755
mailto:vanessa.taal@hobec.co.nz
Contact:
- DDI: +64 7 927 2755
- M: +64 27 475 2555
- E: vanessa.taal@hobec.co.nz
Vanessa is a People and Culture Advisor at Holland Beckett.
Vanessa comes to us from Wellington, having relocated to Tauranga in 2022. She has previously worked in various management, payroll and administrative roles in a wide range of industries and joined our People and Culture team in 2024.
Vanessa is loving all the Bay of Plenty has to offer.
Vanessa Taal's News & Resources
Summer Clerk 2025/2026
Holland Beckett runs a summer clerk programme every year from November to February in our Tauranga and Rotorua offices. This is a great opportunity for students in their penultimate year of study, to work in one of Bay of Plenty’s top law firms alongside some of the Bays’ best solicitors.
Watch the video to learn more about our summer clerk programme:
As a summer clerk at Holland Beckett, you will get to experience work in our Property, Commercial, Corporate, Litigation, Family, Employment and Resource Management practice areas, have ongoing technical and soft skill training, meet some great people and have all the benefits of working in a large provincial firm.
Our aim is for each of our summer clerks to have a great summer, get to know our firm, our people and our culture and values.
Benefits
We aim to be an employer of choice for the most talented people.
As a summer intern, on top of a competitive salary, you’ll receive:
Paid Christmas leave
Invitations to social events throughout the summer, allowing you to meet other staff and summer interns
Invitations to team and firmwide Christmas events
Team community days
Involvement in our sports teams
Attendance at professional development/leadership webinars and seminars
One-on-one time with Partners
Key dates
Applications open from 1 February 2025 and close at midday on 31 March 2025.
Interviews will be held during April.
Offers for summer clerkships will be made in May 2025.
Who can apply?
Our 2025/2026 summer clerk programme will be aimed at law students in their penultimate year of study and who can join us as a Law Clerk in February 2027.
Successful applicants will:
Have an acceptable grade point average
Have good communication skills
Be driven, self-motivated and enthusiastic
How to apply
Applications open for our 2025/2026 summer clerk programme have now closed.
Our interview process
If you are invited to attend an interview, we will be in touch by email and by phone. You will then be provided with more information about the interview process.
The first step is a formal interview with two of our partners via Zoom. Our interview style is designed to let us get to know you, and for you to get an understanding of the firm. After the first interviews have been completed, we invite selected candidates to a second interview in person (if this is possible at the time).
Interview team
Our summer clerk recruitment partners are Joel Murphy, Leesa Speed, Thomas Refoy-Butler, Will Dymock and James McDougall and you\'ll meet them throughout the process. A member of our HR team will also be available to answer any questions you have about the process.
If you have any questions about the summer clerk programme or our application process, please do not hesitate to contact our HR team or Christabel Namburi.
Graduate Programme
At Holland Beckett we take pride in hiring, growing and retaining the best legal talent.
Watch the video to learn more about our Graduate Programme:
Joining our team in either our Tauranga, Rotorua or Whakatāne offices, you will get the vital building blocks for launching your career while working alongside exceptional lawyers. You will be working on challenging and interesting legal work, while enjoying a unique team culture that sets our firm apart.
Our graduate development programme has produced top quality lawyers over many years. In addition to our general offering outlined above, law clerks will receive:
A competitive salary
Laptop, mobile phone and call plan
$1,000 clothing allowance
A five year graduate pathway
Transparency around progression and remuneration
Paid leave to attend Profs block course
Profs paid for by the firm and bonded for two years
3 year anniversary retention bonus or 3 months paid leave
5 year anniversary retention bonus
Annual salary review
Discretionary bonuses for exceptional performance
A mentor/buddy
Graduate group training sessions specifically designed to develop your legal and professional skills
A range of fantastic social and community focused opportunities
Applications will be open on 1 June 2025 for our 2026 Graduate Programme. Click here to pre-register.