Allens Confidential

Clerkship offers: Allens Confidential goes live!

Receiving clerkship offers is an exciting milestone for law students, but it can also feel all-consuming. In this special live recording of Allens Confidential from our recent pre-offer event in Sydney, Cat and Sam speak with lawyer Annie Reddick and senior paralegal Kei Shishido, who give their advice on how to navigate clerkship decision-making.

Feeling overwhelmed about where to next? Check out our Clerkship Companion guide for tips on the process, next steps and how to formulate a plan B if required: https://graduates.allens.com.au/life-at-allens/your-clerkship-companion/post-offer-day-celebrating-and-learning/ 

Rotation in focus: Funds, Super and Financial Services

Can junior lawyers work in an area of law in which they have no previous experience? Intimidating as it might seem, this week's episode reveals why diving into the unknown can often be the best move at the start of your career. In this episode, Cat and Sam meet Funds, Super and Financial Services partner Kerensa Sneyd and lawyer Curtis Haas to find out more about the practice area and what makes it special for early-career lawyers. What actually is funds, super and financial services? Do you need a business degree to thrive? What skills does it develop in junior lawyers? Kerensa and Curtis share their interest in the practice, how they (unexpectedly) ended up there and what it feels like to see their advice to clients in action. 

Grad expectations vs reality

Picture this: you achieve your clerkship dreams, nab a spot at Allens and experience the glory of Australia's top internship program. But what happens next? Sam and Cat speak with current graduates Fahid Ifthekhar and Ruby Evans to explore what it's really like to be a grad at Allens. Fahid and Ruby share their experiences of work hours, flexibility, legal training, dress code, choosing rotations and managing imposter syndrome.

Rotation in focus: Banking & Finance

Cat and Sam explore the wonderful world of Banking & Finance and the opportunities it offers for early career lawyers. Partner Jo Folan and Senior Associate Brian Kirkup join the podcast to explore what Banking & Finance lawyers actually do, the benefits of working overseas, career development opportunities and transferability of skills.

Some of the questions we discussed

• What is Banking & Finance?
• What are the different areas of work within Banking & Finance?
• How did you end up in Banking & Finance?
• What are the benefits of working in this area?
• What overseas opportunities exist in Banking & Finance?

How to nail your clerkship interview

As clerkship interview season kicks off, we ask a seasoned interviewer and a recent interviewee to give their top tips for making the most of your interview. Cat and Sam are joined by Sydney staff partner Sikeli Ratu and 2022-23 summer clerk Zoe Shim, who share their experiences of interviewing for clerkships. What's the best way to prepare for an interview? What should you talk about? What star characteristics are interviewers looking for? 

Got more questions? Don't forget to check out our Clerkship Companion, our end-to-end guide to navigating the clerkship process.

Workplace culture

Workplace culture can be difficult to pin down from the outside, particularly when you're just starting out in your career. In this episode, Cat and Sam speak with Chief People Officer Sam Turner and Lawyer Tushaar Garg to get the inside track on Allens' culture and how it plays out at an individual level. What sets Allens' culture apart? Why is collaboration important? What's the deal with the non-siloed structure? Sam discusses the importance of expressing your true self and finding your people at work, while Tushaar shares his experience with Allens' Cultural Awareness Network (CAN).

Find out more about inclusion and diversity at Allens. 

Commerciality and clerkships

Law firms often say they look for candidates who demonstrate commerciality, but what does that mean? Cat and Sam catch up with Partner and Head of M&A Vijay Cugati and Senior Associate Sassica Hoolahan to explore the concept of commerciality. What are law firms looking for? How do you develop it? What do you do if it comes up in an interview?

Got a question for Cat and Sam? Let us know what's on your mind in our anonymous submission box. And don't forget to check out our Clerkship Companion guide if you're considering a clerkship this year.

Meet our new hosts, Cat and Sam

The most wonderful time of the year - clerkship recruitment season - is almost upon us, and we've appointed new Allens Confidential hosts to mark the occasion. Meet our new hosts, Cat Thomas and Sam Guzman, in a special teaser episode for our new season! Cat and Sam introduce themselves with a classic baptism of fire by sharing their nightmare fuel career missteps, as well as sharing their Allens origin stories and chequered history as friends.  

Got a question for our new hosts? Let us know what's on your mind in our anonymous submission box.

Practice groups, sectors and choosing your rotation adventure

Choosing a practice group for your clerkship or graduate rotations can feel overwhelming. How will your chosen path compare with uni study? Where can you get more information to weigh up the options? What if the reality doesn't match up with your expectations (read: cutting deals like an episode of Suits)? In this episode, Mel and Tahlia are joined by Senior Associate Tina Tran and Lawyer Tim Alice, who share their experience of choosing rotations and how those choices play out in practice. Tina and Tim also explain the difference between practice groups and sectors and how they impact day-to-day work. 

The inside word from Managing Partner Richard Spurio

Managing Partner Richard Spurio joins Mel and Tahlia to share his experience of helming Australia's oldest law firm. Richard discusses his background, his pathway to Allens, what it's like to journey through the firm and what he's most proud of about Allens. He also shares his hot tips for prioritising wellbeing, seizing opportunities and keeping pace at Run Club.