The Chair, the historian and a 200th birthday: exploring Allens’ bicentenary

On 21 July 1822, 21-year-old George Allen became the first person to complete legal training in Australia. The very next day he founded what would become Australia's oldest law firm: Allens. 

In this very special episode, hosts Mel and Tahlia sit down with Allens Chair, Fiona Crosbie, and historian Jillian Maxwell to discuss the firm's bicentenary. Only a handful of Australian businesses have marked such a milestone and it sparked a great and amusing conversation about the firm's impact on the social, political and economic history of modern Australia, as well as a thoughtful look back at the firm's founder, George Allen, and his remarkable legacy.  

Listen as Fiona explains what the bicentenary means to her and how she balances legal work with the responsibilities of the board; Jill details the challenges and thrills of searching for historical artefacts; and both reveal their favourite stories from the firm's history book 'Allens: The First 200 Years'. 

If you'd like to learn more about the firm's history, head on over to the special 200-year digital experience, which includes some fascinating podcasts covering a few of Allens' most iconic moments, including paving the way for marriage equality and combating literary censorship.