Allens Confidential

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.

Mistakes, memories and milestones: the Allens grad experience

In this episode, Tahlia and Mel talk to two recent grads (including a former Allens Confidential host) about their experience as junior lawyers in the firm. They cover everything from: 

• Rotations: how they're structured and how to nominate your preferences;
• Training and development opportunities;
• The LSA (Legal Services Award);
• Allens' non-silo approach; and
• Embarrassing stories / confessions (there are some doozies). 

If you've ever wondered what to expect from your first year as a lawyer in a big firm, this episode has you covered. 

Everyone belongs: Cultural diversity and awareness

Beyond Allens: two alumni share their experiences

Allens alumni can be found the world over, working in a remarkable array of roles and industries. 

In this episode, Caitlin and Will chat to two former lawyers - Jacqui Purcell and Nick Sinclair - who've both returned to Australia after stints in New York. 'Allens definitely punches above its weight on the global stage' says Nick, who's now the Senior Business Affairs and Legal Executive at Freemantle Media. 

Jacqui agrees. After working for one of the major investment firms in New York, she's now an Investment Team member at TDM Growth Partners and says the training Allens gave her on everything from clear and concise communication through to commercial strategy was second to none and has served her well ever since. 

Together, they share their memories of life at the firm, talk about how they've applied their Allens training in their subsequent careers and speak about the deep, lifelong connections they made while here. 

[This episode was recorded in December 2021]

Disputes, investigations and making mistakes

Contrary to popular opinion, litigation isn't just well-crafted legal arguments and courtroom drama. According to Partner Ross Drinnan, disputes are 'fundamentally about human relationships and helping human interactions that have gone wrong to be put right'.

In this episode, Ross joins Senior Associate and co-creator of Allens Confidential, Geneva Sekula, for a candid chat with Caitlin and Will, where they cover everything from early career experiences and mistakes (as well as how to fix them), through to the virtual courtroom and office Cluedo. 

Mental health

For Mental Health Month, we sat down with Allens Consulting Psychologist Greg Prescott to explore some of the mental health and wellbeing challenges faced by lawyers, why the incidence of mental illness is higher in our profession and how to proactively look after yourself and avoid a crisis.

Clerkship season

Clerkship season is once again in full swing: a time of great excitement, enormous possibility and (for most of us) nerves. Co-Staff Partner Rosannah Healy and Associate Erin Molony, both from the firm's Competition practice in Melbourne, join Caitlin and Will to discuss how best to prepare for interviews, what to expect in them and why it's not the end of the world if you don't get one. Rosannah, Erin, Caitlin and Will each share their memories of the process (both good and bad), and offer some valuable tips on how best to calm those nerves and present the very best version of yourself.

Being out at work

What's it like coming out at work? How do you do it? Why does it matter? Rachel Nicolson, Partner and joint head of the firm's ALLin LGBTQ+ network, and Andy Tolé, Law Graduate, join Caitlin and Will to discuss being out at work. Rachel, Andy, Caitlin and Will share their personal experiences and give their perspectives on how to navigate job applications, interviews, CVs and workplaces for identifying clerks and grads (and their allies). 

Explore more stories of Pride at Allens and find out more about our approach to diversity and inclusion 

Your past is your secret weapon: non-traditional pathways to a career in law

Getting a job at a top-tier law firm can feel like an impossible prospect for a candidate whose school and uni results don't look a certain way on paper. How does it work if your background, education or experience don't match the stereotype? Caitlin and Will catch up with Grace Stals, head Paralegal in Sydney, and Manreet Singh, National Manager, Early Careers, to explore contextual recruitment, diversity and the industry-wide challenge of attracting the best candidates from different backgrounds. Grace shares her experience of overcoming hardship to make it through uni to a top-tier firm, and Manreet discusses what Allens is doing to make sure the best candidates make it through the process. Find out more about our clerkship application process, including our optional diversity assessment: https://graduates.allens.com.au/next-steps/

Ask us anything: clerkships, motivation, embarrassing moments

We asked our recent summer clerks what they wish they'd asked before they'd started their clerkships. From maintaining motivation to imposter syndrome, collaboration and Caitlin's clicky shoes, our hosts share their wisdom. And, in an epic Allens Confidential milestone, Geneva hands over the mic to new host Will Berthelot.