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Allens

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4.5
  • #3 in Law
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Allens Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Law

A Global Network at Allens 

We are one of the largest law firms in Australasia, with more than 800 legal staff in offices across Australia and Asia. We specialise in handling complex and difficult transactions that require exceptional legal, negotiation, and project management skills. 

As an Allens graduate, you will form part of a global network of legal professionals and leaders. Through our alliance with Linklaters, this international network spans 41 offices in 26 locations. This alliance allows our people to accelerate their careers, offering international secondments and opportunities to work with the world's best lawyers on the most complex multijurisdictional matters in the market.

Allens as a graduate employer 

This year, our clerkship program has been ranked #1 intern program in law, and #6 overall for 2023 by the Australian Association of Graduate Employers (AAGE)! This ranking is determined through a survey of more than 1800 undergraduate students who completed internships in 2022 and 2023. 

We are also proud to have been recognised as a top law firm by Prosple Top 100 ranking and #1 law graduate employer by AAGE.

Australia Law Firm of the Year

We are proud to have been named Australian Law Firm of the Year for 2023 by leading international legal directory Chambers. This recognition reflects our market-leading work, which spans every sector across the economy, encompassing emerging start-ups to multi-jurisdictional corporate matters. 

Allens' notable awards, accreditations, and memberships

  • #1 law firm, 2023 Top Graduate Employers, Australian Association of Graduate Employers
  • #1 legal intern program, 2023 Top Intern Programs, Australia Association of Graduate Employers
  • #2 law firm, 2023 Top 100 Graduate Employers, GradAustralia
  • Top 10 law firm, 2023 Top100 Graduate Employer Awards for Most Popular Clerkship Employer and Most Popular Law Employer, GradConnection + Australian Financial Review
  • Most Innovative Companies list, 2018 – 2022, Australian Financial Review & Boss Magazine
  • Employer of Choice for Gender Equality 2021-23 (Workplace Gender Equality Agency)
  • Bronze Employer, 2022 Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI)
  • Member of Managing Partners' Diversity Forum
  • Member of the Diversity Council Australia
  • Member of Pride in Diversity
  • Founding member of Resilience@Law
  • Signatory to the Law Council of Australia's National Equitable Briefing Policy
  • Signatory to the Law Council of Australia's Diversity and Equality Charter.
  • Signatory to the NSW Law Society's Charter for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession.

Recruitment Process

Step 1: Do your research and decide where you would like to apply for a clerkship!

Step 2: Gather your documents  

You will need to provide us with a copy of your CV, cover letter, academic transcript and other supporting documents, such as your visa if applicable.

Step 3: Complete an optional diversity assessment 

We are the proud founding partner of Rare's Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) in Australia. The CRS allows us to better understand your achievements, and the context in which they have been gained, beyond what we may see on your resume. We don't expect everyone to look and be the same, and we want to hear your story. 

The CRS is a ‘screen in’ tool, not a ‘screen out’ tool. Should you choose to participate in the survey, you can provide as much or as little information as you would like to. The People & Development team are the only people who see the data and it is treated with the strictest confidence.

Step 4: Complete an online assessment

You will then be asked complete an online strengths-based assessment, through Cappfinity. The assessment provides an insight into the work we do and a taste for what working at Allens is like, while giving us an additional data point during the screening process. The assessment is designed to give you a realistic job preview – we won't ask you about shapes or numbers! It's not timed either, so you can stop and start as needed. 

Step 5: Meet the team and build your network at our pre-interview 'Insider Access' Event

If you're selected for an interview, you will be invited to attend our 'Insider Access' event. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Allens before your interview, and to form connections with our people. 

Step 4: Attend an interview 

You will be invited to attend one interview in all locations except Sydney, which has two rounds of interviews.

Our interviews are an opportunity for you to get to know us, and vice versa. We equip our interviewers with training to ensure they are able to get the best out of you, in an environment that understandably can be quite nerve-wracking.

Step 5: Buddy catch up 

You will be allocated a junior lawyer to act as your buddy throughout the recruitment process, who will help answer any questions and provide support ahead of the interview(s). You’ll have the opportunity to meet your buddy at the Insider Access event, and meet with your buddy for a coffee after your interview.

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

Our culture is made up of unique backgrounds and varying life experiences. We celebrate our people's differences across gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, cultural backgrounds and family and caring arrangements. At Allens you will experience what it's like to be able to bring your whole self to work. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people and other diverse groups.  

We recognise that recruitment processes can be particularly challenging for some groups including trans and gender diverse applicants, First Nations people, neurodiverse people and people living with disability. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to discuss our processes further.

Remuneration & Career Growth

  • Competitive salary, salary sacrifice and salary continuation insurance
  • Enrolment and formal training in a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice program
  • Secondment opportunities including client, overseas and Linklaters secondments
  • Practical legal seminars during our “Cornerstone” program
  • Access to our online learning portal
  • Personalised one week induction program
  • On‑the‑job training and support from some of the sharpest legal minds in Australia

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.5
Overall score based on 21 reviews
They Score Best in…
9.3
Culture
8.7
Satisfaction
9.4
Recruitment
9.6
Training
9.3
Culture
8.7
Satisfaction
9.4
Recruitment
9.6
Training
What Graduates Say About Them
  • The people and the development opportunities. There is a genuine culture of mateship and support at Allens which makes it a supportive and fun place to work. The amount of thought that goes into the training programs, and the organisation of the tailored PLT program also seems to be unmatched by other firms.
  • I have valued the investment that Allens has made in my development as a junior lawyer. From both structured and informal training and feedback I feel like I have benefited significantly from the support that I have received and developed significantly in my short time at the firm.
  • The people. They are head and shoulders above any I've worked with before, both on personal and professional dimensions. Everyone is without fail exceedingly lovely, and very secure in their abilities - which I think leaves them better equipped and more willing to be mentors / lend a helping hand to grads.
  • The best thing about working at Allens is their approach to managing people. The firm is good at ensuring people feel comfortable with bringing their authentic personalities to work, and make a conscious effort to provide support to its employees (flexibility, coaching/mentoring, etc).
  • The work culture is amazing. There is good support for graduates and lots of good stretch opportunities for young lawyers.
  • Client demands. I didn't expect clients to expect so much of a law firm, and for that to be normalised. However, I'd say the partners / managing associates do a good job of shielding the rest of the team from those demands.
  • Occasionally long hours
  • Short client timeframes
  • Occasionally there are longer work hours compared to other non-law workplaces, but this is not often.
  • It can be a high-pressure environment

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
L
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
E
Engineering & Mathematics
I
IT & Computer Science
S
Sciences
Current Jobs & Opportunities

Internship, Clerkship or Placement

Melbourne
Work with some of the most experienced lawyers in Australia and encounter first-hand the type of work you could do as a lawyer at Allens.
Applications Close
13 Aug 2024
Start Date
Ongoing
Salary
AUD 70,000 - 80,000 / Year

Internship, Clerkship or Placement

Perth
Work with some of the most experienced lawyers in Australia and encounter first-hand the type of work you could do as a lawyer at Allens.
Applications Close
30 Jul 2024
Start Date
Ongoing
Salary
AUD 70,000 - 80,000 / Year


Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories
The coolest thing about this job is being able to work on large-scale matters with highly reputable clients. It is particularly exciting to see some of the matters that you're working on being discussed in the news!

Shaneli Dias

  • Graduate stories
The coolest thing about this job is being able to work on large-scale matters with highly reputable clients. It is particularly exciting to see some of the matters that you're working on being discussed in the news!

Shaneli Dias

  • Graduate stories
It's exciting to work in teams of highly experienced lawyers –  I am constantly impressed by the mentorship and guidance they offer! 

Emma Cockburn

  • Graduate stories
It's exciting to work in teams of highly experienced lawyers –  I am constantly impressed by the mentorship and guidance they offer! 

Emma Cockburn

  • Graduate stories
The coolest thing about this job is being able to work on large-scale matters with highly reputable clients. It is particularly exciting to see some of the matters that you're working on being discussed in the news!

Shaneli Dias

  • Graduate stories
The coolest thing about this job is being able to work on large-scale matters with highly reputable clients. It is particularly exciting to see some of the matters that you're working on being discussed in the news!

Shaneli Dias

  • Graduate stories
It's exciting to work in teams of highly experienced lawyers –  I am constantly impressed by the mentorship and guidance they offer! 

Emma Cockburn

  • Graduate stories
It's exciting to work in teams of highly experienced lawyers –  I am constantly impressed by the mentorship and guidance they offer! 

Emma Cockburn

A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Lachlan Helme-King

I am a committee member of 'Allens Spark' – one of Allens' community engagement initiatives. This initiative aims to expose senior school students from varying socio-economic and cultural backgrounds across Australia to the legal industry and the commercial world.
  • Day in the life

Lachlan Helme-King

I am a committee member of 'Allens Spark' – one of Allens' community engagement initiatives. This initiative aims to expose senior school students from varying socio-economic and cultural backgrounds across Australia to the legal industry and the commercial world.
  • Day in the life

Lydia Watson-Moore

Allens does hybrid working really well (I typically work three days in the office, two days at home), but it's good to get some face to face socialising in!  I'm also lucky enough to have a great view from my office (which is a lot better than my WFH view!)
  • Day in the life

Lydia Watson-Moore

Allens does hybrid working really well (I typically work three days in the office, two days at home), but it's good to get some face to face socialising in!  I'm also lucky enough to have a great view from my office (which is a lot better than my WFH view!)
  • Day in the life

Lachlan Helme-King

I am a committee member of 'Allens Spark' – one of Allens' community engagement initiatives. This initiative aims to expose senior school students from varying socio-economic and cultural backgrounds across Australia to the legal industry and the commercial world.
  • Day in the life

Lachlan Helme-King

I am a committee member of 'Allens Spark' – one of Allens' community engagement initiatives. This initiative aims to expose senior school students from varying socio-economic and cultural backgrounds across Australia to the legal industry and the commercial world.
  • Day in the life

Lydia Watson-Moore

Allens does hybrid working really well (I typically work three days in the office, two days at home), but it's good to get some face to face socialising in!  I'm also lucky enough to have a great view from my office (which is a lot better than my WFH view!)
  • Day in the life

Lydia Watson-Moore

Allens does hybrid working really well (I typically work three days in the office, two days at home), but it's good to get some face to face socialising in!  I'm also lucky enough to have a great view from my office (which is a lot better than my WFH view!)

Videos


Beyond 200

A lot has changed in 200 years, including us. One thing that's endured is our commitment to clients, people and communities. Hear from the new generation of Allens about their hopes for the future of business, society and the legal profession.

Allens Pinnacle Scholarship: Curtis Haas

Curtis Haas' experience as an Allens Pinnacle Scholar

Beyond 200

A lot has changed in 200 years, including us. One thing that's endured is our commitment to clients, people and communities. Hear from the new generation of Allens about their hopes for the future of business, society and the legal profession.

Allens Pinnacle Scholarship: Curtis Haas

Curtis Haas' experience as an Allens Pinnacle Scholar

Advice


Five skills a commercial lawyer needs

In his time at Allens, William has been able to develop his skillset as a commercial lawyer and has some great hints for what will stand you in good stead as you embark on a legal career.

Allens Office Tour at Brisbane

Take a sneak peek inside Allens office at Perth.

Five skills a commercial lawyer needs

In his time at Allens, William has been able to develop his skillset as a commercial lawyer and has some great hints for what will stand you in good stead as you embark on a legal career.

Allens Office Tour at Brisbane

Take a sneak peek inside Allens office at Perth.