Allens Confidential

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 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,...

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 identi...

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,...

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.

While restrictions on international travel are expected to remain in place for some time, global opportunities in the future are still front of mind for many law students. In the latest episode of Allens Confidential, we talk to Mona Abu Zalaf, an Allens lawyer on secondment with our alliance partner Linklaters in London, and Patrick McGregor, a Senior Overseas Practitioner who transferred to Sydn...

With summer clerkships soon to kick off, Geneva and Caitlin speak to recent clerks (now paralegals) Tim Tabalujan and Tahlia Rodrigues for the ultimate guide on what to expect from your clerkship. Tim and Tahlia share their advice on getting the most out of your clerkship, navigating office life and the best dad jokes to impress your new colleagues.

Having perfected the pronunciation of Kia Ora through numerous YouTube videos, Caitlin and Geneva are joined by Managing Associate Laura Hablous and Associate Andrew Lee to discuss their experiences crossing the ditch from New Zealand to Australia. Laura and Andrew discuss career progression, the logistics of qualification and what it's like to start a whole new life in a whole new city (on top of...

Our pro bono work is one of the topics we get the most questions about from prospective clerks and grads. In this episode, Geneva and Caitlin catch up with Nicky Friedman, our Director of Community Engagement, and James Daniel, Associate and Sydney Pro Bono Coordinator, to talk all things pro bono. What sort of pro bono legal work does Allens do? How does it happen? How do junior lawyers get invol...

New partners Felicity McMahon and Tristan Iredell discuss their journeys to partnership, the Allens Career Deal, and how culture can help a home feel like a workplace during lockdown (even if you're sitting on a dining chair in your childhood bedroom). Find out more about the Allens Career Deal

From admiring colleagues' pets to growing bad beards, Partner Tim Stewart and Lawyer Claire Watson discuss working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tim and Claire recount their experience of the firm-wide transition to working from home and share tips on remaining connected and engaged with Geneva Sekula and new co-host Caitlin Burke.

In late 2019, hosts Roseanna Bricknell and Geneva Sekula had the opportunity to catch up with Linklaters Counsel (and former Allens employee) Andrew Marshall. Andrew reflects on his experience transitioning from Allens in Australia to the Linklaters office in London and explains what being part of a global alliance means in practice for all Allens employees.

Hosts Roseanna Bricknell and Geneva Sekula chat with Allens' Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing Kylie Scott and Senior Associate Jamie Guthrie about the firm's commitment to helping people achieve a work/life balance that works for them.

At Allens, Integrated Legal Solutions (ILS) is the team responsible for providing cutting-ledge legal technology solutions. In the first episode of Season 4, clerks Eric Gonzales and Adrian Brett reflect on their experience rotating into ILS and provide some insider tips and tricks for applying for clerkships. From developing apps to building 'logic trees', hosts Geneva Sekula and Roseanna Brickne...

For the final episode of Season 3 of Allens Confidential, hosts Rose and Geneva go straight to the source and speak to graduate recruiters Lauren Kay from Sydney and Manreet Singh from Melbourne. With summer clerkships about to commence, Lauren and Manreet reflect on the application process and provide insight into what the firm is looking for in its future graduates. From interviews to attending...

Grace Walton, Associate in our Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) team, and Mohamed Khairat, Associate in Projects & Development, joined our graduate program via two different paths. Grace began as a clerk and Mo joined as graduate. During their early days at Allens, they shared an office and co-founded a TMT 'zen zone'. In this episode, they share their experiences as junior lawyers and...

Allens' global alliance with Linklaters opens up a world of opportunities, matters and cultural exchanges. Beyond amazing secondment possibilities, the alliance gives our people the ability to work with world's best lawyers on the most complex multijurisdictional matters in the market. Just ask Allens Partner Christopher Kerrigan and Senior Overseas Practitioner Francesca Bonner-Evans – two former...

We begin Season 3 of Allens Confidential with a bang, speaking to two lawyers in our TMT (Technology, Media & Telecommunications) team. Partner Valeska Bloch and Managing Associate Dave Rountree discuss how technology and innovation are continually shaping the nature of their work, and talk about the increasingly important role data management has to play. As Dave puts it, perhaps the team is best...

Geneva and Roseanna speak to Allens Managing Partner, Richard Spurio, and Partner and Head of Innovation, Anna Collyer. Reflecting on their time with the firm, they discuss how things have changed and how technology is helping shape the lawyer of the future. Listen in to find out how Allens is at the forefront of this change and driving continual innovation among its people.

Want to know what being a clerk at Allens is really like? Former summer clerks Georgie Kilborn and Xander Jackman do a deep dive into life as a clerk and give their advice to students considering applying for a clerkship.

There's no one path towards having a successful career in law. Lawyer Rhiannon Zanetic and Managing Associate Sikeli Ratu share their own personal journeys from university to law practice. From film production to escape rooms, the pair also give a glimpse of their interests outside of work.

Achieving and maintaining good mental health is important in all aspects of our lives, including at work. In this episode, Allens Chief People Officer Jane Lewis and Partner Vijay Cugati discuss how lawyers can look after their wellbeing and also explore the programs the firm has in place to help.

Back for a second season, Allens Confidential hosts Geneva and Roseanna speak to Partner Nicholas Ng and Managing Associate Nikki O'Leary, from our Brisbane office. Having both started at Allens as grads, Nick and Nikki look back over the years and share their own experiences at the firm.

How does flexibility work in a large corporate law firm? Geneva and Roseanna catch up with Elyse Adams (Managing Associate, Technology, Media & Telecommunications) and Mark Leersnyder (Associate, Projects & Development) to find out more about their experience of flexibility as new parents. They also discuss Elyse and Mark's international and client secondments. 

In an interview with one of Allens' longest-serving Partners, Ian McGill (Partner, Technology, Media & Telecommunications) and one of its newest, Simun Soljo (Partner, Funds, Super & Wealth), Geneva and Roseanna explore the firm's culture and commitment to pro bono and community work.