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.

Our client work spans every sector across the economy and whether working for an emerging start-up or a multi-jurisdiction corporate, we mobilise the best team for the matter. Our market-leading work has seen us recognised as an elite 'band one' firm in 19 practice areas by Chambers and consistently top M&A and infrastructure league tables and we've been recognised as an AFR Most Innovative Company for five years running.

Financial benefits

• Salary sacrifice
• Salary continuance insurance
• Lawyer and Senior Manager incentive plan
• Novated lease options
• Employee referral rewards
• Discounted products and services
• Discounted health and travel insurance
• Charity Matched Funding Program

Health and wellbeing

• Gym membership
• Subsidised sporting events
• Flu vaccinations
• Skin checks
• Employee Assistance Program
• Emergency childcare
• Priority access to childcare

Flexibility and leave

• Flexible leave options
• Best practice parental leave support for all carers
• Top-down support for workplace flexibility
• Purchased annual leave
• Hybrid working options

Career development

• Learning and development programs
• Secondment opportunities including:
  • Client secondments
  • Overseas secondments via Linklaters
• Membership of professional organisations
• Study leave and support
• Promotion conferences to equip you with skills for your next career milestone
• Career deal including our market leading career model
• For our graduate lawyers:
  • 18-week in-house Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice program
  • 12-month rotation program to Linklaters London, Hong Kong and Singapore

Committees and interest groups

• Allens ALLin (LGBTI)
• Women@Allens
• Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee
• Philanthropy Committee
• Sports and Wellbeing Committee
• Pro Bono Committee
• Cultural Awareness Network (CAN)
• Footprint Committee

Parents and carers

• We offer support for working parents and those with caring responsibilities. Working parents have access to:
  • Transition coaching
  • Subsidised childcare
  • On demand 'emergency' childcare
• We also provide support for those with other caring responsibilities and offer generous leave provisions.

Volunteering

We're committed to pro bono, charity and community activities. You'll be encouraged to take part in our programs.

Secondments

Our size and success mean we can offer exceptional choice as you develop your career. Stay flexible and you can take up secondments abroad, via our Linklaters alliance, or with clients.

Join our graduate program and embark on a journey of lifelong professional development.

Our 2023 Melbourne and Perth graduates during their induction in Melbourne

As a Graduate at Allens, you’ll complete two 12‑month rotations in different practice areas. We don’t work in silos, so you won’t be limited to working with only one Partner or by your practice areas. There’s no substitute for the depth of insight that comes from working across different teams. You’ll work on complex transactions with leading organisations, alongside legal professionals and experts who are pioneering their respective professions. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply for a client or international secondment to London or Asia via our Linklaters alliance.

Who can apply for our graduate program? 

Most of our graduate positions are filled through our clerkship programs, but when we do have a need for additional graduates, we will recruit graduates directly. 

Applications are welcomed from final year undergraduate law students and recent graduates.

When does our graduate program run? 

Our graduate program is run in each Australian office, starting in February for two years.

What can our graduate program offer you as a young lawyer? 

During our graduate program, you’ll learn from some of the sharpest legal minds in Australia. We’ll work with you to build a strong foundation of skills and develop the agility needed to become an excellent lawyer and thrive in our ever‑changing world. You’ll engage with our Allens Academy, which means you'll benefit from a range of personalised tools and training to unlock your potential, including:

• The Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice program
• Practical legal seminars during our Cornerstone program
• Online learning portal
• Personalised one week orientation program
• On‑the‑job training
• Ongoing supervision, coaching and mentoring

During your graduate program you’ll have the flexibility to drive your career with support from your performance coach. We encourage our graduates to pursue their interests so they can succeed with us and in their future endeavours.

You can learn more about Allens and our programs via our Allens Graduates page and stay up to date with us via our Allens Confidential Podcast, Life at Allen's student newsletter, and our LinkedIn page.

For a head start in your career, apply for a clerkship at Allens. 

Our clerkship program is a stepping stone to bigger things, and many clerks go on to become graduates with us. As a law clerk at Allens, you will:

• work with some of the most experienced and highly regarded lawyers in Australia;
• gain first‑hand experience in the type of work you could do as a lawyer at Allens;
• work as part of a team on real matters for real clients;
• we allocated a dedicated performance coach and buddy, who will be there every step of the way;

You will thrive during an Allens clerkship if you are:

• Driven;
• Ready to make the most of the opportunity; and
• Open to getting to know our people.

Who can apply?

Applications are welcomed from penultimate year law students.

When do applications open?

Applications for our clerkship program open in line with law society guidelines but will generally open in June/July.

You can learn more about Allens and our clerkship program via our Allens Graduates page and stay up to date with us via our Allens Confidential Podcast, Life at Allen's student newsletter, and our LinkedIn page.

Our First Nations Legal Internship program is designed to give Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander law students exposure to a commercial law environment and the diverse range of practice areas we specialise in. Previous interns have gone on to secure permanent roles at Allens, other firms, client organisations and elsewhere in the profession.

As part of the First Nations Legal Internship Program, students have the opportunity to:

• meet our partners, lawyers and corporate services team members:
• join a practice group, and have the support of an allocated buddy and a performance coach;
• learn about the work we do and gain practical insights into what our clients want; and
• hear tips on interview techniques and building a personal brand, learn about our clerkship process and what life is like as a graduate at Allens.

You can learn more about Allens and our programs via our Allens Graduates page and stay up to date with us via our Allens Confidential Podcast, Life at Allen's student newsletter, and our LinkedIn page.

Join our legal transformation graduate program and embark on a journey of lifelong professional development.

As a Legal Transformation Graduate at Allens, you’ll complete two six month rotations in different innovation and legal solutions teams. You’ll team up with subject matter experts, use cutting edge legal technology and work alongside Australia’s most talented lawyers. At the completion of the program you’ll be offered a role within one of our four participating legal transformation program teams.

Who can apply?

Applications are open to students from a range of disciplines including (but not limited to) Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science and Law. Legal studies are not essential. We are seeking applications from a broad academic spectrum and are specifically interested in candidates from a STEM background.

When does the program run?

Our graduate program will be running alongside our law graduate programs in Melbourne and Sydney, starting in March 2024.

When do applications open?

Applications for the 2024 program are now open.

What can our legal transformation graduate program offer you?

During our graduate program, you’ll learn from some of the sharpest minds in the legal industry in Australia. We’ll work with you to build a strong foundation of skills and develop the agility needed to become an excellent legal innovator and thrive in our ever‑changing world. You’ll engage with our Allens Academy, which means you'll benefit from a range of personalised tools and training to unlock your potential, including:

• Graduate Certificate in Legal Technology and Innovation
• Online learning portal
• Personalised two-week orientation program
• On‑the‑job training
• Ongoing supervision, coaching, and mentoring

During your graduate program, you’ll have the flexibility to drive your career with support from your performance coach. We encourage our graduates to pursue their interests so they can succeed with us and in their future endeavours.

You can learn more about Allens and our programs via our Allens Graduates page and stay up to date with us via our Allens Confidential Podcast, Life at Allen's student newsletter, and our LinkedIn page.

Dive In is an introductory program that gives you an opportunity to get a head start on developing some of the core skills and experiences that you will gain during a clerkship, internship or as a paralegal at Allens. You’ll get a glimpse into a career in commercial law at a top tier firm. You’ll also get insight into the type of work you can expect, details about our business and areas of practice, plus practical tips for preparing for work in the early stages of your career.

Who can apply? 

Applications are welcomed from students in their pre-penultimates of a law degree (i.e. second to third year undergraduate law students or first year Juris Doctor students).

When does the program run?

The program is held over three half-days in May in each of our Australian offices.

Step into the shoes of an Allens graduate before even walking through the front door!

We have three virtual internship programs:

• Commercial Disputes
• Introduction to Commercial Law
• Commercial Transactions

Our programs are self-paced and offer students a unique and flexible opportunity to upskill and secure sought-after legal work experience. These programs will give you an insight into what a career is like at a commercial law firm like Allens. You'll be given real challenges that our graduates and lawyers are faced with every day. This will give you a better understanding of the type of work you'd be faced with and help you decide whether a career in commercial law is something you've be interested in pursuing.

A thing or two about our virtual internship programs:

• They are free and open to all 
• Each program will take about 5-6 hours to complete
• They are targeted at students finishing high school or studying law at university
• You'll receive a completion certificate that you can add to your CV or LinkedIn to help you secure your dream job in the future.

You can access our virtual internship programs here 

At Allens, we use our position to give back to our community. We stand up for what we believe in and strive to make a real difference. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because we are truly motivated by positive change.

You’ll find individuals and teams across the firm committed to providing access to justice, alleviating disadvantage, promoting reconciliation and protecting the environment. At Allens, we are proud of the important role we play in our community. From support for marriage equality to campaigning for refugee rights and going carbon neutral, we use our technical knowledge and professional skills to help others.

Pro bono

• Pro bono work is a valued part of life at Allens. Join us and you’ll have the opportunity to apply your skills and contribute to causes and organisations. And, you’ll be encouraged to take part in challenging matters and develop new skills that complement what you already know.
• Currently our work is focused on advancing human rights of asylum seekers, the homeless and LGBTI people. We partner with inspirational organisations and community legal centres such as Homeless Persons' Legal Clinics, the Human Rights Law Centre and asylum seekers' legal services. We also offer a pro bono secondment at the Refugee Advice and Casework Service and fund the only ongoing graduate position in the community legal sector in Victoria.

Reconciliation

• We believe in creating a just society. We’re committed to ensuring the same level of opportunity exists for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as for other Australians. That’s why we launched our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) over 8 years ago. Since then, twenty-three Allens' staff have spent a total of 154 weeks living and working alongside Indigenous communities from Arnhem Land to inner Sydney to the West Kimberley.
• Our lawyers have the opportunity to participate in on-country secondments to Aboriginal-led organisations. Or, they can contribute to the firm’s ongoing reconciliation program which includes mentoring, education and cultural activities. To bring our program to life, we collaborate with organisations such as Jawun, Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) and Australian Indigenous Education Fund (AIEF).

Environment

• We take responsibility for our impact on the planet and work together to reduce it. We’re committed to organisational sustainability and best practice environmental management. Our staff-led Footprint Committee drive us to keep improving and inspire action within the firm.
• We’re proud to be the first Australian law firm to achieve certification as carbon neutral. We extend our influence to outside of the firm too. Our legal professionals provide pro bono legal assistance to environmental NGOs, including Bush Heritage Australia and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Philanthropy

• At Allens, we have philanthropy committees in each office. This means we’re supporting the causes closest to our community. Our people work hard to support and advocate for charities and community organisations by hosting fundraising days and events. Our legal professionals can take part in volunteering opportunities of their choosing, ranging from making meals for homeless people to mentoring disadvantaged children.

There is enormous strength in the unique backgrounds and life experiences our people bring to the firm. They help us expand our thinking. They help us grow.

As a team, we have many different stories, and we stand side-by-side in delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients and communities. Harnessing the many talents and experiences of our people helps us connect with our clients, solve complex problems, innovate and attract even more great people. 

Our inclusive and diverse culture is one that:

1. Invites and values diverse people, thinking, approaches and experiences
2. Provides equitable access to resources and opportunities
3. Empowers people to actively engage and contribute
4. Seeks collective input and ownership
5. Purposely fosters safety and belonging
6. Supports people to do their best work

LGBTQI+ at Allens 

At Allens, we welcome and celebrate LGBTQI+ diversity. We are proud of the many ways we foster a culture that's safe, supportive and inclusive for all.

 
We want our people to feel good about bringing their real selves to work, and we have a range of specific initiatives to support and celebrate our LGBTQI+ colleagues.

• Pride in Diversity: Allens was the first law firm to become a member of the not-for-profit employer support program.
• Welcome Here: We are proud members of Welcome Here, a project supporting businesses across Australia to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQI+ communities.
• The Pinnacle Foundation: We are a Gold Foundation Partner of the Pinnacle Foundation, Australia's LGBTQI+ education charity.
• Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI): We are proud to have been ranked a bronze employer in the AWEI.

ALLin 

Established in 2011, ALLin is our LGBTQI+ network that is committed to providing an inclusive workplace at Allens, where diversity is celebrated. ALLin is for Allens partners and employees who identify as LGBTQI+ as well as their allies and provides opportunities for members to build relationships with each other, our clients and the wider community through events, network meetings and pro bono legal assistance on matters of interest to the LGBTQI+ community. 

In recent years, we've assisted LGBTQI+ asylum seekers with their claims and supported local and international not-for-profits in their advocacy on transgender rights and expunging historical homosexual criminal convictions. 

Our LGBTQI+ policies 

We have ensured that all of our policies are inclusive of LGBTQI+ employees and their families, including:

• Our parental leave policy is specifically inclusive of same-sex partners and families, adoption, surrogacy, foster care and long-term kinship care.
• Our trans and gender diverse policies support any employee wishing to affirm their gender, regardless of whether they are publicly transitioning.

You can learn more about our LGBTQI+ inclusive policies here

Our 40:40:20 aim for gender equality 

Back in 2017, we set ourselves the target of at least 35% female partners by 2022. As of 1 July 2022, we exceeded that goal, reaching 37% female partners. 

With 37% female partners and more than 50% female legal professionals and corporate services professionals, we're well on our way to achieving our next goal: at least 40% female partner representation in 2025. This is part of our 40:40:20 aim: 40% women, 40% men and 20% any gender (women, men or non-binary persons).

Our career model, policies and initiatives have been developed with an emphasis on the engagement, professional development and promotion of women. 

Women@Allens 

Our ever-growing networking and mentoring group, Women@Allens, is chaired by senior partners in each office, and focuses on developing and accelerating our female talent.

Our commitment to gender equality 

We show our commitment to building a culture where everyone can reach their full potential through our modern internal policies. Alongside these policies, we are also signatories to:

• The UN women's empowerment principles (we were one of the first organizations in Australia to become a signatory)
• Law Council of Australia's National Equitable Briefing Policy
• Law Council of Australia's Diversity and Equality Charter
• NSW Law Society's Charter for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession
• Law Institute of Victoria's Charter for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession

We've also been recognised by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for the last 19 years. This is the longest citation held by any law firm in Australia.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders at Allens

We have a long and proud heritage of supporting First Nations peoples' inclusion and using our influence as a leader in the legal profession to make a meaningful contribution towards reconciliation within our communities and our country. 

We work with our people to create a culture of respect and understanding of First Nations people by fostering engagement in reconciliation issues and creating opportunities for collaboration and dialogue.

• First Nations Engagement Plan: We recently launched our First Nations Engagement Plan, building on the momentum of the five Reconciliation Plans we have had over the past 13 years. This plan identifies three key pathways through which we can support reconciliation; pathways to justice, pathways to economic engagement, and pathways to understanding.
• First Nations Internship: Through our First Nations Legal Internship Program, more than 140 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander law students have taken up the opportunity to experience life at a commercial law firm.
• Reconciliation Action Mentoring Program: This program connects First Nations law students with Allens lawyers and law graduates in our Brisbane office.

First Nations Partnerships 

We're proud to partner with First Nations organisations and Aboriginal legal services across the country to provide free legal assistance in support of First Nations justice and human rights. Some of our key partnerships include: 

• Jawun: We share knowledge and skills with Indigenous communities in Inner Sydney, Goulburn Murray and North East Arnhem Land through our partnership with Jawun and Empowered Communities.
• Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF): Through our partnership with AIEF, we provide pro bono legal support, mentorship, training sessions and work experience opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• Supply Nation: We're a founding member of Supply Nation, which provides a national directory of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. 

As a team, we have many different stories, but we stand side-by-side in delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients and communities.

We see enormous strength in the unique backgrounds and life experiences people bring to our firm. We promote cultural diversity and inclusion that is representative and reflective of our people and clients and Australia's diverse society.

Our Cultural Awareness Network 

Our Cultural Awareness Network (CAN) aims to connect culturally and linguistically diverse colleagues at Allens and equip everyone with the tools, awareness, and information on how to meaningfully engage and connect with culturally diverse people, including clients and the wider community.

Stories from our people: Keerthi Ravi 

Keerthi Ravi is a Senior Associate specialising in regulatory investigations and complex commercial disputes relating to the financial services sector. 

"Allens recognizes and values the importance of all the skills that make a great lawyer – communication, creativity, the ability to make and deepen connections – many of which I've developed as a result of my diverse experiences and mentoring support I've been exposed to over my career.

Many women from diverse backgrounds will have built critical skills through their life experience that will benefit them in a legal career. I've seen how the right support and networks can help people to recognise the valuable skills and experiences they bring to the table like resilience, integrity and a hard work ethic, and develop the confidence to back themselves. It's my hope that, in building the networks and confidence of more diverse women, our profession will reap the rewards of the incredible contribution they can make." 

You can learn more about Keerthi's career journey here 

We know applying for a clerkship can be stressful. We also know that having a clear view of the path ahead can make it easier.

We offer a modern parents package that removes the distinction between primary and secondary carers.

We all have lives and roles we play outside of work. And one of the biggest roles our people play outside of work is caring for others. We offer support for working parents and those with caring responsibilities. As a working parent at Allens, you'll have access to a modern parental leave policy to help you balance work and family. 

A snapshot of Allens Australia parental leave package: 

1. A modern parental leave policy that removes the distinction between primary and non-primary carers, and allows employees to take leave at the same time as their partner
2. 26 weeks of paid parental leave
3. Superannuation on the unpaid component of parental leave (up to a maximum of 26 weeks)
4. Two years to accesspaid parental leave and flexibility in the way this leave is structured
5. Personalized support through all stages of the parental leave journey, including 1:1 coaching with a specialist provider
6. A formal, temporary break from billable expectations for legal employees returning from mid- to long-term parental leave
7. Eligibility for all permanent employees with no qualifying period to access the package

Though our Australia parental leave package, we aim to have more men taking part in longer-term parental leave, normalise caring behaviour and responsibilities, and create visible role models.

This is Allens: Challenging the status quo to create a more inclusive world. 

Patrick Boyle, a Senior Associate in our Funds, Superannuation and Wealth team, who took six months of parental leave to care for his daughter Harriet.

“Taking parental leave was never a difficult decision for me. I did not feel that I was challenging stereotypes or perceptions; I just wanted to spend time with my daughter. However, I'd be thrilled to think my decision to take parental leave encourages others to do the same.

Nothing anyone can say will prepare you for parenthood. I had thought that the long and unpredictable hours of my job would acclimate me but I've never been so tired or drained. Before having Harriet, I had no real appreciation for the struggle of balancing work and family and no understanding of the constant anxiety that you are failing at both. I have never felt so keenly the need for flexibility in the workplace. I returned to Allens in January with considerably more grey hair and a lot more empathy."