Clerkship application time is nearly here again! If you’re still deciding what firms to apply to, here’s a sneak peek at what it’s like to clerk at Allens Arthur Robinson. This week’s contributor is Samantha Raneri, fifth year law student and 2009-2010 summer clerk at AAR...
Upon commencing the process of applying for a summer clerkship, a friend of mine who had previously clerked at Allens Arthur Robinson told me that I would soon discover why “Allens is different”.
I feel very privileged to have spent my summer at Allens, and I am glad to say that after completing my clerkship, I can most certainly understand and appreciate what makes Allens so unique. So, let me tell you what made me say “yes” to a summer clerkship at Allens and want to return as a paralegal and graduate.
First, Allens is a leading international and top-tier law firm. It has an outstanding client base, is one of the most successful commercial law firms in the Asia-Pacific region and is renowned for its technical excellence commercial insight. What further distinguishes Allens from the pack, however, is the Firm’s values of imagination, interests and intelligence. These values are not just words on a page. Rather, one of the first things I noticed about Allens is that its partners and lawyers recognise and foster individuality, diversity and interests outside the law. So, if you have spent a month doing volunteer work in India, are a massive Star Wars fan, or have competed in International Frisbee tournaments, you should definitely allow these interests to stand out in your application. It is a strong appreciation for interests both inside and outside the law that provides for such a dynamic workplace environment. When you are working at Allens, you are surrounded not only by some of the best and brightest legal minds, but by a wide range of different and interesting people you can learn from.
The question remains, if you choose to come to Allens, how will you be spending your summer? The clerkship consists of two rotations through different practice groups. I rotated in Litigation & IP, and Energy and Resources. One of the first things you will realise when you commence your clerkship is that the partners and lawyers will make a concerted effort to give you interesting work that makes a significant contribution to the matters you are working on. The challenging and varied work you are given makes your clerkship an incredible forum in which to further develop your legal skills and knowledge. The people you work with are genuinely interested in your opinion, value your input and are keen to foster your legal development.
Beyond the office floor, the Allens culture is evident through an abundance of firm activities. By the end of February, it is likely that you will have sailed through the harbour on a yacht, taken part in the annual swimming carnival, helped save the environment by planting trees, met other summer clerks at an inter-firm cruise, played sport on Monday nights and tasted wine and cheese with the lawyers. A key reason behind my decision to choose Allens was its amazing work in the community, and the clerks are also given the opportunity to participate in some of these ventures. As a clerk, you will visit the Sydney Children’s Hospital and see the fantastic work that Allens does there, as well as have the chance to organise a fundraising event in support of a charity chosen by the summer clerks.
Overall, my summer clerkship at Allens was one of my best-spent summer holidays. The friends, knowledge and experiences I have gained are invaluable, and I am already looking forward to starting as a graduate in 2012.
The moral of this story? Choose your own adventure, and choose a summer clerkship at Allens. You won’t look back!
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