I S P U T E S

Senior Associates, Andrew Mason, Allison van Beers, and Ashleigh Cole share their thoughts on a career in Litigation and what White & Case’s Disputes practice can offer graduates.

Andrew Mason says that it’s the nature of the work that makes his role so fulfilling: “One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is working with clients whose businesses are exceptionally interesting often at the forefront of the industry they work in Through the work we do in disputes, we gain a unique and in-depth understanding of our client’s businesses and the industries they operate in. As a result, this often also means that we face complex legal issues which are novel and at the forefront of the applicable area of law ”

Allison van Beers agrees: “I love working in disputes and international arbitration No day is the same even if the type of work I am doing is similar, the content is always different. We work on large, complex matters often disputes concerning infrastructure or energy projects (including renewables) That means I can (and must) work on a variety of tasks and issues all for the same matter / client In one day I might meet with the White & Case team and counsel to discuss strategy concerning a section of the case, email with the other party’s solicitors in relation to procedural matters, review relevant case law, and meet with an expert witness.”

A stimulating mix of strategic thinking and detailfocused work

So what does a disputes lawyer do on a daily basis?

Ashleigh Cole says that it’s a stimulating mix: “I enjoy the variety of work, especially the degree to which we need to think ahead strategically. Like a game of chess, you need to think ahead anticipating the other side’s next move and advising our client on the path forward ”

How to succeed on this dynamic team

Andrew explains the key skills that disputes lawyers need: “I think there are two key competences required to succeed in the long term. First, is a continued willingness to learn. Our clients’ work in fast-paced industries that are continually changing, and it’s incumbent on us to keep up. Second, is taking ownership and being proactive By this I mean not just doing a great job on a task you’re being given, but trying to understand where that task fits within the overall picture of the matter, and how you are contributing to the objective the team is trying to achieve.”

Varied work for graduates

For Ashleigh, the variety of work and constant support of colleagues is especially welcome “There’s always a new challenge We work closely in teams, which means that you have visibility on where your work contributes to the overall team effort.”

Work satisfaction: creativity and a supportive workplace

Ashleigh adds that the supportive culture within the Australian offices makes for a great working environment “From partners to paralegals, everyone gets involved in the work and pulls together. Combined with a really friendly office culture, it’s just a really enjoyable place to work.”

Finally, Andrew says that grads can expect to make a contribution from Day One: “Never under-estimate the value you can bring to a matter, even as a grad Your perspective is always helpful and sometimes a fresh pair of eyes to a matter sees something that no one else does. I find that teams work best where everyone has an equal voice to contribute.”

F I R M F I R M

P R O F I L E S P R O F I L E S

student.careers@allens.com.au https://graduates allens com au/

Level 37, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Melissa Lim (Early Careers Consultant)

Kellie Drew (Early Careers Adviser)

Clerkship representative:

Melissa Lim (Early Careers Consultant)

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 a lawyer at Allens, 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 multi-jurisdictional 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 corporation, 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, consistently within the top M&A and infrastructure league tables, and we have been recognised as an AFR Most Innovative Company for five years running This year we have been recognised as a top legal graduate employer by GradAustralia and the Australian Association of Graduate Employers (AAGE) and by GradConnection and the Australian Financial Review

Banking and Finance

Corporate - M&A and Capital Markets, Funds, Super & Wealth and Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Disputes and Investigations - Commercial Disputes, Employment & Safety and Restructuring & Insolvency

Projects & Development - Projects and Real Estate & Development

Competition, Consumer & Regulatory

Intellectual Property Tax

Sydney Airport on its $23 6 billion acquisition by the Sydney Aviation Alliance AusNet on its $10.2 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management.

AustralianSuper and Singtel in their $3.58 billion acquisition of Axicom. ARENA on Australia's first renewable hydrogen plant. Equinor on collaboration for the Bass Offshore Wind Energy Project.

Clerkship positions available in Melbourne office:

Clerkship positions available each intake:

Application period:

Interview period:

Rotations:

Seasonal clerkship periods:

As a law clerk at Allens, you will:

90-100

30-34

3 July 2023 - 13 August 2023

September

No rotations

Summer 1, Summer 2 and Winter

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

Be allocated a dedicated supervisor, performance and coach buddy, who will be there every step of the way

Our clerks will be given daily tasks and responsibilities which are similar to those of a junior lawyer. This can include conducting legal and market research, drafting memos, attending court hearings, and client meetings.

The Allens clerkship program is a stepping stone to bigger things, and many clerks will become graduates with us.

Applications are welcomed from penultimate and final year law students, including international students, provided you have the relevant working rights in Australia.

You will need to provide your CV, cover letter, academic transcript, and any other supporting documents You'll have the opportunity to complete an optional diversity survey, through Rare This will allow us to better understand your achievements and the context in which they have been gained, beyond what we may see on your CV. You will then be asked to complete an online strengths-based assessment, through Cappfinity, which will provide insight into the work we do.

If you're selected for an interview, you'll be invited to attend our 'Insider Access' event, which is a great opportunity to learn more about Allens before your interview and form connections The interview itself is a chance for you to get to know us, and vice versa. You will also be allocated a junior lawyer to act as your buddy throughout the recruitment process, who will help answer any questions and provide support.

Graduate positions available in 2024:

Graduates recruited from 2023-24 clerkship pool:

Graduate rotation structure:

Pathway to graduate position:

Deferring a graduate offer:

30-35

30-35

2 x 12-month rotations

Priority offers

Considered on a case-by-case basis

As a Graduate at Allens, you will 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 with different teams. You'll work on complex transactions with leading organisations and you'll have the opportunity to apply for a client secondment, or international secondment to London or Asia via our Linklaters alliance

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 induction 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.

If you have completed a clerkship with Allens, you will be required to submit an expression of interest to be considered for a priority offer and provide an updated CV Previous clerks are not required to interview for a graduate position hbrown@abl.com.au https://www abl com au

Level 21, 333 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Hayley Brown (Human Resources Manager) hbrown@abl com au 03 9229 9802

Clerkship representative:

Hayley Brown (Human Resources Manager)

Arnold Bloch Leibler is a premium Australian commercial law firm renowned for advising clients on their most significant legal matters: high-stakes transactions, litigation, and commercial issues. Our standing within the legal profession has been built over more than 60 years Many of the values, characteristics, and defining qualities from the firm's early beginnings continue to shape the firm as it stands today. While our storied history is long, we are a modern firm. We see the law as an instrument of change, as a way forward. Our Partners and Lawyers are often at the centre of law reform and regularly advise on landmark matters. We offer legal advice and support to a diverse range of clients, however we are best known for advising entrepreneurial businesses (ASX-listed, family owned and international) and for our work with private clients. We also work with international corporations with interests in Australia and enjoy long-standing relationships with a select group of other professional advisors - including accountants, private equity firms, insolvency practitioners, private bankers and other overseas-based specialist law firms

Banking and Finance

Competition

Corporate and Commercial

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Property and Development

Native Title and Public Interest Law

Reconstruction and Insolvency

Taxation

Technology and Intellectual Property

Workplace Advisory

Clients and Solutions

Excellence and Success

Community

Diversity

We aim to develop long-term relationships with our clients

ABL is a meritocracy - we reward success and excellence

We have a stand-alone pro bono practice group

We have initiatives such as the internal ABL Indigenous Solidarity Network, ABL Pride Committee and ABL Women's Group

Clerkship positions available in Melbourne office:

Clerkship positions available each intake:

Application period:

Interview period:

Rotations:

Seasonal clerkship periods:

45

3 July 2023 - 13 August 2023

September No rotations

Summer 1, Summer 2 and Winter

The clerkship program at ABL includes a mix of training sessions, interactive activities, and workshops, getting involved in meaningful work with Partners, lawyers, and clients across the firm. Clerks will be allocated a buddy as their go-to support person for any day to day questions You will be immersed in our culture, be given real work, real responsibility, and real contact with Partners and clients in meetings, calls, and court hearings.

During your clerkship, we arrange a number of extra-curricular activities such as lunches with our current graduates and an 'Amazing Race' event around the Melbourne CBD We also have a day out with one of our clients which gives clerks the unique experience to meet the people that lie at the heart of the firm's identity. It also provides the opportunity to hear from our clients and why they have chosen ABL.

Graduate positions available in 2024:

Graduates recruited from 2023-24 clerkship pool:

Graduate rotation structure:

Pathway to graduate position:

Deferring a graduate offer:

20-25

20-25

Single practice group

Priority and market offers

Yes

As an ABL graduate, you will immediately experience our firm's point of difference graduate.programs@ashurst.com https://www ashurst com/

From your very first day, you will work alongside thought leaders in the profession on important and complex cases that will provide opportunities to flex your thinking, offer direct input and gain in-depth knowledge. At ABL, we are very proud of our in-house graduate training program. Our graduates do not go offsite to PLT, instead they learn from our best and brightest Partners and Senior Associates from across the firm, who are leaders in their respective fields The SLT (supervised legal training) program is run to be practical, engaging, and designed to upskill our lawyers for practice The training program is a real point of difference, and something our graduates genuinely enjoy about their overall graduate experience. Training is usually once a week which means you aren't away from the office for long periods of time, and can be involved in matters throughout the duration of your graduate year.

Level 16, 80 Collins Street, South Tower, Melbourne VIC 3000

Joanne Dean

Senior Manager, Early Careers joanne dean@ashurst com

Clerkship representative:

Joanne Dean

As a leading global law firm we have a lot to offer you. We strive for the highest standards of client service and performance. We value diversity and inclusion. We're respectful and supportive. We encourage innovation and embrace change, and we welcome new ideas Join Ashurst and make the difference to your career, your clients and your community.

Competition

Digital Economy Transactions

Disputes

Employment

Finance

Intellectual Property

International Projects Group

Mergers and Acquisitions

Planning, Access & Environment

Real Estate

Tax

At Ashurst, we offer clients legal led consulting combined with new law which is a very unique way of supporting and delivering service to our clients. The new law component we call Ashurst Advance involves delivering the advice in a cost effective, digital and innovative way. This fits with our vision of being the most progressive law firm.

Our vision is to be the most progressive law firm Our values are that we are passionate about quality, we deliver through collaboration, and we think differently.

Key clients include ANZ, Commonwealth Government, Victoria Government, University of Melbourne, Macquarie, Woolworths, and Goldman Sachs