CAREER DEVELOPMENT AT ASHURST

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KATE SINCLAIR SUMMER CLERK 2018/19

1. What kind of work were you involved in during your clerkship at Allens? I rotated through the Competition, Consumer & Regulatory and the Projects and Development teams. The work was varied, but some examples of what I did day to day are: drafting advice and commercial contracts; attending client meetings; research, both legal and commercial; and ‘sensechecking’/ proofreading advice, commercial contracts, articles and leases.

2. What did you enjoy most about working at Allens? Not only is Allens genuinely invested in you and your career, the people are so lovely. During the application process, you meet so many people from different firms and practice areas; you attend what feels like 50 cocktail evenings and interviews; and you meet a tonne of other applicants. The stress of the process stops you from connecting with other people, but this pressure is lifted when you start a clerkship. Rather than being a source of anxiety, socialising becomes enjoyable. Potential employers become colleagues, and competitors become friends. I loved settling in and learning about, and from, the people I was working with. 3. What are the social opportunities like at Allens? The clerkship is full of social activities! Monday night sport and Friday night drinks were staple events, as were informal Clerk lunches in the botanical gardens each day. There were lots of organised events where you could bond with fellow Clerks, with activities like lawn bowls, karaoke, tenpin bowling, cork and canvas, and trivia. The lead-up to Christmas is also a blast, with team lunches and the firm Christmas party, which are great opportunities to learn more about your colleagues outside the office. Even before the clerkship started, Allens put on a wine and cheese night for the Summer Clerks, where we learned more about the practice areas we could choose to rotate through.

4. What surprised you about working at Allens? I was pleasantly surprised to meet so many cool and lovely people at Allens. I was concerned that I wouldn’t fit in at Allens (that I didn’t have the right background), due to its reputation as a traditional (and stuffy) firm, but I didn’t feel out of place at all. Everyone was so nice and welcoming! Of course, the work is fascinating, but the most interesting work in the world isn’t worth it if you don’t like who you’re working with (particularly if you’re working late nights). 5. What would be your advice to students wishing to apply to Allens? Two things: (1) Do it – apply. Before doing my clerkship, Allens intimidated me; I didn’t think I would be selected and I wasn’t sure the firm was for me. But I could not have been more wrong and I’m really pleased I applied. (2) Be genuine. Applying for clerkships is a tiresome and stressful time, and it’s easy to get carried away with what you think firms or HR want to see, but there would be nothing worse than pretending to be someone you’re not and ending up at a firm that isn’t the right place for you. Be yourself, and if it’s the right fit, it’ll work.

6. What’s the most exciting thing you worked on? Doing work on the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry and Snowy 2.0 was cool, but I was most excited to work for the giraffe-in-a-van from my childhood – Healthy Harold.