What did you study and where?

LLB Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University of Wellington.

What career steps have you taken to get to where you are now?

Similar to many other law students, I assumed my legal career would start in New Zealand working for a large domestic firm, before moving overseas after two or three years. In pursuit of this, I did a couple of summer clerkships during university. However, all of that changed after researching A&O’s graduate programme and realising that the move overseas, to an international firm, could be done straight out of university.

What do you enjoy most about working at Allen and Overy?

The cross-border nature of the work. The majority of the deals A&O exposes you to – even as a graduate – have some form of international element. I have also recently transferred to work at A&O’s London office, which, thanks to the firm’s global mobility capabilities, has been a seamless transition and has allowed me to experience first-hand the strength of the firm’s global reach. Through these experiences, I have found that connecting with colleagues throughout A&O’s expansive network – from London to Japan – is the norm, and is a very rewarding experience.

What is your advice to other students who would like to work with Allen and Overy?

Give it a go – I honestly feel that A&O is the best place for a budding lawyer to start their legal career. What you will be exposed to will springboard you to wherever you want to go in the future. And with this in mind, the advice I would give to other students considering A&O would be to reach out to one of the HR team or the younger lawyers (myself included) for a chat – everyone is very approachable, and we would be more than happy to discuss our experience at the firm.

About the firm

With over 5,600 people in over 40 offices, we’re a business doing work of global significance.

What we do goes beyond delivering an outstanding service. We lead the market by creating new solutions for our clients’ most complex legal and business challenges, helping them grow, innovate and thrive. By thinking creatively and entrepreneurially, we challenge expectations, push boundaries and build for the future. We draw on a world-leading network of expertise and a unique platform – such as our Advanced Delivery services and our network of Peerpoint consultants, to set the highest standards for our industry.

Global coverage in today’s market does not simply mean having offices in important cities around the world. For us, it means combining our global resources and sector expertise to work on matters that cross international boundaries with our culturally and geographically diverse teams. For you, it means that wherever you work, you’ll find a culture of inclusion and support – feeling confident to bring your whole self to work every single day. At A&O, you’re not only valued for what you do, but for who you are.

Working at the firm

We work to attract and retain the very best people – and we support them to build their future with us. As part of our high-performance culture, we have high expectations of one another in everything we do. We foster a working environment based on collaboration and mutual respect, where everyone is trusted to do their very best work in the way they see fit, to a standard we all share. It’s thanks to our people that we’re the only law firm to have featured in the top three of the Financial Times Innovative Law Firm ranking every year, and to have topped the list six times.

As important as our work is, we know that it’s also imperative for our people to have a life beyond it. It’s why we’ve created a supportive and collaborative environment where every individual feels they can belong. We expect you to own your career, and in turn, we will provide you with the support you need to seize every opportunity. Everyone at A&O is given the space and encouragement to pursue the goals, interests and passions that make them who they are.

Opportunities for Students

Our Sydney 2023/24 Summer Clerkship will take place from 27 November 2023 to 2 February 2024.
2023/24 Summer Clerkship Opening and Closing Dates
Applications open on 5 June 2023 and close on 9 July 2023.
2023/24 Summer Clerkship Intake
Our clerkship intake is based on business needs. Last year, we recruited 13 Summer Clerks including three from New Zealand.
After becoming a clerk, what are the prospects of obtaining a graduate role?
We have previously offered all Sydney Summer Clerks a graduate role. We base our decision on good performance during the clerkship program.
What specific qualities do we look for in a potential clerk?
We look for individuals with potential: open-mindedness, innovation, collaboration and critical thinking. These are the skills that will set your application apart and set you up for success. Our success relies on bringing together people from all backgrounds, with unique skillsets and perspectives so there isn’t one ‘type’ of person we’re looking for. We welcome applications from all students who are passionate about commercial law and innovation, regardless of the university they attended and the degree they earned.

Our clients rely on us for more than just outstanding legal advice – they trust us to guide them through uncertain times, deliver business growth and advise them on the future. If you have the ability, ambition and determination to make that happen, then you’ll thrive as a Summer Clerk candidate.

Location: In Australia, we have offices in Sydney and Perth. Over 40 offices around the world.
Areas of expertise: We focus on innovative and expert legal solutions across a broad range of areas: mergers and acquisitions; private equity; capital markets; regulatory and funds; anti-trust/competition; litigation and dispute resolution; banking and finance; infrastructure and projects;
energy and resources; communications, outsourcing and technology and tax.
Staff: In Australia 180; Globally 5,600
Contact: australianrecruitment@allenovery.com