Application Process & Interviews at Allens

The interview process was not overly stressful, as long as you are prepared for interviews in a more general sense. There was only one interview off the back of the application.

Recruitment process was excellent.

I really enjoyed the recruitment process and found it to be the most personable and reasonable.

Interviews are conducted by multiple people and I found them to be a really pleasant experience. Very conversational. I don't recall there being any assessments

Usual - online application, 1 interview with 2 partners.

Incredibly friendly. You really get the sense that they want you to succeed.

Strong emphasis during clerkship and graduate recruitment process of getting to know the firm, opportunities to network and making sure it was the right choice for you to choose to work at Allens

Interview process was very straightforward. I participated in the RARE recruitment survey.

The clerkship process is pretty gruelling, but it's industry standard.

I joined as part of the clerkship. Cover letter, additional questions, psychometric testing and 2 x interviews. Very personable. Lots of support.

I think the hiring process is a strong drawcard of the company. The hiring process is rigorous enough to identify candidates who seem to have a genuine interest in the area of law and fit well in the vibe of the company. The hiring process also allows candidates to connect with a range of existing employees at the firm, all of whom are very generous with their time during the recruitment process. I think this tradition of mentorship during the application process helps candidates make an informed decision about whether to accept an offer at Allens.

Clerkship then graduate.

Very conversational. Few questions based on CV. Largely just "get to know you" type vibe. No behavioural questions (which is great, as I don't think they add much value in my opinion).

A mixture of questions about soft-skills and technical skills. The questions really allowed myself to showcase why I would be a great asset to the team.

General questions about my previous experience, my CV, my cover letter

Mostly behavioural questions which transitioned into conversation. Obviously need to have an elevator pitch down pat.

Why commercial law; why Allens; how I managed my time throughout university.

Generic

Conversational - based largely on my CV

What commercial topics in the news have you been keeping across? What was your favourite subject?

Both of my clerkship interviews at Allens were quite conversational. The common elements were questions about my CV and what I'd learned in each of my roles.

Mainly just about me and my hobbies.

Why Allens? Why law? Why commercial law? What do you anticipate being a weakness for you as a graduate? Tell us more about [work experience]. Tell us more about [volunteering experience].

Consider what questions are often asked in interviews, and what your likely response would be. The STAR format is very useful for responding in a coherent and structured manner.

Ask insightful questions. I think it's important to be able to show a genuine interest in the work and the firm above all else. By the time you get to the interview, they're probably already happy with you on paper. So the key thing is to show why you're keen on the work / firm.

Be your self and come prepared. Do some research into the firm, types of questions you may be asked and really know why you want to work there.

The best thing you can do is to be yourself. The key question they're looking to answer is, would I enjoy working with this person? Do they have EQ, are they self-aware, do they enjoy working with others, do they hold themselves to high standards

Learn about the companies values, speak to people in the company so that when you interview, you have a few names to drop as people generally know eachother

Lots of effort in CV and cover letter since no psychometric testing. Interview stage, prepare lots and make sure to make it a conversation.

Investigate which terms are actually 'market leading' at firms and tailor your cover letter accordingly.

I think it's best to demonstrate your knowledge of the firm, in particular the non-siloed approach and the big matters different groups have been working on. Otherwise, the firm definitely looks to hire down-to-earth (as well as competent) people, so don't manufacture the interviews - come well-prepared, but not overly-rehearsed.

Be confident. Don't have pre rehearsed answer.

Understand what commercial law is, and figure out why you want to work specifically in a commercial sphere. Consider whether you have any particular areas of interest. Do they overlap with the practice areas offered at Allens? What aspects of a firm's culture are important to you? Are those aspects strong elements of the culture at Allens?