Life at Allens

Clients, culture and the cutting edge: Meet our 2023 graduates

Is there any time more full of possibility than the first stages of your career? Our 2023 graduates come from many different backgrounds, but all harbour high hopes for their future in the legal profession.
From client impact and social change to continuous development and contributing to our great culture, our latest cohort share their hopes for the future and reflections on their first month at Allens.

Ioana Sabau told us she's looking forward to being part of a client-focused team.

'In the long term, I hope to be a key part of a strong team that our clients can truly depend on. I would love to be an expert in a field and support and mentor others around me. In the short term, I’d like to be as helpful as possible for my colleagues while absorbing as much knowledge and skill as I can.'

George Cramer told us about his experience after high school and his eventual path to the law.

'I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree straight out of high school without any plan on what I'd do after. Following graduation, I was asked by a friend to play in a band with him in London, so I spent two years living and working overseas. After returning to Sydney, I began working in the non-government organisation space and worked in homelessness and community services. While working with disadvantaged and marginalised communities, I began to see how structural issues in society can affect those worst off. I wanted to study law to get a better understanding of the world around me and make an impact.'

Anya Plummer says she's been blown away by the welcome she's received at Allens.

'My highlight so far has been the people I've met and the meaningful connections I've formed. Every firm talks a big game about its culture, but ultimately, the culture is built by the people who are present. Allens is full of so many down-to-earth, kind and generous people who have welcomed me into the firm so warmly and graciously. I am constantly blown away by how interested people are in getting to know me and how much people will go out of their way to make time for you.'

Kevin Ren told us what he's most looking forward to in starting his professional career at Allens.

'I'm keen to get involved and learn as much as possible. It's an exciting time to start my career after six years at university. More importantly, I want to try all the Allens snacks and develop a definitive Allens snack rating – I'll keep you posted on that. Snacks aside, I'd like to be the best lawyer I can be, which is definitely a work in progress. For me, that means striving for great client results, being easy to work with, being a team player and developing my expertise.'

Maya Bahra told us about the work she's enjoyed most in her first few weeks.

'It’s a bit cliché, but I have truly enjoyed every day so far! It’s been so wonderful getting to know everyone, and already the work has been incredibly varied and stimulating. If I had to pick one thing, it would be helping to draft an Insight article on a recent Supreme Court case that may impact our clients. The exercise was really interesting, because it highlighted how Allens is at the forefront of providing legal solutions to issues that affect the industry, and it helped me consider how to present the legalistic judgement in a client-facing way.'

Alice Xue, who joined us as a Legal Transformation Graduate in our Knowledge and Practice Services team, told us what impact she hopes to have.

'As a Legal Transformation Graduate, I look forward to working with a group of highly qualified and experienced professionals and learning about cutting-edge legal technologies, innovative solutions, and the crucial role legal project management plays at the firm. I am eager to apply my skills and knowledge to drive meaningful change and witness the impact firsthand.'