Life at Allens

Supporting careers for First Nations students: meet interns Sydney and Aimee

Since 2006, our First Nations Internship program has provided Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with the chance to explore careers in a commercial legal environment. Over the years, more than 140 law students have gained valuable insights into life at Allens and the work we do.The program offers students the opportunity to meet our partners, lawyers, and corporate services team members, join a practice group, learn about our work, and gain practical insights into what our clients want.

Sydney Auld and Aimee Lawson are two of our most recent First Nations interns. They share some of their experiences and learnings from their time at Allens so far.

Sydney Auld, Corporate Services First Nations Intern

I'm currently a second-year Bachelor of Arts student at the University of Melbourne, where I hope to complete a double major in Psychology and Criminology. I was born and lived with my family in the Northern Territory before heading to high school, where I was a boarder at Pymble Ladies College in New South Wales.

I learned about Allens' First Nations Internship Program through an Australian Indigenous Education Foundation newsletter. After reading the reviews of other students who had completed their own internships and their positive experiences, I felt inspired to apply.

Working at Allens is my first real look at life outside the classroom and insight into the corporate world. Allens has such a positive reputation, so getting to experience the firm and some of the work they do is a big plus for me.

Working in Corporate Services has given me insight into the firm’s large operations and networks and how they all work and communicate together seamlessly. I was initially surprised by how well the firm operates with partners and clients interstate and the firm's promotion of work-life balance and wellbeing of their staff.

So far, I've really enjoyed interacting with all the different people around the firm; the inclusive culture brings a sense of belonging and the mentorship provided has allowed me to learn from experienced and knowledgeable people. Allens has been such a welcoming place to work, where everyone is incredibly supportive and makes you feel like part of the team from day one.

Aimee Lawson, Legal First Nations Intern

I'm a fourth-year Law and International Studies student at the University of Western Sydney. As I begin my internship at Allens, I look forward to meeting new people and experiencing all that Allens offers. I'm also really looking forward to integrating myself into the culture and learning new skills from new people. 

As part of my internship, I hope to gain insight into new areas of law while also learning about how a firm like Allens operates. I'm also looking forward to getting a better understanding of which areas of law I'd like to work in when I start to look at graduate and clerkship opportunities in the future.

When I think about what will be an important focus area for businesses as I begin my career, the expansion and development of AI stand out as key. I think it's an incredible tool that can be used in many different areas. Its uses are still mostly untapped, and the ability to use it for business growth will be an incredible advancement. I look forward to seeing that come to life as I begin my career and learning how Allens embraces it in my time at the firm.

I think my generation brings a new approach to emerging technologies and diversity in the workplace. As a generation who grew up with technology, we see how it can enhance our systems and be an asset for the development of the law. I believe my generation is ready to adapt and change with technology as it advances and to see how we can make it work best for us.

At this stage, I don't know what I want my career to look like. I find so many areas of the law interesting and find it hard to determine what draws me in the most. I do know that I hope my career is diverse and offers opportunities for work in lots of different subject areas and practices, and I can't wait to see how technology will help me along the way.