Articles of clerkship are a time-honoured arrangement for aspiring lawyers to gain practical legal training before becoming qualified to practise law.
Our founder, George Allen, completed his five years of training articled to Frederick Garling before opening his own legal practice in 1822.
A strong believer in the value of education, George was dedicated to expanding education opportunities in the colony of New South Wales. He helped found Sydney Public Free Grammar School and served on various education committees for over 30 years, including at the University of Sydney, where a scholarship is still given from his bequest.
Perth graduates, 2022.
Allens has exceeded my expectations with this clerkship. I really enjoy how structured and well thought-out the training and sessions have been, and how welcoming and friendly everyone is at the firm.
- Perth Clerk, July 2022
The system of legal training has evolved significantly since George Allen's time. George was required to pay for his training rather than be paid for the work he carried out for his principal – a practice that continued in New South Wales until the 1950s. What has remained constant, both at Allens and across the profession, is the view that on-the-job training – where graduates are given the opportunity to work under the supervision of the most senior members of the firm – is a critical part of professional development.
For Diccon Loxton, Senior Finance Counsel, who was an articled clerk in the 1970s, a standard day involved research and letter writing, meetings with clients and attending property settlements, but much of it revolved around a constant stream of yellow memos containing directives such as 'please attend at the Water Board and uplift drainage diagram for property X'.
Ruth Edenborough (nee Barnet) began her articles in 1963 and was one of the firm's first female articled clerks. Like Loxton, she enjoyed navigating her way around the city but had the added challenge of doing it in high heels, noting: 'My heels were always getting stuck in grates and I would often hobble back to the office in a broken shoe'.
Investing in young lawyers remains fundamentally important to Allens, and the training received has formed the foundation of many careers in business, investment banking, journalism, the judiciary and at the bar.