About: Our values

Shaping the future is in our DNA – whether it’s helping our clients see around corners and take advantage of new opportunities; fostering growth and opportunity so our people can thrive, make a difference and be their very best; or contributing to the development of sustainable, diverse, equitable and just communities where everyone is recognised and included.

Continuing to shape the future means committing to a truly purpose-led culture, built on values that reflect who we are, where we've come from and who we want to be.

Driven by excellence

Everything we do, from delivering client work to interacting with one another, is done to the highest possible standards of quality and integrity. We strive to both do the best and be the best.

Eyes on the horizon

We look to the future and see the big picture, spotting new challenges and opportunities, helping our clients and ourselves prepare for what’s to come.

In it together

Greatness is a team sport, and it’s baked into how we operate. We are at our best when we work together. We all participate not spectate, share our views and get involved in every aspect of the firm. Whether we’re working in multi-disciplinary teams with our colleagues, or partnering with our clients, every challenge is something in which we are all invested.

Courageous & creative

We are bold and challenge the status quo. We aren’t afraid to experiment. We solve the problems others can’t because we are willing to look at things from new angles and challenge conventional thinking. We know that integrity sometimes takes courage.

Fostering greatness

We build each other up. We take pride in, and celebrate, the diversity of our team. We treat each other with respect and honesty. We work to make ourselves and each other the best we can be.

There is enormous strength in the unique backgrounds and life experiences our people bring to the firm. It helps us expand our thinking. It helps us grow.

Allens has long been committed to inclusion and diversity. Harnessing the many talents of our people helps us connect with our clients, solve complex problems, innovate and attract even more great people.

As a team, we have many different stories, but we stand side-by-side in delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients and communities.

Allens' inclusion and diversity strategy focuses on implementing the right structures, driving inclusive behaviours and building 'hearts and minds' commitment across a range of pillars, including gender, parents and carers, LGBTQ+, Indigenous and flexible work. We're looking to build on inclusion as a strength, mainstream flexible work and actively support and manage our talented people throughout their careers.

We are building a culture of genuine inclusion to support the success of women in the firm. We are well on our way to achieving our goal of 35% female partners by 2022.

We've been recognised by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for the past 15 years, reflecting our commitment and action in building a culture where all our people can thrive and reach their full potential.

Gender inclusion in action

Our career model, policies and initiatives have been developed with an emphasis on the engagement, professional development and promotion of women in the firm.
We have a strong and high-profile networking and mentoring group, Women at Allens, which is chaired by senior partners in each office.
Allens was one of the first organisations in Australia to become a signatory to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles. We are a signatory to the Law Council of Australia's National Equitable Briefing Policy which aims to eliminate briefing practices that consciously or unconsciously limit opportunities for female barristers, and a signatory to the Council's Diversity and Equality Charter.

Allens is proud to offer a best practice parents package that removes the distinction between primary and non-primary (secondary) carers and gives all employees the time and flexibility they need to create strong family connections.

We aim to have more men taking part in longer-term parental leave with the view of normalising caring behaviour and responsibilities, creating clear role models and breaking down stigma.

Parent and carer inclusion in action

18 weeks paid parental leave that gives all eligible employees the opportunity to take concurrent leave with their partner.
Flexibility in the way parental leave can be taken and the payment of superannuation on both the paid and unpaid components of parental leave.
For lawyers returning from three months parental leave, Allens provides a temporary break from billable expectations.
We also provide 1:1 parental leave transition coaching, a group coaching parents' program, priority placement at onsite childcare centres and access to external childcare and eldercare toolkits.

We established ALLin, our network for LGBTQ+ identifying partners, employees and their allies, in 2011. ALLin provides opportunities for members to build relationships with each other, our clients and the wider community through events, network meetings and pro bono legal assistance on matters of interest to the LGBTQ+ community.

LGBTQ+ inclusion in action

In recent years, we've assisted LGBTQ+ asylum seekers with their claims, and supported local and international parties to advocate for transgender rights and expunge historical homosexual criminal convictions.
Allens was the first law firm to be a member of Pride in Diversity, Australia's not-for-profit workplace program designed specifically to assist Australian employers with LGBTQ+ inclusion. We are currently a bronze employer in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI).
All Allens policies are inclusive of LGBTQ+ employees and their families.

In 2009, Allens became the first top-tier law firm in Australia to launch a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). In 2018, we released our fifth RAP, focusing on the development of relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, the fostering of respect and the creation of opportunities.

Indigenous inclusion in action

See our Community page for more

Our approach to flexible work recognises that everyone needs balance.

The outcomes of our work are more important than how, where or when work gets done, and we empower our people to make choices that balance the needs of our clients, our business and their personal circumstances.

Flexible work in action

Flexible work is for everyone at Allens. Our partners and people take part in many different types of formal and everyday flexible work.
Partners and leaders have specific conversations with their people about how flexible work can support their goals, wellbeing and sense of balance.
We proudly offer Allens Adapt assignments for lawyers wanting an alternative legal career or the opportunity to work in a highly flexible way.

Being bold and challenging the status quo is part of our DNA as a firm. That's why our art collection, accumulated since the mid-1970s, intentionally supports young and unknown artists whose work not only confronts us visually, but also exposes us to new ideas, perspectives and experiences.

For further information on our art collection, please contact:

Our values