This is Allens

I was quite selective about which firms I applied to when beginning my legal career. One of the things that was really important to me was working at a firm with a genuine commitment to social responsibility and access to justice. Allens' record on this front really impressed me but the words 'Australia's oldest law firm' gave me a really conservative vibe, which almost stopped me from even applying. As an outspoken Aboriginal and lesbian, I wasn't sure that I would find my people at Allens.

It was an Allens person I'd been paired up with through an Indigenous student mentoring program who convinced me to apply. So many firms tell you what you want to hear about their culture, but only through meeting their people and seeing it firsthand can you properly decide whether it's one that aligns with your values. I met some great people through the application process, which saw me eventually accept a clerkship offer with Allens.

Turning up on my first day, I was all business. I was convinced coming to Allens was the right move, as I knew stepping outside my comfort zone would push me to become a better lawyer. What I didn't expect was to find people who I'd genuinely connect with. To my surprise, Allens is full of people who proudly bring their whole selves to work – which makes for an interesting and diverse mix. Upon realising this, which was almost immediately, all my ideas about Allens were flipped.

Having gone through a period of coming to terms with my sexuality at a previous firm, I came to Allens with a resolution to be out, proud and confident, in the hope of fostering a space where others would feel proud and confident. Being out at work can feel a little uncomfortable sometimes. My dad tells me that politics have no place at work, but this is tricky when sexuality and gender are deeply personal, and often political.  For example, presenting my authentic self involves a relatively androgynous gender expression and, while Allens gives me the space to do this, it is not something that I take for granted. Gender presentation is such a public performance, in many ways that sexuality is not. For this reason, I acknowledge that sexuality, unlike gender identity, comes with many privileges that have not been afforded to non-binary, trans or gender diverse people.

Creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people will always be a goal of mine but it requires allyship to make it a reality. On a tour through the Castro District in San Francisco, the guide told me that allyship is a verb, not a noun. One of the things that I think makes Allens feel like a safe place for me is the firm's understanding that allyship comes through listening, learning and taking action.

There have been times where I've felt uncomfortable, and have given open feedback on the way something's been handled, expressed or communicated. On such occasions, I have provided my perspective to people at all levels of management, and have found that they genuinely listen, and engage with new perspectives and ideas.  This allyship is one of the reasons I am proud to work at Allens, and I look forward to the firm's continued efforts to ensure all LGBTQ+ people feel safe and included.