Updating Results

Arnold Bloch Leibler

4.5
  • 100 - 500 employees

Arnold Bloch Leibler Reviews

Based on 18 surveyed graduates working at Arnold Bloch Leibler. Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate.
4.5
Based on 18 reviews

Pros & Cons

  • I started recently as a Graduate and I have been making meaningful contributions towards large and interesting deals from the beginning. The team culture is also great. Everyone is friendly, knows each other well, and makes an effort to work cohesively.
  • Workplace relations at our firm are not forced or artificial. Every person genuinely cares about each other and is willing to help one another out. I come to work every day happy to see my colleagues and work with them on otherwise extremely complex matters.
  • Really good graduate support, interesting work, and you don't feel like you're just another "cog in the wheel" because the graduate cohort is relatively small
  • The people at Arnold Bloch Leibler are down to earth, highly intelligent, supportive and display a genuine ethic of care towards their graduates. While the work at ABL can be challenging, it is highly intellectually stimulating and offers great reward. The matters we work on are very interesting.
  • The diverse range of people (both clients and other lawyers) that you get to work with! There's no one type of personality in the office, and everyone is very kind.
  • The firm's smaller size can mean a heavy workload as a matter is run by fewer people than might be involved at a bigger firm.
  • A lack of overseas secondment opportunities, however still go overseas independently to leading firms.
  • I feel like the firm needs to host more social events for its employees.
  • Some of the IT systems could be modernised.
  • Not much flexibility.

What Insiders Say

9.2
Career Prospects
9.2
Career Prospects
The firm has a set-criteria in its HR policies to advise employees on career progression pathways.
9.0
Corporate Social Responsibility
9.0
Corporate Social Responsibility
Mark Leibler is known across the country for his commitment to promoting Indigenous rights. This commitment is keenly felt across the rest of the business.
9.1
Culture
9.1
Culture
The firm is very good about allowing juniors to play major roles in a matter. A grad will often work one-on-one with a partner and be speaking with clients regularly. Everyone is always willing to provide support on the matter even if they are not working on it, such as asking questions about a firm structure or explaining the meaning of a contract clause. The firm provides lots of occasions for socialising with others, including those from other practice groups. Otherwise, there are regular chats in the hall and coffee breaks to keep up with everyone's social lives.
8.8
Diversity
8.8
Diversity
Diversity is real at our firm. It's not just a catch-word. We have one of the most diverse teams in the city. The partnership actively promotes women and men equally.
9.1
Satisfaction
9.1
Satisfaction
As a grad, I get to be involved in a lot of matters and will do various tasks such as research and drafting and reviewing agreements. There is a lot of variety in what I get to do and will not always be confined to working on matters that relate to the practice group I am in.
9.3
Management
9.3
Management
I have a supervising partner in my team with whom I work closely. I also work with other partners in my team and other teams across the firm. They are great mentors who challenge you. HR is also always in touch with graduates, making sure we are settling in.
9.4
Office Work Environment
9.4
Office Work Environment
The office building is really beautiful and it's great that everyone (including grads) gets their own office. We have all the resources that we need. The dress code is the standard corporate attire, but on Fridays, we can be more casual provided we are not meeting with a client.
9.3
Recruitment
9.3
Recruitment
I only had a clerkship interview for the position, but the interview was by far the best of all the firms I interviewed at. The ABL interview was quite early in the process. There was an HR representative and two partners from different practice groups. The round table setup made me feel less stressed and like it was more of an informal conversation. After the interview, which went for 30-45 minutes I met with a law grad to have coffee and discuss what it was like working at the firm. There was no testing during the interview process. ABL ended the clerkship application process with a cocktail evening to reconnect everyone.
9.4
Salary
9.4
Salary
Well above market (including top tier firms) at junior pay. Considering the hours worked are lower than average too, this appears to be the best of both worlds, as long as you can disregard the lack of "perceived prestige" compared to the Big 6 firms.
9.0
Training
9.0
Training
ABL runs an SLT program to train their graduates to be lawyers. I love this approach - they value learning on the job, from real practitioners across the firm, on real matters. We also had a 1-week, comprehensive induction week when we started to help us settle in.
9.1
Work Hours
9.1
Work Hours
Working with my supervisor, who I think may be more flexible than others, has meant I can attend the office roughly 8.30 am to 6 pm most days, but otherwise work from home, which is what makes working with the firm sustainable for me.
7.3
Sustainability
7.3
Sustainability
There are a lot of automatic systems to save power, e.g. sensor lights.

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