Join a leading insurance law firm and work on complex, high-stakes matters from day one. As part of Kennedys' growing Australian practice, you'll develop expertise alongside top-tier lawyers while connecting to our global insurance law network and international opportunities.
The program
Our 12-month Graduate Program is designed to launch your legal career with comprehensive experience across our core practice areas. You'll complete three rotations through Insurance, Liability, Commercial and/or Healthcare, giving you broad exposure to specialist legal work and the opportunity to discover your areas of interest.
What you'll do
As a Law Graduate at Kennedys, you'll play a key role supporting Partners and senior lawyers on active files across a diverse range of tasks:
Conduct legal research and prepare chronologies
Assist with drafting court forms, pleadings and legal documents
Prepare first draft advice under supervision
Attend meetings and prepare detailed attendance notes
Draft correspondence to parties and courts
Review medical records and expert evidence
Support trial preparation activities
Attend mediations and settlement conferences
Co-author articles with senior lawyers for publication
Your development
We're committed to your professional growth through:
Comprehensive technical training including in-house and external seminars
Live facilitated skills training throughout the year
A dedicated buddy to help you settle in and provide peer support
Partner and senior lawyer supervision and mentorship in each rotation
Autonomy and direct client contact from an early stage
Fully funded Practical Legal Training (PLT) through The College of Law
Study leave provided, including for admission
Transition to an Associate position with a permanent contract upon successful completion of the program
What we're looking for
To be successful in our Graduate Program, you will:
Demonstrate academic excellence throughout your tertiary studies
Be naturally curious with strong research skills and excellent attention to detail
Communicate clearly and directly in writing and conversation
Take initiative in problem-solving and show leadership potential
Work collaboratively, supporting colleagues and contributing to team success
Be adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment
Manage multiple priorities with strong organisational skills
Be ambitious in your professional development and eager to take on responsibility
We value graduates who are approachable in their interactions, straightforward in their communication, supportive of their colleagues, and ambitious about their career growth. You don't need prior knowledge of insurance law - we'll teach you the technical expertise. What matters is that you're ready to learn, contribute meaningfully, and embrace the opportunity to build something distinctive in your legal career.
Hear from current graduates on what attracted them to Kennedys, what a typical day looks like, and their advice for applicants.
Eligibility to apply
To be considered for our graduate program, you must be completing or have recently completed a Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD), and hold permanent Australian working rights. This program is for students in their final year of study in 2026 who will have their law degree conferred by February 2027, or recent graduates not yet practising.
Applications close Sunday 23 August 2026, 11:59pm AEST
Recruitment process
Online application form, attaching your resume and university transcript
Video Interview
Final Interviews will be held between 14 to 23 September (in-person for candidates based in Melbourne)
Offers extended on Wednesday 30 September
Offer Acceptance by 11am Thursday 1 October
Please let us know if you require any additional support or adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process.
If you have any questions, please contact our team at: [email protected]