Discover Your Potential at Russell Kennedy.
If you’re looking to join a leading law firm and accelerate your career, Russell Kennedy is a great place to work. We’re committed to making a difference for our clients, providing opportunities for our people, and delivering lasting change for our community.
As part of our team, you’ll receive hands-on experience, quality mentoring and access to valuable learning opportunities. Our employees are provided with the opportunity to work on projects and with clients that matter.
At Russell Kennedy, each person counts. The size of our firm means that everyone is valued and has the opportunity to do meaningful work that matters. We establish clear career goals, expectations and plans for all employees and provide extensive training and development opportunities via our EDGE learning and development program.
Russell Kennedy is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and aims to ensure that in the application of all employment related policies, practices and procedures, all decisions are made on the basis of merit and fairness. Russell Kennedy is also committed to promoting a diverse and progressive that allows Russell Kennedy to attract and retain the most qualified and suitable employees and principals for the business.
The firm is dedicated to creating an environment that is characterised by equal access and respected participation of all groups and individuals. This is regardless of all differences, including of culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, age, religion, personal circumstances, physical features, abilities and disabilities, socioeconomics and sexual orientation.
Available Positions at Russell Kennedy
Russell Kennedy offers an 18 month Law Graduate program rotating through 3 practice groups. Our Graduate Program is designed to provide in depth on the job experience working across different teams within the firm. Spending six months in a practice group provides an opportunity to be exposed to different Principals, clients and industries that particular teams work with, allowing Graduates to deep dive into matters and apply skills learnt from formal studies in practice.
Russell Kennedy also partners with the College of Law to complete their Practical Legal Traineeship within the first 6 months of commencing.
Upon commencement, Law Graduates are allocated a Graduate Lead for their Graduate Program. They meet with their Graduate Lead on a regular basis to discuss their career progression, rotations and assist with personal development. In addition to this, we also allocate Law Graduates a Rotational Supervisor and Graduate Support. They will both assist with the transition from university to full-time employment. We are a signatory of the Law Institute of Victoria and all Seasonal Clerk and Traineeships are made within these guidelines.
Applications for our 2021 Law Graduate Program will open on Monday, 27 July 2020 and close Sunday, 16 August 2020 at 11.59 pm. Please note that the advertisement for the role will not appear until applications open on Monday 27 July 2020. Our Graduate Applications are only open to candidates who have clerked at Russell Kennedy.
For further information, please contact Britt Giles, People & Culture Advisor directly at bgiles@rk.com.au
Apply for the Russell Kennedy Law Graduate Program here
Our Seasonal Clerkship Program is designed to give you a real taste of life at Russell Kennedy. We have designed the program to be informative and interesting to help you decide whether you would like to apply for a Law Graduate position.
From the outset, clerks are paired with a Mentor and a Buddy in their allocated Practice Group who will ensure that they receive the necessary support to get the most out of their time with us.
Russell Kennedy offers a seasonal clerkship position to a student with disability for the 2020 – 2021 Seasonal Clerkship Program, known as the ‘Access RK Seasonal Clerkship’. The Access RK Seasonal Clerkship forms part of the Russell Kennedy Diversity and Inclusion strategy, with the successful applicant participating in the Russell Kennedy Seasonal Clerkship Program.
This year Russell Kennedy is also offering a social justice and indigenous identified position as part of our Seasonal Clerk Program.
- The RK Social Justice position is for a student who is of refugee background and/or has made an outstanding contribution to the community legal sector or pro bono sector. The RK Social Justice position has been created to celebrate and highlight the work of our Pro Bono Practice which provides a range of legal services to people with complex legal and other needs, including people seeking asylum and refugees.
- The RK Indigenous identified position is for a student who identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
- The Access RK Seasonal Clerkship is an initiative of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. As part of our Seasonal Clerkship Program, Russell Kennedy offers a seasonal clerkship position to a student with disability. The program will provide the successful applicant an opportunity to showcase their skills and gain experience in a legal environment. The Access RK Seasonal Clerkship is part of the Russell Kennedy Seasonal Clerkship Program, with the successful applicant enjoying all the benefits of Russell Kennedy alongside the rest of the seasonal clerks.
Both of these new clerkship streams underscore Russell Kennedy’s commitment to equal opportunity and to creating a work place that is not only diverse, but one that provides the support and education that makes it truly inclusive. These new clerkship streams sit alongside the existing RK Access program and the mainstream clerkship program.
Seasonal Clerkship Dates
Open: Monday, 6 July 2020
Close: Monday, 31 August 2020 at 11.59 pm
Offer: Wednesday, 28 October 2020 at 10.00 am
We are a signatory of the Law Institute of Victoria and all Seasonal Clerk and Traineeships are made within these guidelines.
Please direct all questions about Seasonal Clerkships to People & Culture Advisor, Britt Giles, on 03 8640 2301 or bgiles@rk.com.au
Apply for the Russell Kennedy Seasonal Clerkship Program here