Kennedys Clerkship Application
Market-leading insurance expertise with straightforward, supportive guidance across complex claims globally
Program Overview
- Criterion: LLB or JD completing by February 2027, or recent graduate not yet in professional employment - Criterion: Permanent Australian working rights required - Criterion: Strong academic performance - Criterion: Clear written communication skills - Mentoring: Partner exposure through rotational program structure - Mentoring: Embedded learning within core practice areas - Development: 3 rotations across core practice areas (Insurance, Liability, Healthcare, Commercial) - Development: Exposure to diverse practice groups including PI, financial lines, D&O, defamation, medical negligence, employment, cyber, and commercial litigation - Development: Practical experience across Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth offices - Pathway: Transition to Associate position with permanent contract upon program completion
Locations
- NSW
Firm Values
- - Identity: Market-leading insurance law firm with global reach and Australian offices in four major cities
- - Identity: Rapid expansion phase with 19 recent insurance hires and 3 new Melbourne partners
- - Identity: Founded with heritage of distinctive expertise across complex insurance claims
- - Values: Approachable
- - Values: Straightforward
- - Values: Supportive
- - Values: Distinctive
- - Values: Ambitious
- - Culture: Equitable opportunities through Social Mobility Network (launching 2026)
- - Culture: LGBTQ+ inclusive via new Foundation partnership (from 2026)
- - Culture: Committed to diversity through Aspiring Solicitors partnerships
- - Differentiator: Specialist in PI
- financial lines
- D&O
- defamation
- casualty
- healthcare
- cyber
- marine
- transport
- employment
- - Differentiator: Casual paralegal roles as primary work-experience pathway
Awards & Recognition
- - Award: Best Lawyers Australia 2026 — 26 individual rankings across 13 practice areas
- - Award: Pro Bono Recognition List 2026 — Multiple lawyers recognised on Australian Pro Bono Recognition List
- - Ranking: Legal 500 Australia 2025 — Tier 1 for Insurance
- 7 individual lawyer listings
- - Ranking: Legal 500 Singapore 2025 — Top tier ranking retained
- - Ranking: Chambers Global 2025 — Active recognition across directories
- - Recognition: Expertise spanning Insurance, Medical Negligence, Personal Injury Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation, Commercial, Construction/Infrastructure, Health and Aged Care, Information Technology, Privacy and Data Security, Product Liability, Professional Malpractice, and Shipping and Maritime
Community & Pro Bono
- Program: Thrive Together (global volunteering and pro bono programme) - Focus: Employment law, workplace advice, LGBTQ+ legal matters, social mobility - Initiative: Social Mobility Network (launched 2026); LGBTQ+ Foundation partnership for pro bono matters and community engagement; social value tracking software implementation - Impact: Lawyers recognised on 2026 Pro Bono Recognition List; equitable access to legal careers supported across socioeconomic backgrounds - Partner: Kingsford Legal Centre (UNSW), Fair Work Commission Pro Bono Workplace Advice Service, LGBTQ+ Foundation, The Children's Society