2026 Law Graduate Program

Russell Kennedy’s 12-month Law Graduate Program offers a dynamic rotation through four distinct practice groups, giving you the opportunity to build a strong foundation across multiple areas of law.

Russell Kennedy partners with the College of Law enabling graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training within the first 18 weeks of commencement of the program.

At Russell Kennedy, we’re committed to fostering your growth and development in a supportive and collaborative environment. From day one, each Law Graduate is paired with a dedicated Graduate Lead who provides ongoing guidance throughout the program. Regular check-ins with your Graduate Lead offer the opportunity to discuss career progression, rotation experiences, and personal development goals.

To further support your transition from university to full-time legal practice, you’ll also be assigned a Rotational Supervisor and Graduate Support within each practice group. These team members provide day-to-day mentorship and help you navigate your new role with confidence.

You’ll receive on-the-job feedback during each rotation, complemented by a formal review session with People & Culture and a Principal at the end of every rotation.

Our comprehensive Learning and Development program is designed to equip you with the practical skills, legal knowledge, and professional confidence needed to thrive. As part of your ongoing development, you’ll have access to regular in-house CPD seminars, client events, and external training opportunities, ensuring you’re well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of a successful legal career.

At Russell Kennedy, we take great pride in our collaborative and inclusive culture. We’re intentional about recruiting confident, capable individuals who thrive in team environments and are eager to contribute to meaningful work. Our impressive client base offers new lawyers the chance to work on high-quality matters across specialised areas of law. Our firm’s size fosters a close-knit environment where staff enjoy meaningful interactions with both colleagues and clients.

We are deeply committed to delivering exceptional legal advice, fostering a rewarding and supportive workplace for our people, and providing a rich learning environment where Law Graduates can grow, thrive, and build successful legal careers.

**Further Information**

Please include a copy of your cover letter outlining why you’re interested in joining Russell Kennedy, along with your CV and academic transcript.

Applications can be submitted to:
Vanessa Maio - People & Culture Coordinator
Russell Kennedy
Level 18, 500 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Applications will close at 11.59 pm on Sunday 2 November 2025.

**Our Firm and Culture**

Russell Kennedy is a commercial law firm with more than 340 people in Melbourne and Sydney. At Russell Kennedy we are committed to providing exceptional legal strategies and solutions to our clients, guided by market-leading expertise across our key sectors of focus.

At Russell Kennedy, we respect and celebrate the things that make each of us different. 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 culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, age, religion, personal circumstances, physical features, abilities and disabilities, socioeconomics and sexual orientation.

Russell Kennedy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is certified as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality. We are committed to being a LGBTIQ friendly and disability confident employer. The firm supports and promotes a range of initiatives including, the Russell Kennedy Women's Network and our Diversity and Inclusion committee, with 3 key focuses: Access RK (Accessibility and Disability), Kaleidoscope (Cultural Diversity) and SPARKLE (LGBTIQ).

Russell Kennedy is dedicated to creating and participating in a meaningful process of reconciliation as part of the broader national reconciliation movement. Our key aims in embarking on our first RAP are to celebrate the deep knowledge of First Nations communities, the longest continuing cultures in the world, acknowledge past wrongs and to begin to build a structured future together where we can play our part in righting those wrongs through our own reconciliation initiatives.