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We asked our 2025 Melbourne Graduates about what attracted them to our Australian Graduate Program, what a typical day at Kennedys looks like, and any advice they had for potential applicants.
Rachel Kim
What attracted you to the Kennedys' graduate program?
Kennedys’ global presence as an international law firm was very attractive to me. I found Kennedys’ broad practice in both local and international markets exciting, and was drawn to opportunities to gain cross-jurisdictional work and learn from lawyers with ample experience. The firm’s welcoming and supportive culture is definitely a bonus!
What does a typical day look like as a graduate at Kennedys?
A typical day would involve researching, drafting, attending internal discussions, and assisting with administrative matters to support the team. The work focuses on building essential legal skills and providing exposure to diverse nature of work. Also, be excited for invitations to various business development events and team lunches!
What advice would you give to others wanting to apply?
Always have an open mind to learning and I would also recommend looking at Kennedys’ values as the firm takes great pride in embodying these values in the work we do.
I found Kennedys’ broad practice in both local and international markets exciting, and was drawn to opportunities to gain cross-jurisdictional work.
Hamish McDowell
What attracted you to the Kennedys' graduate program?
Having previously worked in the corporate advisory/litigation space, the chance to work for an international market leader like Kennedys was an exciting prospect. The variety of work spanning across Australia and the wider APAC region felt like a fantastic way to gain broad exposure early in my career. With a focus on personal development, the graduate programme places a strong focus on building both legal and personal skills, which is incredibly valuable when you're just starting out. The prioritisation of the ‘graduate experience’ was a major attraction for me when deciding to apply for the graduate program at Kennedys.
What does a typical day look like as a graduate at Kennedys?
Every day brings something different. One day, you might be helping advise an international client on an insolvency matter, and the next, assisting with a medical negligence claim for a local hospital. In the Melbourne office, a typical day often involves conducting legal research, drafting documents, and supporting your team to meet upcoming deadlines or prepare for court. In addition to this, we often assist on more ad hoc tasks that are requested by our clients. This could be anything from helping with a client seminar or researching a legal issue you’ve never come across before. You’re constantly learning, and the opportunity to work closely with experienced lawyers makes each day both challenging and rewarding.
What advice would you give to others wanting to apply?
Although it is a ‘cliché’ answer, if you are interested in applying at Kennedys the best thing you can do is be yourself! While academic results matter, it’s just as important to show that you’re well-rounded and genuinely interested in the work the firm does. Kennedys offers a wide range of practice areas, so take the time to research what areas you’re most drawn to and be clear about why. If you’re curious to learn more before applying, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Early Careers team—they’re friendly, approachable, and always happy to chat.
The chance to work for an international market leader like Kennedys was an exciting prospect.
Lily Thornley
What attracted you to Kennedys' graduate program?
Having already been working as an e-discovery paralegal at Kennedys, I was impressed with the firm’s culture, how helpful and supportive the people are, and found the work to be interesting. It was also appealing that the Graduate program runs in rotations, so I could gain experience from a number of teams to decide what area I may be interested in working in as an Associate.
What does a typical day look like as a graduate at Kennedys?
As expected with the nature of legal work, no one day is the same. I often start my day with grabbing an iconic Melbourne coffee with the team before assisting with legal work such as drafting, client interviews, attending directions hearings, research - the list is endless. I also volunteer on a range of committees such as the Women@Kennedys Network and our social committee so sometimes my days involve attending meetings and assisting with events and other workplace initiatives.
What advice would you give to others wanting to apply?
I know that the process of applying for Graduate roles at the end of your degree is overwhelming, but the Kennedys recruitment team are really supportive and make the process as seamless as possible. So, my advice would be to be open-minded, have a positive attitude, and enjoy this next phase of your legal career!
I was impressed with the firm’s culture, how helpful and supportive the people are, and found the work to be interesting.
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