2024 Pathways Program - Sydney

Your pathway to a a legal career in Australia's largest insurance, dispute resolution + risk management firm.
  
About us
  
W+K is focused on insurance, risk management and dispute resolution – our business is structured to reflect client product lines and we service all policy types in every market sector. Reflecting the sophisticated market we serve, we also have strong capabilities in the areas of law that complement insurance law, including class action defence, D&O litigation and media law.
  
We work with the world’s largest insurers and re-insurers in the Australasia insurance markets, and many of Australia and New Zealand’s largest blue-chip corporates managing large under deductible insurance programs or self-insuring their business risks. But we don’t just act for market giants. Many of our clients are Lloyd’s syndicates writing insurance business in our region either directly or through cover holders, local underwriting agencies, insurance brokers, TPAs and other insurance market participants. We also act for individual directors and officers, corporations and organisations facing reputational and other significant risks.
  
Our work often involves helping businesses, organisations, and individuals when they’re facing situations that are angst ridden. Outcomes are uncertain, reputations, business viability and people’s wellbeing can be at stake. We do everything possible to achieve the best possible outcome, minimise uncertainty and angst for everyone involved and keep insured’s relationships with their insurers intact – that’s what we mean by keeping it real.
  
Our emphasis on building relationships that endure is at the core of our business model. Mutual respect, shared goals, investing in the future and helping make our communities better and fairer binds us together. Forging trusted relationships with our clients, their customers, industry bodies and regulators is embedded in our DNA. It’s non-negotiable.
  
Our Partners are routinely recognised amongst Australia’s best lawyers, and we’re ranked as Band 1 in the legal directories (if that matters to you).

Pathways Program 2024

We don’t do standard clerkships. Aspirational lawyers don’t want to spend their summer printing off reams of documents! Our unique Pathways Program for final year law students is the best way to build your legal skills and commercial acumen. It’s your opportunity to dive into large-scale litigation, be mentored by some of the best minds in the business and kickstart your career with a firm that values behaviours that build relationships, excellence, and a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture.
  
You’ll join W+K as a Paralegal, working casually during your last semester or final year of your law degree. You’ll support a champion team of lawyers who are tasked with ensuring you develop the necessary skills to put you at the front of the queue for a graduate position. Wotton + Kearney supports and funds all graduates who are completing their Practical Legal Training. They are provided with paid study leave throughout the year, educational fee assistance and individualised support provided from their seniors, buddies, and peers.
  
Through Pathways we’ll get to know you and do our best to match your interests, under-graduate degree, other work experiences and preferences into the teams you work with during Pathways. You’ll be doing real work for real clients alongside senior lawyers and Partners who are among the best in the business.

If you’re the type of person we’re looking for, you have many options. You might think a clerkship is right for you. And it might be. What we offer is something different but, like a clerkship, it’s a direct path to a graduate offer.

What we’re looking for?

You’ve got to want to be a litigator. No point considering us if that’s not in your plan. We aim to be the best and to help every lawyer become their best. That means you need to want that too. The pathway to becoming the best takes endless curiosity, a commitment to being a life-long learner and to being the type of person clients, colleagues and peers know they can trust. Legal expertise matters a lot but so too does the ability to form and maintain positive relationships and not just with your colleagues and clients but also with your peers, opponents, and the broader community.

We’re also looking for people that can encompass our firm values. Every day, each of us makes choices about how we act and what we say. Our values serve as a consistent reminder of the high standards we expect of everyone at W+K.

• MAIN GAME: Never being complacent – excellence in the insurance and risk services we provide. We look to develop meaningful and lasting relationships (both internally and externally) and we commit to giving back.
• HAVE EACH OTHERS BACK: We work as a team and invest in one another.
• BE REAL: We’re authentic and we value diversity.

To be eligible you must be

• undertaking the final semester or final year of your undergraduate law degree in 2024; and.
• either a citizen or permanent resident of Australia with full working rights.

How to apply

Please submit your CV, cover letter and academic transcript.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace at Wotton + Kearney. As part of our dedication to accessibility, we strive to support candidates with disabilities throughout the interview process. If you require any accommodations or assistance during the application and interview stages please contact [email protected].