Paralegal - Sydney null

About Kennedys Australia

Kennedys is a renowned global law firm, specializing in litigation, dispute resolution, and advisory services, particularly within the insurance and liability sectors. With a team of over 2,500 professionals across 45 offices worldwide, Kennedys boasts some of the most esteemed legal minds in their respective fields. Their client base includes insurers, reinsurers, Lloyd’s Syndicates, public bodies, and corporates, benefitting from Kennedys' deep sector knowledge to navigate regulatory impacts and provide invaluable business advice.

Your role

Kennedys is looking for available students studying their LLB or JD in their third year or above to work 2-3 days a week as a Paralegal. This provides a fantastic opportunity to experience working in a fast-paced law firm specialising in dispute resolution and advisory services across a number of areas including financial lines, general liability, coverage and marine insurance matters.

The successful Paralegal will assist lawyers in case preparation, drafting correspondence, conducting legal research and providing general proactive assistance to a team of lawyers as and when required. Attendance at court for note-taking will also be required.

Key Responsibilities 

• Assist lawyers with case preparation including but not limited to:
• Collate documents for briefs/instructions to counsel and to experts
• Draft letters (even if small covering letters)
• Proofreading reports
• Conduct legal research or procedural/court research
• Telephone court registries, to another side, counsel or third parties involved in matters
• Draft court documents (Statements of claim, affidavits, concerns notice)
• Attend court hearings to take notes
• Appear in court for small matters (subpoena lists)
• The review discovered documents, exhibits or other evidence and prepare chronologies
• Review and summarise subpoena material and evidence in proceedings
• Transcribe interviews or videos for defamation matters (if applicable)
• Fill documents online, collate digital briefs and Sharefile links (once approved by lawyers)
• Cross-referencing, searching for cases in support of submissions or referred to in submissions
• Prepare mediation bundles, collating documents for court books or trials
• Discovery tasks
• Perform ASIC searches, company searches and property searches
• Create indexes of important documents, brief to counsel or discovered documents

Training & development

Kennedys ensures a seamless onboarding experience, focusing on quick integration into the global team through networking with colleagues and leaders. They offer tailored career development programs at all levels, delivered by industry experts, to support career progression. Personalized support extends to mentoring, executive coaching, and an interactive learning platform, catering to individual development needs across the Kennedys network.

To learn more about what it's like to work at Kennedys Australia, watch this video:

Benefits

Kennedys offers a comprehensive range of benefits focusing on health, well-being, and lifestyle needs for employees and their families. These benefits, some funded by the Firm, cater to various needs and may vary by location. The firm also supports an agile work approach, providing family-friendly policies such as paid family leave, hybrid working options, and sabbatical leave to help employees balance work and family responsibilities. Kennedys' emphasis on wellbeing includes resources like resilience training, mental health first aiders, and a global employee assistance program, fostering an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.

Work-life balance

At Kennedys, employees experience an exciting, fast-paced, and diverse work environment. The firm values work-life balance, offering a hybrid working policy that allows flexibility between home and office. In the open-plan offices, designed to foster approachability, employees have access to breakout social areas and meeting rooms. Kennedys promotes a "dress for your day" dress code, encouraging casual attire whenever suitable.

Culture & vibe

Kennedys develops its distinct culture by fostering global and regional diversity and inclusion in employee groups, facilitating regular meetings for idea sharing and initiative discussions. Employees have the opportunity to engage by volunteering as mentors, speakers, or representatives at DE&I events. The firm emphasizes DE&I participation, offering chargeable hour credits for time spent on diversity and inclusion activities.

About you

Requirements

• Students studying their LLB or JD in their third year
• Co-ordinate work activities
• Prioritise tasks/multi-task
• Carry out duties and meet deadlines in accordance with instructions
• Communicate effectively in a business environment
• Represent Kennedys to a high standard at all times

Sources

The following sources were used in researching this page

• kennedyslaw.com/en/careers-at-kennedys/life-at-kennedys/