Kain Lawyers Clerkship Program

Applications are now closed for our 2025 Clerkship Program

About the Kain Lawyers Clerkship Program

Attracting and retaining quality young lawyers is a key driver of the success of our business. We accelerate the development of our clerks and junior lawyers with mentoring from our senior lawyers, by being involved in real-world transactions, and through the involvement of our one-year transactions training program, TransactionPro.

Kain Lawyers participates in the Uniform Clerkship Scheme to select penultimate and final year law students to undertake a four week clerkship.

Our clerkship program has been running for 20 years, with former clerks in every level of our business, and is a critical element of our business.

We know everyone is unique and brings different skills and perspectives to our team and we are proud of the culture we have developed. We excitedly welcome newcomers with similar cultural alignment and look forward to working with the next generation.

Application dates 2025 for Adelaide:
Applications closed: Friday 1 August, 5pm
First round offers made: Monday 15 September, 9am
Clerkship dates: Four week duration from 24 November to 19 December 2025

Location of Clerkship: Adelaide, South Australia

Developing your legal skills

TransactionPro is an intensive one-year training program developed by our directors that accelerates the development of core transactional skills for our graduates and lawyers. This hands-on experience and training places our clerks ahead of the pack when it comes to transaction and transaction dispute experience and helps them start their career with confidence.

The Kain Foundation

The Kain Foundation works alongside the corporate and community sector to create opportunities for children and young people in need. We believe in a two-way opportunity, for children and young people to fulfil their potential and for businesses and their employees to experience projects.

The Foundation currently runs two programs:

• Northern Opportunities, a youth development program run in Adelaide’s northern suburbs in partnership with Salisbury High School and community partners; and
• Ugandan Landcare Opportunities, a community development program run in Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Landcare Network and school communities.

To find out more about the Kain Foundation, please visit the Foundation website.

Hear from our Team

Claudia Geekie, Lawyer

“During my clerkship at Kain Lawyers I was immediately involved in all aspects of a commercial transaction, including attending a client meeting on my first day. I thoroughly enjoyed the collaborative approach that Kain Lawyers takes and found the opportunity to work with teams like disputes, debt, funds and M&A (Public and Private) at the same time provided invaluable insight into the different areas of commercial law. Kain Lawyers’ strong focus on the professional development of its lawyers also stood out to me. The team at all levels is involved in TransactionsPro which is a program designed to provide exposure to the full lifecycle of a transaction, accelerating the growth and development of clerks, graduates and junior lawyers by engaging with concepts that may otherwise take years to encounter.“

Hugo Walter, Law Clerk

“Kain Lawyers gives you the rare opportunity to learn from industry-leading lawyers while gaining hands-on experience and training across a wide range of transactional matters, without being limited to a single practice area.”

Sebastian Quaini, Law Clerk

“My clerkship at Kain Lawyers gave me the opportunity to contribute to a diverse range of transactional matters and strengthen my technical skills in a practical setting. Being part of a driven and approachable team, within a culture that genuinely prioritises personal and professional growth, accelerated my development and made me feel like a valued member of the firm from day one. I would highly recommend the Kain Lawyers Clerkship program to anyone looking to begin their career in transactional law.”

Daniel Sladojevic, Lawyer

”My clerkship with Kain Lawyers was a truly unique experience, where I was given the opportunity to work closely with senior lawyers and directors on a wide range of complex corporate transactions and commercial disputes. Kain’s strong focus on fostering an approachable and collaborative culture meant that I was trusted with meaningful work while always having support when I needed it.”

Gemma Kerin, Associate

“I started as a Clerk at Kain Lawyers in November 2022 and have continued full time as a Graduate Clerk in 2023. Throughout my Clerkship I had the opportunity to work alongside a number of Directors and Lawyers getting to help out on all aspects of various transactions. From day one I was able to get involved on deals including attending client meetings and helping draft a range of transaction documents. I have enjoyed working in a firm that actively prioritises creating a supportive environment, with people of all levels always willing to help and answer questions. I also had fun visiting the Sydney office where we got to network and meet clients as well as have dinners with the Sydney team and go for an early morning Bondi to Brontee coastal walk.”

Jack Gulliver, Law Clerk

“My clerkship at Kain Lawyers was extremely enjoyable. As a result of Kain Lawyer’s collaborative environment, the team is very approachable and welcoming. From the first week of my clerkship, I had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of transactional matters, including active involvement in client meetings, comprehensive legal research and drafting documents. Throughout the clerkship, technical leads held a transaction Q&A session with the clerks about their respective area of expertise, allowing the clerks to accelerate their understanding of the various areas within transaction law that Kain Lawyers specialise in. Kain Lawyers places a strong emphasis on learning and development, as is evident by very accessible senior lawyers and their commitment to teach younger team members in a year long transaction training program. It was clear to me throughout my clerkship that everyone at Kain Lawyers is extremely knowledgeable and committed to each transaction, fostering an environment for younger clerks and lawyers to prosper.”

Emily Stollznow, Associate

“My experience at Kain Lawyers has been truly invaluable. I have thoroughly enjoyed collaborating directly with state-of-the-art lawyers who possess extensive knowledge, experience, and networks about corporate transactions. The absence of a siloed system at Kain Lawyers allows graduates like myself to gain exposure to a wide range of areas within corporate transactions. One aspect that stands out to me about working in corporate transactions at Kain Lawyers is the chance to make a substantial difference in our clients’ lives by providing them with the best possible outcomes in their deals, thanks to our strong commercial acumen.”

Jeremy Harford, Lawyer

“I found my Clerkship at Kain Lawyers to be highly rewarding and enjoyable, presenting valuable opportunities for professional and personal development. Kain Lawyers wins high quality work from complex clients, and Clerks have the opportunity to do meaningful work for these clients from the beginning of their Clerkship, with substantial guidance and feedback from senior lawyers. Kain Lawyers also places a strong emphasis on training and development of Clerks and junior lawyers. Throughout my Clerkship, I have had access to comprehensive training programs, including sessions with the technical leads of different practice areas, clerkship rotations through different practice areas, and the TransactionPro program which covers the entirety of the M&A process in detail. Moreover, Kain Lawyers has a fantastic culture, where everyone is accessible, generous with their time, and very happy to answer any questions. I would highly recommend the Kain Lawyers Clerkship Scheme to anyone starting their legal career, particularly those with an interest in corporate or transactions law.”

Rocco Ierace, Lawyer

“My 2023 Clerkship with Kain Lawyers was extremely rewarding. From day one, the team was very warm and welcoming, assisting me to make the most of my Clerkship. The team took the time to explain how the firm works and provided invaluable training sessions led by the firm’s technical leads in each practice area, empowering me to be informed, prepared, and challenged. I was exposed to a variety of meaningful and technical tasks including research, drafting documents and in-depth interactions with clients. The team is exceptional at providing context to tasks and feedback, giving you the tools to succeed and develop your practical legal skills. The support and collegiality throughout the Clerkship and its social aspect makes you feel like part of the team.”

Taylor Moore, Associate Director

“Kain Lawyers places a strong emphasis on the growth and development of its Clerks and junior Lawyers, generating valuable opportunities for both professional and personal development. During my time as a Clerk and now as an Associate at the firm, I have had access to a comprehensive training program specifically designed for junior Lawyers, which covers all aspects of M&A. This tailored program has been instrumental in equipping me with the necessary skills and knowledge to begin developing my expertise and personal brand. Kain Lawyers attracts and wins top-tier work from sophisticated clients. There is a strong focus on providing junior Lawyers with an opportunity to work across all aspects of these files from the start of their career. This focus has led to constant exposure to complex legal and commercial problems, broadening my skill set and sharpening my analytical skills. I highly recommend the Kain Lawyers Clerkship program to anyone seeking a rewarding and transformative experience at the beginning of their legal career.”