Graduate Lawyer (Feb 2026)

• Kick-start your career in insurance litigation
• Fantastic learning & development opportunities
• Collaborative and supportive culture

The opportunity

We are inviting applications from final year law students to join our dedicated team in our Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington in early 2026. To be considered for a graduate role, you will need to have completed your law degree and be ready to commence full time employment in early February 2026. You can undertake Professional Studies (fees covered by WK) after your commencement date.

We’re looking for candidates who are ambitious, have a strong academic record and a genuine interest in litigation. A can-do attitude and excellent written and oral communication skills are a must, and you will need to be confident in engaging and working with a wide range of people.

Successful candidates can look forward to:

• a generous remuneration package (including competitive salary, education assistance, wellbeing reimbursements, health insurance contributions, income protection & life cover and additional leave entitlements);
• structured technical training through our junior lawyer technical training programme;
• dedicated mentoring from Kaitiaki (Guardian Partner) and allocated Senior Mentor, as well as support from a dedicated buddy;
• working across a range of practice areas;
• getting involved in some great WK-ommittee initiatives including Diversity & Inclusion, Probono, Volunteering and environmental;
• fantastic social events; and 
• more!
• access an array of training & development programmes.

About Us

Wotton Kearney is Asia Pacific’s leading insurance & risk legal business.

Born from the vision of David Kearney and Phillip Wotton in 2002, our story began modestly in Sydney with two partners, four lawyers and boundless ambition.

Today, that pioneering spirit has propelled us to new heights. We’ve grown into a dynamic force of over 700 professionals, including 85+ partners, spanning 10 offices across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.  Our New Zealand team is spread across our Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch offices.

Wotton Kearney is now the ‘go-to’ firm in the region for the majority of local, global and London market insurers, as well as brokers and corporates, particularly with the more complex issues facing the market. We are now highly regarded in the areas of complex property, energy and infrastructure claims, general liability (including product liability, property damage and public liability), and financial lines (including D&O, regulatory investigations and professional liability claims). 

WK also has specialist teams in the areas of cyber, privacy and technology, government, healthcare, marine and transport, media and defamation, workplace and safety, as well as a dedicated commercial litigation and class actions offering

More than just a law firm, we’re a community of big thinkers, trail blazers and impactful humans committed to making a difference. Together, with our clients, our people and our communities, we’re creating a legacy that redefines the world of insurance and risk. Together, we are greater.

What we have to offer

Wotton Kearney is passionate about creating a supportive environment so that people can achieve their career and personal goals.

Our three-tiered mentoring structure and training & development programme have been designed to ensure our junior lawyers have the support they need to thrive in the early years of their career. 

How do we help you to grow and develop your career?

• We’ve got complex, interesting, and cutting-edge matters to sink your teeth into. You’ll work alongside experts in their field and you will be exposed to market leading local and global clients;
• You will be kept up to date with the latest developments in the legal and insurance industries through internal and external conferences and workshops;
• Access to leading facilitators to help you build other valuable skills, like communicating with and managing others;
• The option to experiencing life inside a client’s business, through short and long-term secondments that offer you amazing client insights; 
• Professional associations memberships that open doors to industry networks.

Lastly, it matters to us that you feel recognised for what you bring to the team.  We take time out to wind down and we celebrate achievements, big or small, professional, or personal. 

These are some of the ways we say thanks to our people:

• Above-market remuneration
• Health insurance contributions
• Income protection and life insurance
• Wellbeing reimbursements and initiatives
• Reimbursement of Professionals course fees
• Birthday, wellness and volunteering leave 
• An inclusive, collaborative culture
• Flexible work arrangements, including work from home
• Ongoing investment in your career development
• A generous employee referral program
• Involvement in our Community Footprint Pro Bono & CSR Program
• Fantastic and regular social events throughout the year

If you’re wanting to join a high performing team and build your career as a recognised litigation lawyer, then we want to hear from you.

Applying for the position

If you are interested in applying for this position, please forward a copy of your cover letter, CV and academic transcript to us.

No recruiter approaches, please.