In what some commentators are calling a ‘first’ in the Australian legal industry, Adelaide-based Kain C+C Lawyers is opening its doors to a Michigan State University law student to improve its business.

When MSU Law announced the inaugural Kain Innovation Internship on Twitter last week, it attracted huge attention from the US and here in Australia.

“Congratulations. A first?” asked legal services guru, George Beaton.

Whilst being first wasn’t the reason for creating the internship, it certainly demonstrates that Kain is serious about unlocking innovation in its business.

“This internship will give our team greater perspective,” said John Kain, Managing Director of Kain C+C Lawyers.

“It will help us to open our minds beyond the limitations of our own experiences.”

MSU law student Daniel Elliott will be the inaugural innovation intern for Kain, which will host a summer intern from MSU’s law school each year.

Innovation interns will be responsible for identifying a business improvement project, performing prep assignments through a Kain liaison, and doing on-the-ground implementation work. They will provide weekly status presentations and briefings to the Kain team on new areas of study provided by MSU’s Reinvent Law Laboratory and developments in the US market.

“We believe that coupled with the right systems and processes, this internship can help us to more effectively run our business and in turn, will deliver better results for our clients, ” said John Kain.

Kain has been working closely with Daniel W. Linna Jr., Assistant Dean for Career Development and Professor of Law in Residence at MSU Law.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for our students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the work of an innovative law firm,” said Professor Linna.

“Kain C+C Lawyers could have chosen to collaborate with any law school in the world. We are pleased that they’ve chosen MSU Law to assist with their legal innovation initiatives,” he said.

Kain will provide funding for living expenses, as well as coordinating outings and networking opportunities for interns.

Interns are selected through a virtual interview process from MSU Law students who have taken a combination of subjects offered in MSU’s globally leading ReInvent Law program, including: Delivering Legal Services, Project Management Boot Camp, Quantitative Analysis for Lawyers, Legal Analytics, Design Thinking for Legal Services, Entrepreneurial Lawyering, Litigation: Data, Theory, Practice, Process.

Kain C+C Lawyers offers legal consulting services on corporate, commercial, and mergers and acquisition law, with a particular focus on the health and medical; property, construction and infrastructure; and food and agribusiness industries.

Both the business and its lawyers are frequently recognised for their expertise by national and international rankings including Best Lawyers, Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession and Lawyer Monthly.