Kevin O'Donnell practiced in various areas of the law in a number of places in Australia over the course of 43 years. Beginning as a law student, progressing through the articled clerk process, and on, he ran the full gamut of employee lawyer, sole practitioner, senior associate, and partner of a mid-sized firm. Twelve of his latter years were with a leading Melbourne law firm. As well as mentoring/teaching/training young lawyers, he was persuaded to become an occasional academic at one of Melbourne's universities providing practical training to law students.