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Howard Kennedy

6-8 vacancies
17 trainees
61 partners
500 staff
Howard Kennedy is a London based, full-service law firm, specialising in providing straightforward advice to entrepreneurial businesses and individuals on domestic and international matters.

Remember to cite LawCareers.Net on your application form if you apply to Howard Kennedy.

More info

Visit our website for full details: https://www.howardkennedy.com/Careers/Trainees


Applications to

Trainee Recruitment

Method of application

Online application form

Method of assessment

  • Assessment centre
  • Partner interview
  • Psychometric testing
  • Video interview
  • Written exercise

Howard Kennedy is a London based, full-service law firm, specialising in providing straightforward advice to entrepreneurial businesses and individuals on domestic and international matters. At Howard Kennedy we simplify what others complicate, giving useful advice in language our clients understand. We look to complete projects and deals quickly and efficiently so our clients don’t miss out on important opportunities. This approach is the responsibility of all our people, no matter what level.

All our clients share something important, ambition. Whatever their aim we’re here to help them achieve it. We are organised around a number of industry sectors and legal specialisms, with particular strengths in real estate, retail and leisure, and private wealth. Our clients are typically growing entrepreneurial businesses, and often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. We also advise major corporates who find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms. Much of our work has an international component and we work alongside a network of international firms to enable a strong international offering. This breadth of expertise means that the work our trainees are involved in is wide-ranging, engaging and provides lots of variety. No two days are the same and there is the opportunity to have client contact from the start. As well as being driven to deliver the very best client experience, you’ll also need to be someone who lives our values. We want you to help us shape our future.

We typically take on six to eight trainees per year and trainees rotate seats every six months. You will complete seats within each of our core areas and will be consulted about seat preferences throughout. We aim to provide a rounded training contract. From embedding yourself within your teams to getting to know our sector offering and legal specialisations, to taking part in our internal training programmes. We want you to take an interest in the markets within which our clients operate and be able to contribute ideas and advice that may shape the decisions they make. You’ll have increased client exposure and responsibility over time, and be encouraged to attended client events. Howard Kennedy will offer you the opportunity to work directly and collaboratively with people at all levels. You’ll also play an active part in the social and charity committees at the firm.

Our trainees are encouraged to participate in our pro bono programme which is very flexible so lawyers can volunteer in groups or individually with no minimum time commitment. This will give you the opportunity to develop your legal knowledge, develop your research and drafting skills and increase your client contact. Most importantly, you will enable those in need to gain access to justice and legal help in circumstances where they wouldn’t otherwise be able to get it.

We know that there isn’t just one path into the law. We consider applications from those with previous experience, both in and out of the legal world. We strive to hire people from a diversity of backgrounds, based on their merit and attitude. We offer early responsibility, client contact and the opportunity to get involved in business development from the outset. You will need to be friendly, approachable and able to build excellent working relationships with clients and colleagues alike. At Howard Kennedy you’ll get quality work and hands on experience from day one, working in a collaborative environment with interesting work and impressive clients.

We don't currently offer work placement or vacation schemes. We will be offering a number of open days and evenings in order for potential trainees to gain a greater insight into our areas of expertise.

We typically take on six to eight trainees per year and trainees rotate seats every six months. You will complete seats within each of our core areas and will be consulted about seat preferences throughout. We aim to provide a rounded training contract. From embedding yourself within your teams to getting to know our sector offering and legal specialisations, to taking part in our internal training programmes. We want you to take an interest in the markets within which our clients operate and be able to contribute ideas and advice that may shape the decisions they make. You’ll have increased client exposure and responsibility over time, and be encouraged to attended client events. Howard Kennedy will offer you the opportunity to work directly and collaboratively with people at all levels. You’ll also play an active part in the social and charity committees at the firm.

We offer full sponsorship for the LPC or SQE fees and are able to offer a maintenance grant of £10,000 but do not offer any funding towards the GDL. We are not able to offer funding for the LPC or SQE retrospectively.

  • General Practice

Practice Areas

Extra info

No1 London Bridge, London, SE1 9BG
Phone: 020 3755 6000
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.howardkennedy.com
Work placement: No
Start salary: £40,000
Fees paid for:
  • LPC
  • SQE
Retention rate: 33% (2023)
Partner diversity:
  • 70.6% male (2020)
  • 29.4% female
Lawyer diversity:
  • 31.6% male (2020)
  • 68.4% female
  • London
  • Human Dignity Trust
  • London Legal Support Trust (LLST)
  • Toynbee Hall Legal Advice Centre
  • Rare Recruitment