Kennedys is a global law firm with expertise in dispute resolution and advisory services. With over 3,000 people in 45 offices across 18 countries around the world we have some of the most respected legal minds in their field.

Our lawyers handle both contentious and non-contentious matters, and provide a range of specialist legal services, for many industry sectors but we have particular expertise in litigation and dispute resolution, especially in defending insurance and liability claims.

We're a fresh-thinking firm, and we're not afraid to bring challenging new perspectives to the table way beyond the traditional realm of legal services. We empower our clients with a diverse range of ideas, tools and technology to make their lives easier, as well as delivering exceptional results, every time.

Our one-week spring vacation scheme in London offers eligible students and graduates the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into life at Kennedys while developing the skills, confidence and connections needed to kick-start a legal career. Applicants should have a genuine interest in pursuing a legal career and be committed to commencing a training contract in September 2028 if offered one.

Throughout the week, you'll gain exposure to our work, learn from legal professionals, and experience our collaborative culture. You'll have the opportunity to take part in workshops, skills sessions, and networking events, while building a deeper understanding of the legal profession and our clients' industries.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Experience work across a range of practice areas
• Learn from legal professionals through workshops and skills sessions
• Connect with trainees, associates, senior lawyers, and partners
• Develop your commercial awareness and understanding of the legal sector
• Build confidence and practical skills that will support your future career

Our 2027 vacation scheme is the primary route to securing a 2028 training contract at Kennedys, although we may also recruit directly for training contracts where business needs require. Please note that participation in, or completion of, the scheme does not guarantee a training contract offer. Training contract offers will be made based on performance during the scheme and the firm's recruitment requirements.

Training contract

A Training contract at Kennedys is the first step towards an exciting and rewarding career with a global law firm. From day one, you'll be given early responsibility, meaningful client exposure, and the opportunity to work on high-quality matters, helping you develop into a confident and capable solicitor.

Throughout your two-year training contract, you'll be supported by experienced supervisors, senior lawyers and partners who will help you build the legal, commercial, and professional skills needed to succeed. Our collaborative approach ensures you'll receive regular feedback and guidance while taking ownership of your development.

You'll complete four six-month seats across a range of specialist practice areas, giving you the opportunity to explore different areas of law and gain valuable experience. There may also be opportunities to undertake a client or international secondment, providing further insight into our clients' businesses and the wider legal profession.

Areas you may experience include:

• Insurance and reinsurance
• Liability defence
• Commercial

Before commencing your training contract, future trainees will complete the LLM SQE1 and 2 course and sit the SQE assessments. Non-law graduates will be required to complete a law conversion course before undertaking the LLM SQE1 and 2 programme. We also welcome applications from candidates who have already completed the LPC.

Graduate apprenticeship programme

The 33-month training programme will involve working alongside our experienced lawyers in one of our legal teams, whilst studying with BPP one day per week. In addition to a dedicated supervisor at Kennedys, you will have a tutor and skills coach at BPP, to ensure that you have all the support you need at work and with your studies.

Over the course of the programme, you will gain qualifying work experience (QWE) by working alongside experienced legal professionals on real cases, whilst studying towards a Level 6 CILEX qualification, developing your legal knowledge and skills. You will also prepare for and complete the SQE, paving the way to becoming a qualified solicitor.

This route provides an alternative to the traditional rotational training contract and allows you to earn while you learn, building a solid foundation for a successful legal career. Graduates looking to start the programme must have completed a law degree or a non-law degree and a law conversion course, prior to starting with Kennedys. Kennedys will fully fund your training during the programme.

The apprenticeship combines work-based learning with academic study and includes the completion of an LLB (Hons) degree and the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). On successful completion of the programme, you will qualify as a solicitor approximately six years after leaving school, having gained extensive legal experience throughout your apprenticeship.

You'll be supported every step of the way by a dedicated supervisor at Kennedys, as well as a tutor and skills coach at BPP, ensuring you have the support you need to thrive both in the workplace and in your studies.

Our culture and values form a big part of who we are and we take them seriously. We make a difference by being approachable, straightforward, supportive, distinctive and ambitious. Our values are at the core of who we are and what make us a great firm to work with and for.

The firm recognises the value of investing in our people's development and believes our culture and values contribute to the quality of our work and of our client relationships. With a culture of on-the-job and experiential learning, peer to peer learning, mentoring, resources and tools that enable you to drive your career, we can support your development in your current and future roles. A variety of other opportunities are available including secondments to clients and our global offices.

We strive to celebrate diversity, empower our people and ensure everyone can bring their authentic selves to work. We've created a culture based on client service, professional excellence, hard work and trust, where diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is a key priority.  We recognise that many of our people want to work for an employer that is aligned to their values, which is why we are building an inclusive culture, decarbonising our operations and supporting our people to thrive at work. Our people are the key to driving this change and helping us to make a difference to our clients, our people and the communities in which we live and work.

Kennedys is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. We expect all employees to be aware of and comply with all relevant policies and procedures within their jurisdiction, including those relating to information security, data protection and quality management, refer any breach promptly to risk and compliance and to complete all mandatory training when requested.

Before starting a training contract, we ask all of our future trainees to undertake the LLM SQE1 and 2 course and SQE exams. Non-law graduates will be required to complete a law conversion course prior to undertaking the LLM SQE1 and 2 course. We also welcome applications from candidates who have completed the LPC.

Graduate apprenticeship programme

Kennedys will fully fund your training during the graduate apprenticeship programme. If you have studied a non-law undergraduate degree and completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) before starting the training programme, Kennedys will reimburse you for your PGDL fees.

• London:
• Aviation
• Financial
• Casualty & political risks
• Serious & catastrophic injury
• Real estate & construction
• Transactions & advisory
• Products law & life sciences
• London & Manchester:
• Property/energy/construction
• Professional liability
• Crime & regulatory
• Employment
• Commercial disputes
• Cyber & data risk
• Manchester:
• Casualty & corporate claims

• General Commercial
• Corporate & Commercial

• Kennedys has 45 offices across 18 countries
• located in Auckland
• Austin
• Belfast
• Bermuda
• Birmingham
• Bogotá
• Brisbane
• Bristol
• Buenos Aires
• Cambridge
• Chelmsford
• Chicago
• Copenhagen
• Dublin
• Dubai
• Edinburgh
• Fort Lauderdale
• Glasgow
• Hong Kong
• Houston
• Leeds
• Lima
• London
• Los Angeles
• Madrid
• Manchester
• Melbourne
• Mexico City
• Miami
• Muscat
• Newcastle
• New Jersey
• New York
• Paris
• Perth
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco
• Santiago
• Seattle
• Sheffield
• Singapore
• Sydney
• Taunton
• Tel Aviv
• Wellington
• Wilmington

• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Cambridge
• Dublin
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• London
• Manchester
• Sheffield

• Amicus
• LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group)
• Schools Consent Project

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Bright Network
• Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion
• Future Frontiers
• GROW Mentoring
• MyGWork
• MyPlus Consulting
• Rare Recruitment
• upReach