Training Contract - September 2022

The role

At Howard Kennedy we simplify what others complicate, giving useful advice in language our clients understand. 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 you will be involved in as a trainee 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 offer four seats, each six months long, in different departments. We try to match individuals' interests to the seats that they complete, while knowing from experience that a variety of experiences makes for an interesting training contract and a well-rounded lawyer.

We offer a range of different support and development opportunities during the two years including providing a junior and senior mentor, legal training sessions, and skills development sessions such as networking and giving presentations.

You'll be encouraged to be yourself. We know that people perform better if they feel welcomed, included, and valued. Coupled with a supportive culture, we'll help you grow through development and skills building so you can become the lawyer you want to be.

You'll also have access to interesting work, impressive clients, the opportunity to work directly and collaboratively with people at all levels and you'll play an active part in the social impact committees from charity and pro bono, to sport and social. 

About you

We believe that the more diverse our people are, the more successful we'll be as a business. This starts with our future lawyers - our trainees.

We know that there isn't just one path into the law. This is why 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 merit and attitude.

We believe the potential to become an excellent lawyer is about much more than the school you attended or university you studied at. This is why throughout the process, from application form to assessment centre you are encouraged to be yourself. Our assessment process is designed to allow you to highlight your strengths, whilst finding out more about what you can expect from a training contract with us.

In order to eliminate bias and allow for an objective recruitment process we use "blind screening" for all applications. This means any personal information such as your name, and information relating to your schooling including which university you attended is anonymised.  At the video interview and assessment centre stages of the process the assessors receive no information about you or your application other than your name. 

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual holiday
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Staff Introductory Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

We are a London based, full-service law firm, specialising in providing straightforward advice to entrepreneurial businesses and individuals on domestic and international matters.

We have grown substantially in recent years, including two mergers and an office move. We’ve also matured in terms of our approach to providing advice to our clients, seeking to simplify and improve the experience of working with a modern, independent law firm.

We’re proud of our journey. Without losing sight of where we’ve come from, we are focused on where we’re going. We are evolving and growing every day. And just like our clients, we are ambitious and moving forward. Many of our clients are entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises who are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. We are one of the only London based law firms with a large private wealth offering alongside significant business law capability.

The firm also advises major corporates on particular specialist legal matters who find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.