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Howard Kennedy Graduate Careers

Welcome to the Howard Kennedy law firm hub. Here you will find all of the information you need to make an application to the firm, including which opportunities are available and how to make your application. 

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The AllAboutLaw Perspective on Howard Kennedy

As a full-service, London-based law firm, Howard Kennedy serves a large client base, ranging from entrepreneurial businesses to private individuals. Their values ‘Talk straight, Think smart Be yourself’ are fundamental to the firm’s work, where they provide a straightforward approach to their interactions, working together to provide relevant and tailored advice to their clients. 

Join a training contract at Howard Kennedy, and you will rotate through four six-month seats in the firm’s various practice areas, such as Real Estate, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Private Client and Family, with the firm working hard to match your seats to your individual interests. The firm also offers an excellent level of support for trainees. As well as attending legal skills sessions, you will be provided a junior and senior mentor to ensure your successful development throughout your training contract. 

The firm is dedicated to its responsible business strategy, working hard to incorporate it into everything they work for. Lawyers at Howard Kennedy can develop their legal skills by taking on pro bono cases tackling a range of legal matters, including working for Toynbee Hall’s legal advice clinic to advise individuals on their rights and civil liberties. The firm also prioritises sustainability, with firm volunteers involved in developing the ‘Aatmay Clause’ aimed at encouraging circular economy principles in lease obligations. 

What the firm says

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen.

We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who between them deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.

Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm’s values of talk straight, think smart and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging and inspiring colleagues to do their best work.

At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.

As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too. 

During your time with us, we will offer you the opportunity to flourish regardless of the stage of your career. We recognise that everyone’s goals are different, and so we want to help you achieve your aspirations. In return, you’ll bring hard work, a commercial mindset as well as sharing our goals, vision and values. You’ll be committed to contributing to growing and developing our firm - expanding our offering and delivering the best possible results for our clients. 

We are looking for motivated individuals who bring different skills, strengths and lived experiences. These are people that know their own mind, know where they want to go and are keen to make their mark.

You’ll also share our commitment to our values. Our values are our compass, guiding us in the way we behave, the things we say and the decisions we make. And because we believe in them passionately, we are confident you will too. You will feel at home in an inclusive culture of pragmatism and personality that gives you the space to realise your aspirations - in and out of work.

At Howard Kennedy you have all the space you need to be yourself, while working with brilliant minds who will inspire, challenge and support you every day. 

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Data

• LPC/SQE course paidYes
• First year trainee salary£40,000
• Second year trainee salary£42,000
• NQ salary£78,000
• Maintenance grant£10,000
• UK Offices1

Academic requirements

• A-Level No minimum
• Degree No minimum

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