Spark

Early careers

Our training programmes are designed to develop lawyers who will be the future of Kennedys. Our atmosphere is friendly and supportive and our relationships are built on trust.

Whether you are a school leaver or a graduate, we offer a range of training programmes for you to choose from to start your career in law.  Our aim is to recruit the best early careers talent and encourage diversity in an environment built upon different skills and backgrounds, to represent our global firm.

Virtual work experiences

Our virtual work experience will allow you to take the first step of your legal career with a global law firm that does things differently.

The programme is free and open to all students and graduates, from a law or non-law background and no legal experience is required.  The programme takes around six hours and can be completed at your own pace from any location.  Once complete, you will receive a certificate that you can reference on your CV.

Find out more about our programme and how to enrol here.

If you have any questions about the virtual work experience programme, please contact us.

Solicitors Qualifying Exam

Our solicitors qualifying exam (SQE) training programme, which came into effect in Autumn 2021, takes the form of a Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship and allows law graduates to start working and earning at Kennedys immediately after leaving university.

Find out more about the SQE training programme and how to apply here.

Training contracts

Our training contracts are designed to develop lawyers who will be the future of Kennedys. Many of our partners, including our Senior Partner, began their life in law as a trainee with us. During your training contract, you’ll complete four six-month seats across our core practice areas of Insurance and Reinsurance, Liability Defence and Commercial. We also offer exciting secondment opportunities to other offices and clients around the globe.

Find out more about our training contracts and how to apply here.

We are passionate about offering an alternative route to university and are proud to be a UK government accredited organisation. Our apprenticeships are designed to help springboard you into a successful career by providing you with a mixture of studying and learning within the workplace so that you can earn while you learn.

We are the proud winners of the ‘Best Degree Apprenticeship’ award at the 2019 UK School Leaver Awards, and ‘Top Employer in Law’ award at both the 2018 and 2017 UK School Leaver Awards.

Find out more about our legal apprenticeships and how to apply here.

Australia

Are you a recent law graduate looking to kickstart your legal career? We are looking for high performing law graduates with an interest in insurance law and litigation.

Our graduate program has been designed to support you in acquiring the expertise and experience needed to excel in the legal profession while fostering critical thinking, ethical values and effective communication skills.

Join us now to embark on an exciting journey towards become a successful lawyer. Apply today and take the first step toward a rewarding legal career.

 

Denmark and France

Our lawyers in Copenhagen provide specialist insurance law services to Danish, Scandinavian and international insurers, and base their expert advice on a deep understanding of those markets, alongside our expertise in global insurance markets.

Our three-year training programme allows you to develop legal experience and skills that will set you up in your career as a lawyer. As a trainee, you will be allocated a supervisor to oversee your progression and development and you will have the opportunity to work in different legal teams assisting on a wide range of tasks including legal research, drafting legal documents and attending court hearings.  To enhance your legal skills and to support you in your role and through your postgraduate education course, you will have access to a variety of legal training via our online learning management system as well as in office seminars.

As a trainee, you will also have the opportunity to participate in our Responsible Business programmes, including Social Impact and D&I activities. Each region has active committees that coordinate a wide range of local and global activities that align with our objectives.

To apply for our training programme, you must be a law student, studying for a master’s degree and will ideally be in the last semester.

We also offer paralegal roles to law students. As a paralegal, you will work 15 hours per week assisting our lawyers with tasks in connection with the processing of specific cases, including legal research and preparing notes.

To apply for a paralegal role, you must be a law student studying for a bachelor’s degree and will ideally be in your final year. An interest in insurance and compensation law would be beneficial.

Please visit our vacancy page to view our current vacancies.

Our team in Paris provides specialist litigation and arbitration advice, grounded in a deep understanding of the global insurance markets and is particularly well known for their expertise in (re)insurance, liability and complex cross-border disputes. liability and complex cross-border disputes. Our team works, in an international environment, on commercial disputes, construction matters, directors and officers’ liability, product liability and industrial risks, marine and transportation matters, (re)insurance cases and cyber risks.

Our internship programme allows you to develop legal experience and skills that will set you up in your career as a lawyer. As a trainee, you will have the opportunity to work with all members of the Paris team and be immersed in the day-to-day operations of the firm. To support you in your role, you will be fully integrated into the team and will work with associates and partners on the firm's various cases, providing you with first-hand experience of life at Kennedys.

To enhance your legal skills, you will have access to a variety of legal training via our online learning management system. As a trainee, you will also have the opportunity to participate in our Responsible Business programmes, including Social Impact and D&I activities. Each region has active committees who coordinate a wide range of local and global activities that align with our objectives.

To apply for an internship, you must be a law student / élève-avocat with a Master 1 or Master 2 in private law, business law, international law or insurance law. Proficiency in English is essential.

Applications for our six-month internships to commence in July 2023 and January 2024 are currently open.

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to:

Arnaud Attias, Senior Associate – Arnaud.attias@kennedyslaw.com

Thibault Hanotin, Senior Associate – Thibault.hanotin@kennedyslaw.com

Marie-Ketty Prom, Associate – marie-ketty.prom@kennedyslaw.com

Hong Kong

To be considered for a training contract in our Hong Kong office, you will need to have achieved, or be on course to achieve, a 2:1 degree in law. You must also be fluent in Chinese and English. Additionally, before you start your training contract, you must complete the PCLL (Postgraduate Certificate in Law) and pass this on your first attempt.

Find out more about our Hong Kong training contracts and how to apply here. 

Israel

Our office in Tel-Aviv is now recruiting skilled top law students for the next internship and trainee periods for 2022.

The roles involve working closely with leading attorneys in the insurance legal industry, awarding legal services to Israeli insurers, international reinsurers and local leading corporates.

The internship and trainee period involve civil and commercial litigation, awarding legal opinions to clients around the world, escorting the attorneys in the firm to court hearings, mediations and arbitration proceedings.

This is a unique opportunity for Israeli law students to join the only global law firm that operates in Israel, and to be exposed to the advantages and professionalism of Kennedys around the world.

How to apply

Please send your application together with a detailed CV, grades chart and recommendations (if available) to telaviv@kennedyslaw.com

Singapore

To apply for a Relevant Legal Training (RLT)/Training Contract (TC) in our Singapore office you will need to have achieved, or be on course to achieve, a 2:1 degree or higher*, have relevant intern experience and a real desire to undertake the work Kennedys Legal Solutions specialises in; Commercial Litigation, Aviation, Marine, Motor, Insurance, Corporate and Real Estate.  Mandarin skills (writing, reading and speaking) is advantageous but not essential.

Find out more about our Singapore training contracts and how to apply here. 

Early careers at Kennedys

Watch our video to find out more.

Thoughts from the UK Trainee Solicitor Induction

Find us on social media

P Business Development Marketing Communications Design Work In Progress Digital Website Pics Final Images 7 Spotlights Social Media Sm_Facebook

Facebook

Follow us on Facebook for trainees and apprentices
@KennedysEarlyCareers
P Business Development Marketing Communications Design Work In Progress Digital Website Pics Final Images 7 Spotlights Social Media Sm_Twitter

Twitter

Follow us on Twitter
@kennedyslaw
P Business Development Marketing Communications Design Work In Progress Digital Website Pics Final Images 7 Spotlights Social Media Sm_Linkedin

LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn
@kennedys
P Business Development Marketing Communications Design Work In Progress Digital Website Pics Final Images 7 Spotlights Social Media Sm_Instagram

Instagram

Follow us on Instagram
@kennedyslaw