Have some questions about completing a training contract at Howard Kennedy? We've compiled answers to some of the most frequently posed questions.
We recruit one year in advance. Applications for our 2026 training contracts will open on 18 December 2024.
At the point of application, you must have completed (or be due to complete prior to September 2025) one of the following qualifications. Please note we require any non-law graduates to have completed the PGDL in advance of September 2025:
Whilst it is useful for us to understand your educational background we do not score grades or screen out applications based on grades.
Our September 2026 Trainees will qualify via the SQE route. As an SQE trainee, you will complete your SQE1 and 2 exams before starting a 24 month period of qualifying work experience with us. Howard Kennedy will fund your SQE1 and 2 exams and prep courses.
We regularly have opportunities for Paralegals to join us in various departments, these vacancies will be advertised on the careers pages on our website.
We will pay the full fees for the SQE and prep courses with our preferred provider, the University of Law. You are able to study at any of their campuses nationwide. We are also able to offer a maintenance grant of £10,000 but do not offer any funding towards the GDL or PGDL. We are not able to offer funding for any previously completed qualifications retrospectively.
No, all interviews will be held after the closing date for applications.
We don't offer work experience or vacation schemes but do hold insight days every year which provide a great opportunity to find out more about the firm.
Our trainees come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we welcome applications from those with undergraduate degrees in any discipline, provided a conversion course will be completed prior to September 2025.
Yes we do – we like to assess everyone on their individual merits and value having a diverse body of trainees.
Please tell us their equivalent value or the relevant scale. You can find more information on the UCAS website.
We will contact all applicants whether successful or unsuccessful within one month of the closing date.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an assessment day which will take place following the closing date.
Regrettably, due to the volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to give feedback to every applicant. We will, however, offer feedback for all candidates who attend our assessment day.
Our trainee intake is usually between 6-8 each year.
Yes we accept applications from previous applicants, please ensure you tell us what stage you reached last year.
Yes you may apply, please make sure you inform your line manager that you are applying for a training contract.
You will need to apply using our online application. Any applications received outside of this will not be accepted. We will contact you during April or May to let you know what stage your application has reached, and whether we will invite you to an assessment day.
As a firm, we offer services both to businesses and to individuals. Our Training Contracts are geared to give our trainees exposure to a range of work. We offer 4 seats of 6 months in different departments, including our core areas of business: Real Estate, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Private Client and Family. We try to match trainees’ individual interests to the seats that they complete, balancing individual preferences with business needs. 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.
We operate from one single office, located at No.1 London Bridge, SE1 9BG. We operate an agile working policy. Agile working allows individuals to adjust their approach depending on client, team and business demands. This could mean working part of the week remotely and part in the office but flexing this around client commitments, work demands and team meetings.
As a forward-thinking firm with one of our values being to "Think Smart", we have not banned the use of AI in our applications. This is to ensure that our processes are accessible, inclusive, and allow candidates to utilise all of the resources available to them. Whilst we are embracing new technological advancements, we would encourage you to use AI only as a research tool and a starting point to build on your answers using your own experiences and knowledge of the firm. Our scoring criteria has been designed on this basis.
What's it really like to be a trainee at Howard Kennedy? Hear it from our trainees themselves.
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