Recruitment
Recruitment Who Are We? Kennedys is a growing international law firm with unrivalled expertise in litigation and dispute resolution and committed almost exclusively to the insurance and reinsurance sector. We have a network of over 1200 people across the UK and Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East. In the UK, from an initial base in the City of, we have nine offices spanning major business centres in Belfast, Birmingham, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Maidstone, Manchester, Sheffield and Taunton. Our UK staff are proud to be part of Kennedys growing international network that is well resourced to help clients handle and resolve cases all around the world. In addition, we have an active corporate services practice specialising in banking and finance, commercial disputes, contracts, corporate recovery, procurement, property and regulation. We also have a strong workplace team who specialise in employment, environmental matters and health and safety. Recruitment Kennedys is a trading name of Kennedys Law LLP. Kennedys Law LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC353214) Insurance is our business and we focus on delivering a range of contentious and non-contentious legal services and advice across our network including, but not limited to: property and energy, construction and engineering, accident and health, marine, aviation and international trade and reinsurance, professional negligence, casualty and liability and financial lines.
Recruitment What We re Proud Of What Sort of Firm Are We? We are the fastest organic growing firm over the last five years Legal Business 100, 2013. We are the third fastest growing firm over the past 20 years (by revenue) Legal Business 100, 2012. 26 is our ranking in 2012-13 by Legal Week, and we have consistently moved up the rankings each year. 2nd most likely firm to be shortlisted by insurance company claim teams in the next 12 months Gracechurch, consulting 2013. Culture and Values Our culture and values form a big part of who we are and we take them seriously. They are built upon being approachable, responsive, respectful, being trustworthy and straightforward, and delivering economic solutions. They are at the core of who we are and what makes us a great firm to work for and our clients to work with. Kennedys is known for its vibrant practice and exudes a culture where people are at ease with each other and where they undertake work because they enjoy it. We deeply value the relationships we build both as a team and with our clients and the industries we work in. We believe that by being human, friendly and accessible we all work together better. Kennedys approach is straightforward and informal. We provide our clients with direct, uncomplicated, clear advice and recommendations, delivered in plain English. Kennedys is committed to providing legal advice in black and white. Stephen O Dea, Diversity Our commitment to equality and diversity is essential to the way our firm operates. Attracting and retaining the best talent from a variety of different backgrounds just makes sense to us. Our principals of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity apply not only to our staff, but to the way we treat our visitors, clients, customers and suppliers. We have one of the highest female partner populations of any top 30 law firm with 38% female The Lawyer 2012. Recruitment The culture at Kennedys is unique. It is a genuinely friendly and positive environment where people are willing to offer help and guidance.
Recruitment What Else Is Important To Us? Who Are We Looking For? Work Life Balance People who come to work at Kennedys are amazed because we really do have a good work/life balance. We understand that our staff work hard and deserve to have a life of their own. We re a social bunch and get together regularly as a firm for social and sports events. Corporate Social Responsibility Our corporate social responsibility programme is an integral part of our firms ethos. We believe there is more to work than your day job and want to ensure that our employees have the opportunity to give back in whatever way they can. Adrian Coles, Birmingham Settling in to a new working environment is always made easier by having the opportunity to interact with colleagues outside of the workplace. Balancing a commitment to raising money for charitable causes with an eagerness to socialise and get stuck in is one of the most positive traits of Kennedys. Participation in many of these events are organised by trainees, helping us to integrate early. Andrew Hogan, We recruit people who are professional, approachable and easy to work with. We look for strong academics and an enthusiasm for law. We recruit approximately 12 trainees in and six throughout some of our regional offices. Dominic Thomas Partner At Kennedys, we look for trainees with qualities that match our own confidence without arrogance; independence but a team player; articulate but straight-talking; focused but sociable. For those who meet our standards, we offer high quality and varied work and enviable client contact in a growing, dynamic environment. To be considered for a summer placement or training contract you will need to have achieved, or are on course to achieve, a 2:1 degree not necessarily in law and have 300 UCAS points or equivalent at A-level. Please note General Studies will not be considered. We welcome applications from law and nonlaw students, graduates and candidates with previous work experience who are seeking a career change. Since starting my training contract I have been surprised by the number of sports and social activities there are to get involved in. s are encouraged to participate in and organise the various sports teams that the firm has, including mixed netball, football and dodgeball. We are also given the opportunity to organise fundraising events for the firm s sponsored charity. The biggest event of 2013 being a trek through the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, involving over 30 people from around the firm! recruitment
Recruitment The Experience At Kennedys we offer a vibrant and supportive working environment built upon our core values. Early Responsibility Client Contact Quality of Work We find giving trainees early responsibility produces excellent solicitors capable of running their own caseload once they qualify. Jennifer Allen We realise how important it is for our trainees to develop an understanding of our clients and how they work from an early stage, building long term client relationships. Nick Spearing Newly Qualified Solicitor Manchester Our trainees are involved in some of our most interesting cases and are expected to contribute from the start of their training contract. Anya Butler April Chivers Sheffield I have been fortunate enough to be involved in a number of complex high-profile cases, both nationally and internationally. I began my training contract at Kennedys with my first seat in the Personal Injury team. I was given a lot of responsibility from day one and I was involved with some very high value cases. I was even given a small case to run on my own with minimal supervision. Sarah Hazel I had a lot of client contact in my trainee seats and attended a number of events to meet clients as well as attending site visits and meetings with insurers. Sahir Shamshad I am involved in such a wide variety of cases with the Insurance team and every day I am excited to see what work might land on my desk. This enables me to experience a broad range of topics, issues and law. I learn something new every day which I love! s work and opinions are valued within the teams and I have been delegated an increasing amount of responsibility the more I progress with my training. I believe this will ease the transition from trainee to solicitor. With the Kennedys office based right in the heart of the UK insurance market, there are regular opportunities to meet clients, whether it is in meetings, seminars or social events put on by the firm.
Recruitment Secondment Opportunities Some of our trainees are given the opportunity to undertake a trainee secondment to Hong Kong or work for one of our clients on secondment for up to six months. Ashley Newburn Working within a client s business provides an unparalleled opportunity for client contact as a trainee. Working for one of the firm s major insurer clients has enabled me to see stages of a claim which simply do not cross our desks at Kennedys. I deal with claims from notification to the instruction of panel solicitors and beyond, an experience I believe will be invaluable on my return to the firm. I have been treated as one of the claims team from day one of my secondment and am given real responsibly in terms of investigating and progressing claims. Alice Maloney Newly Qualified Solicitor Manchester Hong Kong was a fantastic experience where I learned a great deal about Kennedys overseas practice. I have made some good connections and friends in the Hong Kong office which has helped to build a connection between the offices (I even continue to assist on some of the Hong Kong cases from the UK). Hong Kong itself is an incredible place and the Kennedys office is right in the hub of it all, so I was able to really make the most of my experience. Training Contract Structure Future s After securing a training contract, our future trainees are assigned a current trainee to keep in touch with prior to joining ensuring they feel part of the firm from day one. Seats The two years are split into four, six month seats giving trainees the opportunity to experience work and liaise with clients across a variety of industries and developing skills in contentious and non-continuous work. s are asked for their seat preferences before each seat allocation which we do our best to accommodate ensuring trainees have a say in their individual career paths. During each seat trainees are assigned a senior solicitor as a supervisor who is responsible for the trainees work load and appraisals which take place mid way through and at the end of each six month seat. Joanne Crossley Manchester After finding out that I had obtained a training contract, I was assigned a buddy who I could contact ahead of starting. We met up a couple of times for lunch and it was a great way for me to air any worries that I had, discuss what life was like as trainee and what I should expect. Roshan Sidhu The supervision I have received so far has been really high quality. My supervisor sits down with me weekly to discuss the cases I ve been working on, and how my work has fed into the dispute resolution process. We also talk about any problems or issues I ve encountered and just generally catch up. Supervision at Kennedys is a positive learning experience which really helps my confidence as a trainee. Cassie Raman My supervisors have struck the right balance between providing guidance and support where required, and allowing me to take initiative.
Recruitment Learning and Development Summer Placement Recruitment s undertake a week long induction to help them get to know the Firm and culture, our clients, the types of work we do and colleagues. As well as the induction, trainees complete the three core modules of the Professional Sills Course (PSC) at an external provider. Kennedys has developed two bespoke PSC electives to ensure training is focussed on what trainees really need to know Introduction to Insurance Law and Introduction to Personal Injury. s then continue to receive structured learning throughout the training contract including attending in-house seminars. All our trainees are required to sit the Lloyd s & Market Introductory Exam to ensure their knowledge of the insurance market. Anne Marie Cassidy Manchester The Induction was a great way to start my training contract with Kennedys. It took place in for three weeks and was a great way to meet and get to know all the other trainees. This helped to create relationships that I know will continue to grow as we progress through our training contracts, and will ensure that we all work together as we decide upon and complete our charity challenge this year! We take on 15 summer placement students across two, two week schemes in during June and July. Summer students will be given the opportunity to experience life at Kennedys from the inside enabling them to gain a real insight into the firms work and culture. A Solicitor is responsible for their work load and a current trainee will ensure integration into the sports and social side of the firm. Summer Students are also set a group project so they work as a team and find out about the firm in the process. In 2013 half of our summer placement students were offered Training Contracts Joseph Leonard Summer Student and Future I immensely enjoyed my vacation scheme and felt that my skills and personality flourished over the two weeks. It was a great chance to find out if the firm was right for me and for me to showcase my commercial and legal abilities. Everyone I met was very open and approachable; I never felt as if I could not ask for help. Standout moments included researching and drafting a response which was sent out to a client after my supervisor reviewed it, as well as working on a case which was in the newspapers the following week. Out of the other vacation schemes I attended that year, I believed that Kennedys provided by far the best experience and I really felt as if I was a valued member of the team. Qualification It is our intention to offer trainees a position on qualification and our retention rates are continually impressive with most recently 20 out of 21 qualifying into in to the firm in 2013. Andrew Coates Professional Practice Partner and Training Principal 21 of our partners began their life in law as trainees with us including our senior partner. We put a lot of thought and effort into our trainee programme because we know that a good stock of new lawyers joining the firm does not happen by chance. From planning the selection process, to sitting our trainees alongside experienced specialists, we do all we can to nurture each intake of trainees so that they are prepared for qualification. It is an integral part of our growth strategy to make sure that we retain our trainees on qualification.
Recruitment How To Apply? Salary and Benefits Training Contracts Please visit our website www.kennedys-law.com for information on the offices that are recruiting trainees and for which years they have positions as this varies across our offices. Applications open on the 1 November and close on the 31 July each year. Summer Placements Applications for our 2014 scheme open on 1 November 2013 and close on 31 January 2014. Application Process To make an on-line application and obtain further information about our graduate programme, please visit our website www.kennedys-law.com The Selection Process If you progress through our selection process you will be asked to complete an online critical thinking test. If you successfully complete this and your application is selected for the next stage you will be invited to a telephone interview before attending one of our assessment days, which includes a partner interview, group task and written exercise. Our salary rates for 2013 are: (depending on location) 25,000 34,000 during your first year 28,000 37,000 during your second year. As well as a highly competitive salary the firm offers discretionary benefits as follows: l 25 days annual holiday entitlement increasing to 27 days after five years consecutive service l Employer Pension Contribution into a Group Personal Pension Scheme l Private Medical Insurance l Permanent Health Insurance l Life Assurance l Interest free season ticket loan l Childcare assistance schemes l Employee assistance programme l Subsidised gym membership l Corporate GP ( office only) l Eye care vouchers l Cycle to work scheme For further information on Recruitment please contact: Rowena Bubb, Graduate Recruitment Advisor E: r.bubb@kennedys-law.com T: 020 7667 9667 recruitment