REWARDING WORK WITH GREAT CLIENTS AND EXCEPTIONAL COLLEAGUES. A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU CAN FLOURISH.
ANNA TRAFFORD, TRAINEE SOLICITOR 2023I chose Howard Kennedy for the breadth of practice areas and wide range of clients. I thought that this would provide the best training and the opportunity to find out which area of law is right for me.
We offer a number of training contracts every year to talented individuals who bring a different mindset, perspective and lived experience to our firm. This helps to foster creativity, innovation and collaboration. It is both the foundation of our culture and the key to our ongoing success.
From day one as a trainee, you’ll get to work directly with clients to start building a wealth of expertise and experience. You’ll join our talented and dynamic practice teams where your personality and key strengths will come to the fore. And you’ll be given all the support you need to thrive, so you can move forward in your career.
Working in a friendly and informal setting there will be incentives and opportunities to challenge you. Alongside interesting client work, you’ll help develop our offering and contribute to fulfilling pro bono and charity projects that will broaden your horizons.
We also offer a regular calendar of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events as part of our commitment to living our values.
Meet our second-year trainees
Our trainees quickly embed themselves in the firm, getting to know our sector offering, our services and understanding the commercial aspects of working in a law firm. Click below to read their impressions and top tips as they settle into life at Howard Kennedy. Our 2023 cohort...
Aaliyah Freemantle
Trainee Solicitor
Amber Davies
Trainee Solicitor
Fiona Yeoh
Trainee Solicitor
Gabi Luknar
Trainee Solicitor
Heba Ahmad
Trainee Solicitor
Jack Holden
Trainee Solicitor
Lucy Moon
Trainee Solicitor
Olivia Regester
Trainee Solicitor
Ron Khujneri
Trainee Solicitor
Thomas Wood
Trainee Solicitor
FAQ
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When will you start accepting applications?
We recruit one year in advance. Applications for our 2026 training contracts will open on 1 January 2025.
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What qualifications do I need?
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:
- LLB
- PGDL
- SQE
- LPC
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What grades do I need?
Whilst it is useful for us to understand your educational background we do not score grades or screen out applications based on grades.
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Will you be offering the SQE route to qualification?
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.
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Do you offer any paralegal positions?
We regularly have opportunities for Paralegals to join us in various departments, these vacancies will be advertised on the careers pages on our website.
Jim Fairlie, Trainee Solicitor 2023Shortly after joining Howard Kennedy, I applied for a place on the trainee editorial board. We work closely with the firm's marketing team to promote trainee recruitment initiatives. This has given me a chance to develop business development skills.
Trainee diary
What's it really like to be a trainee at Howard Kennedy? Hear it from our trainees themselves.
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