Kennedys

Despite its global presence, there are no international secondments on offer at any Kennedy’s office. Client secondments, however, are on the cards with around half of the trainees Legal Cheek spoke with enjoying stints at big corporates like Allianz and AIG.

Trainees can apply to London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge and Sheffield for a training contract. A 30-month SQE apprenticeship programme in a specified practice area is also available in all London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge and Taunton, and Kennedy’s even have opportunities for Bermudian law graduates looking to undertake a TC in London.

Defending insurance claims in almost every industry you can think of (including aviation, medical malpractice and fine art) is the core of Kennedy’s business but trainees can also enjoy seats in liability defence, healthcare and commercial. One trainee offered this insight into the work on offer: “The majority of the work is varied and I am given a wide breadth of different tasks to assist with. Supervisors consistently check in and check whether there are any other tasks which I would like more exposure to. I get to work with various lawyers of various levels of seniority across various offices meaning that I am exposed to a lot of different types of matters. I have been involved in multi-million pound claims and claims which have a value of £500 — each day and each task is different. The work given is a mix of research and legal work, there has never been a time where I have felt like I am performing an admin-type role.”

Other recruits also report that “no two cases are the same” and, even when there is the occasional “administrative task”, rookies are said to be well rewarded with “a fair amount of responsibility in complex and high value matters.” Some sources did note that it can be “difficult getting people to trust you when you’re new to a team”, adding that a select few in the firm view trainees as “additional secretaries”, but on the whole the feedback on the work was overwhelmingly positive.
The training, meanwhile, can be “a bit of trial by fire”, according to the trainees Legal Cheek spoke to, with many supervisors opting for a more hands-off approach. “I was thrown in at the deep end,” said one, “and it just so happens that I do well in that scenario, but others who might need a bit more guidance could struggle.” That being said, some departments have definitely got the balance right. As one spy notes: “I am performing above the standard required of a trainee and this is as a result of the exceptional training I have received.”

Another echoes this sentiment, adding that: “significant time has been invested to develop my skills and understanding of the law and our cases. I have my own caseload in addition to assisting Senior Associates and Partners.”. The Junior Lawyer Academy and general training sessions are also said to be a great help for newbies, even if at some points you have to be proactive in seeking these out. In summary, this junior explains: “You’re not always chucked into the deep end, but when you show you are capable, there is a natural progression in the responsibility given and there is always useful feedback.”

Kennedy’s office space certainly encourages trainees to relish this natural progression as our spies report that the “open plan office means you get to engage with colleagues at all levels, including partners, everyday”. As far as higher-ups go, the recruits we spoke to didn’t have a bad word to say about their “super approachable” partners and superiors who are “always happy to provide assistance” and are even said to “reach out” to trainees if they haven’t heard from you in a while! Well, that is apart from the fact that some of the older-guard refuse to adopt Microsoft Teams for messaging — preferring to opt for the tried and tested methods of e-mail and carrier pigeon. “The best thing about working for Kennedys is the approachability of all fee earners, particularly partners,” one spy tells us. “This is something that I really enjoy about Kennedys. In fact, due to our open plan office, I have often found myself as a trainee sitting next to our Senior Partner and he is very approachable.”

The same goes for your fellow trainees who all “have a good sense of camaraderie” and are “always at the end of the phone or sat next to me available to help and support,” according to our sources. Social events received mixed feedback with some enjoying “regular outings with their team” alongside the firmwide summer and Christmas parties whilst others feel that “other firms are better at organising events”. Although Kennedys’ key specialisation in insurance can lead to some “cliques” and “competition for the best trainee seats and NQ roles,” our sources noted that the firm “generally has very nice employees”, and the same can be said for trainees. Another noted that, “The regional trainees are very supportive, and you know you can always reach out to them. There is a bit of a divide between the regional trainees and London trainees though.”

Maybe the divide is the result of office envy. Regional recruits note that “it seems the best facilities are provided to those in the flagship London office, while other offices lag behind”. Meanwhile, those in the City’s Walkie-Talkie building enjoy “wonderful views across London and access to the Sky Garden,” where Kennedys’ lawyers apparently receive a 20% discount on food and drink. Juniors in the capital also have access to an in-office canteen which serves a “decent variety of options but it is not great value for money and closes early (4pm)”. Another London recruit reported that “working in the Walkie Talkie building is great and the views are amazing. This is an example of where Kennedys worked hard to move to a prestigious location and it has been great for both employees and client contact”. But it might not be all doom and gloom for provincial recruits — those in Newcastle have moved to nestled into some swanky new digs and the “design and feel” of the newly-modded Birmingham office is said to be great.

Trainees across the firm share the sentiment that perks are somewhat lacking, describing them as ‘limited’ in the regions and “lagging behind other City firms’ in the capital”. On offer is “a good competitive salary, flexible working, regular gifts/social events/client events throughout the year” and “free breakfast [and] private dental and medical insurance”. We also heard reports of a £50 voucher at Christmas, a £250 contribution towards gym memberships and an annual Kennedys wellbeing day (an extra day’s leave). One Kennedys convert told us: “They are ok, but they aren’t the reason you would come to Kennedys. The real perk is culture.”

And as part of that culture you can expect a work/life balance which is very good, especially when measured against competitors. “I am very pleased with my work/life balance at Kennedys. We are encouraged to take our lunch breaks and leave at a reasonable time. 90% of the time I have left the office by 5.30pm. It is rare to see people staying much later. We are encouraged to switch off when on annual leave and there is no obligation to have work emails on your phone.” That being said, one City recruit said the work-life balance in London can be more skewed in the busy commercial and insurance teams. Primarily though, it seems here that any decision to work late is a choice for go-getters, rather than a requirement: “the times I have had to work late are rare, and often I have made the decision to put a few more hours in because I am proud of the work I am doing and want to help the team”.

The firm WFH set-up is pretty good with trainees having the choice of a work laptop or iPad, monitor, keyboard, mouse and headset alongside contributions towards equipment such as chairs and desks. That being said, this isn’t all that much use to trainees who are required to attend the office five days a week.

Trainees say some of the legal tech is “slow and outdated” adding that, “the lack of legal support staff means that trainees and junior associates spend a lot of time battling technology rather than doing more productive legal work”. The case management system is also said to be “not fit for purpose” and “adoption [of legal tech] by different teams varies”, meaning that the less tech-savy supervisors “might ask you to do menial tasks like sorting their diary”. Here’s one candid critique: “The tech leaves a bit to be desired in terms of reliability and some juniors don’t get phones, so you are expected to be using your own phone to be contactable when out and about at court etc.”

However, the firm has bolstered its technology and innovation credentials with the implementation of its own technology and services business, Kennedys IQ, which brings together six tools which automate or manage day-to-day claims processes. It operates as a separate business arm for the firm, meaning it is open to external investment to rapidly scale across the globe. Kennedys has also partnered with an environmental consultancy to launch a new accelerator programme, Sustain AI — though whether or not trainees will see the fruits of their labour on this front remains to be seen.

By and large, Kennedys is making efforts to push for greener practices in the offices, including limiting waste, teaching about environmental impact through seminars and supporting a global environmental charity — as well as designing its office in Birmingham to be environmentally friendly using recyclable materials and lots of plants as decor. Colleagues from Cambridge, Birmingham, London, Newcastle and Sheffield also recently swapped their desks and suits for trowels and hedges to enjoy a day of volunteering gardening in Kettering!