Howard Kennedy LLP

Address: 1 London Bridge, London, SE1 9BG

Web: www.howardkennedy.com

Email: trainee.recruitment@howardkennedy.com

 

Survey results

The lowdown (in their own words...)

The verdict

A ‘medium-sized firm with West End heritage’, Howard Kennedy boasts a ‘great media litigation team’ and ‘strength in real estate’. Trainees were drawn to the firm because of its clients who include entrepreneurs, retail and leisure businesses. Recruits are given ‘responsibility at an early stage’ and get to work on ‘high-quality work while still being able to maintain a good work/life balance’. Trainees ‘prepared a research note for my supervisor and had my conclusion accepted by counsel’ and ‘assisted on the acquisition of three multi-million pound leisure facilities’. ‘Regular in-house training sessions’ speak volumes about Howard Kennedy’s ‘focus on trainee development’ – there’s a ‘weekly real estate seminar’ for example, which trainees are encouraged to attend. It’s also encouraging that ‘supervisors offer ‘support and are happy to see you do well’. The ‘pressure to hit targets’ weighed on trainees. ‘No canteen area’ and ‘slow computers’ were also complained about. A ‘lack of communication about NQ roles’ led trainees to have ‘no confidence in being kept on’, and that some people are ‘not very sociable after work’ disappointed those looking to build connections. Nonetheless, we’re told that there are ‘very personable individuals’ at Howard Kennedy and the ‘atmosphere isn’t stuffy or hierarchical’. Highlights from the training contract included ‘the thank you drinks given by a client at the end of a project’ and ‘the adrenaline of my first completion’. Others cited ‘presenting to a large group of Masters students at Central St Martins and teaching them about their IP rights’ as a stand-out moment. If you want to work in a ‘welcoming environment’ where ‘you get credit for the work you’ve completed well’, investigate Howard Kennedy.

 A day in the life of...

Nikita Sellers first-year trainee, Howard Kennedy LLP 

Departments to date:  Residential development sales, residential real estate, media litigation

University:University of Bristol, Guildford School of Acting, University of Law  
Degree:BSc Geography 2(1), MA Music Theatre (Distinction), GDL (Distinction), LPC MSc Business, Law and Management (Distinction) 

6.00am:  I wake early to make the most of my gym membership at Third Space where Howard Kennedy staff are offered a discounted rate. I have tried a variety of classes but hot vinyasa yoga is my favourite, and I feel calm for the rest of the day.

8.30am:  I walk along the river and usually arrive at my desk between 8.30am and 9.00am. Our office is in a great location and I am lucky to have a window seat with amazing views over the city.

8.45am:  Our office is open plan so I chat to some of my colleagues and then review news bulletins and events invitations in my inbox – I RSVP to an invitation from chambers to their summer party and I read an interesting article on AI and human rights.

9.30am:  We have a number of international clients and emails from them have come through overnight. I handle those first, forwarding documents and sending instructions to counsel preparing draft pleadings.

10.00am:  I receive approval to file a claim on a debt recovery matter which I am handling, update interest figures/dates on the claim form and particulars of claim, print and take these to the relevant fee-earner for signing. I draft a cover letter and send the documents to the court for sealing.

11.00am:  I am given a brief on a new defamation matter. I review the potentially defamatory article, summarise the social media backlash and discuss the client’s position and chances of success with my supervisor.

12.00pm:  I am sent documents ahead of a consultation with a client regarding the assignation of copyright to review and consider answers to the questions that have been posed. I ask the client partner a few questions about the background of the matter as we were first instructed before I started working in the department.

1.00pm:  We have a Lunch & Learn session on mediation tips and best practice. These sessions take place once a month on different topics of interest to dispute resolution lawyers – there are others on offer too, but the popular tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches are all gone already!

2.00pm:  I have a pre-consultation meeting with the partner to discuss the findings from my earlier research and my queries regarding the expert reports.

4.30pm:  I dictate an attendance note from the consultation.

5.00pm:  I draft an urgent engagement letter for a new client, which the head of department has just taken instructions from.

5.30pm:  It is the last Friday of the month and I hear the drinks trolley being wheeled into the eighth floor kitchen. I update my schedule of live matters (to keep track of the work that I have been assigned) and submit my time entries before enjoying a couple of glasses of wine with the rest of the dispute resolution team.

6.30pm:  I am rushing to catch a train to Wales so have to miss out on drinks with the other trainees at The Mudlark this week. I go back to my desk, jot down my blog title to consider on the train and log off for the weekend.