2025

Reflecting on your research and any interaction you may have had with the firm, what has encouraged you to apply to Kennedys? (250 words)

Undertaking the Kennedys Virtual Work Experience Programme initially sparked my interest in the firm as I enjoyed the brief introduction to the variety of commercial work; I have since been eager to expand on this. Recently I have started as a Litigation Assistant in the [redacted] Team. Despite my short time with the firm so far, I have been impressed by the friendly, approachable and welcoming culture I have experienced, and I already feel valued as a colleague. I have also enjoyed the range of training resources available, including the Junior Lawyer Academy, which I look forward to utilising in order to improve my skills early in my career. My positive experiences with the firm have prompted me to apply for the Training Contract as I believe Kennedys is willing to invest in my future and long-term career.

Another aspect of Kennedys which has encouraged me to apply for the Training Contract is the clear commitment displayed by the firm to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I believe it is important that firms recognise their position of privilege and use this to give back to employees, communities and other initiatives. I attended the Climate Action Campaign 2024 Webinar discussion with Lucy Siegle and I was interested to learn about Kennedys' pledges to reduce their carbon footprint, for example the sustainable Birmingham office. I look forward to learning more about this, and becoming involved in other firm-wide DE&I events and networks.

What specific aspects of Kennedys' culture, values, or work have inspired you to pursue a training contract with us, and how do you see yourself contributing to our firm? (250 words)

Kennedys offers a unique combination of practice areas which I am interested in; I believe this would provide me with an excellent and enriching Training Contract. In particular, I have a keen interest in Marine law, stemming from my secondment to [redacted] - I find the nuances of these laws fascinating and would like to spend more time learning about these. I liked studying Medical and Tort law, and during my volunteering with the [redacted] was able to witness complex medical cases. I also enjoyed working on Corporate and Regulatory matters in my paralegal role and I am eager to experience these in a firm so renowned for its contentious work. The variety at Kennedys is unmatched and the prospect of trying new and familiar areas excites me.
 
The values of Distinctive and Supportive at Kennedys resonate with me. In my previous role, I assisted a variety of teams across different practice areas and global offices, which developed my adaptability. I am able to quickly learn a skill and carry out a new task. I was awarded academic prizes for my Tort and Contract modules which demonstrates that I have the attention to detail and legal knowledge to contribute to Kennedys' success. Having played hockey for over ten years as well as working part-time jobs and volunteering, I thrive in a team environment and like to collaborate with others. I have often worked with new teams to support the effective delivery of quality outcomes, and look forward to continuing to do so.

Can you tell us anything further about yourself to support your application? (Unlimited word count)

At university, I won various scholarships and awards and achieved a First class degree. These include the [redacted] Scholarship, the [redacted] Prize for Contract and Tort, the [redacted] Prize for Tort Law and the [redacted] Grant. This shows my genuine enjoyment of law, which I would like to continue through my career. Kennedys' unique combination of practice areas will allow me to explore this.
 
Throughout my education I was involved in a number of activities. I have refined my time management skills through balancing part-time work, volunteering and hobbies. I completed all three DOfE awards, showing resilience and commitment through challenges and enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer as part of this, which I continued through my role with the [redacted] at university. I like being able to give back to my community. In my hockey club, I have been Social Secretary and Treasurer, which have improved my organisational and communication skills. I would like to immerse myself in life at Kennedys and become involved in events, networks and activities.
 
I believe I am an excellent candidate for the Kennedys Training Contract. I have demonstrated an ongoing interest in the firm, starting with completing the virtual work experience programme and culminating with joining the firm as a Litigation Assistant. I am committed to a long-term career with the firm due to its outstanding reputation whilst maintaining a friendly culture.

2024

How does Kennedys differ from other firms you have applied to? (200 words)

Kennedys differs from other firms I have applied to in two ways, the values and the innovation. The core values at Kennedys of approachable, straightforward, distinctive and supportive stood out to me, and the culture created by these values is what makes Kennedys unique. It was a priority for me to apply to a firm that had values that I aligned with and a good culture, especially as a trainee lawyer. From attending events such as the All About Law event in October and hearing from [redacted], I can see that the firm embodies these values and they are not just a slogan. 

Secondly, Kennedys is unique in its innovation. After hearing [redacted] mention the Kennedy’s IQ programme was extremely interesting and encouraged my research further into the firm. The IQ programme highlights that Kennedys is using technology in a way that benefits both the clients and solicitors. This is especially important as AI technology has been identified as a way to streamline the insurance process and understanding this technology is key to success in this practice area.

Please explain why you are interesting in undertaking a Training Contract at Kennedys. (200 words)

After attending the Legal Cheek Virtual Law Fair and various Legal Cheek and All About Law events, Kennedys stood out to me. The firm is unique in its recruitment process in comparison to other firms and unique in its culture. As I mentioned previously, the values at Kennedys really stood out to me and aligned with my own values. 

I attended a virtual Legal Cheek ‘Professional and Financial Risk’ event with RPC and this introduced me to a career in insurance law and encouraged my research further into this practice area. From my research, I found that Kennedys is a leader in insurance and was ranked first overall for client services in 2023. This encouraged me to undertake the Kennedys virtual work experience programme on Forage where I got an insight into the work that Kennedys do. Furthermore, I learned more about Kennedys such as the firm instructing high profile claims such as the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire. 

Ultimately, I believe I have the key skills required to be a trainee lawyer in insurance and I am confident that Kennedys provides the ideal platform for me to thrive, driven by my passion and aligned values.  

Can you tell us anything further about yourself to support your application? (200 words)

I have volunteered and worked in retail for the last six years and I believe that this has allowed me to develop a lot of the transferable skills required to succeed in a career in law. Within these roles, I have been able to develop meaningful professional relationships which have continued even when I was studying in Wales for university. This is why I believe I will fit in well in Kennedys as I have experience and am very comfortable working as a team and lending support to others. 

Furthermore, I have attended many legal events by All About Law and Legal Cheek, and I have undertaken many virtual work experience programmes. This has allowed me to develop my skills such as proofreading, legal research and problem solving which are key to success as a commercial lawyer. These events have also allowed me to determine which firms I would be suited to and I believe that Kennedys is one.