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Kennedys
A global law firm specialising in insurance, liability and dispute resolution, with particular strengths in claims defence, healthcare and complex commercial risks.
About Kennedys
Kennedys is a global law firm with a practice centred on insurance, liability and dispute resolution. Its lawyers advise insurers, reinsurers, businesses and public bodies on claims, coverage disputes and the legal consequences of significant incidents.
The firm’s work spans healthcare, construction, transport, aviation, marine, professional services and other industries. Matters can involve individual claims, major commercial losses or disputes crossing several jurisdictions. For prospective trainees, its appeal lies in understanding how evidence, legal responsibility and commercial considerations shape the handling of a dispute. Insurance knowledge is particularly important, including how policy wording, claims costs and settlement strategy affect clients’ decisions.
The rotational training contract lasts two years and comprises four six-month seats. Trainees gain experience across specialist practices, with supervision from experienced lawyers and regular feedback. Client and international secondments may be available, depending on the programme and business requirements.
Future trainees complete the LLM SQE1&2 programme at BPP before starting their training contract. The firm funds course fees and provides maintenance support. Published grants are £12,000 in London and £10,000 elsewhere. Non-law graduates must complete a law conversion course before undertaking the SQE programme; PGDL sponsorship is not confirmed.
Kennedys also offers specialist healthcare training contracts and a separate 30-month Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship, combining work with qualification studies. Applicants should distinguish these routes from the four-seat training contract when choosing a vacancy.
Practice areas & rankings
Kennedys is recognised across 24 practice areas in Chambers UK 2027. Its Band 1 practices include Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance, Clinical Negligence: Mainly Defendant, Personal Injury: Mainly Defendant and Health & Safety, all UK-wide. Professional negligence is another significant strength, with leading regional rankings.
The firm won the Claims Training Excellence Award at the Claims Excellence Awards 2026 and the Claims Training Award at the British Claims Awards 2026. It also won Cyber Law Firm of the Year at the Cyber Insurance Europe Awards 2025.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 for Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance UK-wide in Chambers UK 2027, the practice handles high-value coverage disputes and claims defence. Its experience includes professional indemnity, financial misconduct, construction and energy losses. The international network supports disputes involving several jurisdictions and insurance markets.
Ranked Band 1 for Clinical Negligence: Mainly Defendant UK-wide in Chambers UK 2027, the team represents NHS trusts and private healthcare clients. It defends complex claims involving brain, spinal, obstetric and orthopaedic injuries. The work combines detailed medical evidence with questions of legal responsibility, causation and compensation.
Ranked Band 1 for Personal Injury: Mainly Defendant UK-wide in Chambers UK 2027, the practice represents major insurers and businesses. Its work includes workplace accidents, motor claims and serious injuries. International claims are another feature, drawing on the firm’s overseas network.
Ranked Band 1 UK-wide in Chambers UK 2027, the team advises organisations and individuals following serious incidents. Its work extends from initial crisis response through regulatory investigations and criminal prosecutions. Sector experience includes manufacturing, rail, healthcare and leisure, with matters involving fatal accidents and multiple injuries.
Awards
Claims Training Excellence AwardClaims Excellence Awards 2026
Claims Training AwardBritish Claims Awards 2026
Cyber Law Firm of the YearCyber Insurance Europe Awards 2025
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
The one-week spring vacation scheme in April 2027 is the primary route to a September 2028 training contract. Applications close on 30 November 2026. London and Manchester schemes are advertised.
Eligible applicants include final-year law students, law graduates and non-law graduates who will have completed a conversion course by September 2027. This is a narrower eligibility window than schemes accepting penultimate-year students.
Direct training contract recruitment is available where business needs require. The London 2028 training contract vacancy closes on 26 February 2027.
The application form covers academics, experience and motivation. Explain why Kennedys’ insurance and disputes work interests you through a specific client problem. For example, consider how an insurer assesses a disputed claim, or how a healthcare provider responds to allegations of negligence.
Support your suitability with examples showing responsibility, judgement and clear communication. Explain your own contribution and what you learned. Tailor your answers to the office and programme, particularly when applying for a specialist healthcare role.
Kennedys: quick answers
How much does Kennedys pay trainees?
Kennedys pays first-year trainees £45,000, rising to £48,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Kennedys earn £85,000.
When are the Kennedys application deadlines?
Kennedys's training contract applications close on 26 Feb for the 2026/27 cycle. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Kennedys take on?
Kennedys takes on around 16 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Kennedys use in its applications?
The process includes a Situational Strengths Assessment. Candidates select or rank responses to workplace scenarios, and the assessment includes critical reasoning elements testing analytical and logical thinking. Read the context carefully and identify competing priorities, such as deadlines, client needs and the need to seek guidance. Consider what you would realistically do rather than choosing an answer simply because it sounds impressive. For critical reasoning, separate evidence from assumptions and check whether a conclusion follows from the information supplied. The current guidance does not publish the question count, time limit or scoring benchmark.
What grades do you need to apply to Kennedys?
To apply to Kennedys you will generally need a 2:1 degree. At A-level, Kennedys asks for BBB. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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