Insiders View
Simon Gibson, Partner
After an abortive and short-lived career as a chartered accountant I joined Kennedys as an articled clerk in the summer of 1982. It sounds like the dark ages but we had no computers, reel-to-reel dictating machines, no time recording and a manual switchboard on which I became proficient. There was no induction and I was thrown in at the deep end by being told to look after the caseload of a partner who was away for the whole of August. I was soon off taking statements from witnesses who had seen anti vivisectionists break into laboratories near Chelmsford. I also remember doing lots of photocopying and trips to court numerous times a week to argue summonses on cases passed to me the night before. I qualified in 1984 having done stints in litigation, property and commercial. I joined the company / commercial department but very rapidly transferred to litigation. My big break came when an Insurer client asked whether they could instruct me direct because the “partners seemed very busy”. Tricky decision! I was made an Associate in 1986 and a partner in 1989 - the youngest of about 15 at the time. Since then I have seen the firm grow into the multinational business it is today. I have specialised in professional indemnity work in different professions at different times – architects and engineers, surveyors and more recently solicitors. I now head the professional indemnity group and have just celebrated 25 years with the firm.
Christopher Malla, Partner
I joined Kennedys as a trainee in September 1995 when the Firm was much smaller. I chose Kennedys to complete my training contract as it was a friendly down to earth practice where trainees were given early responsibility. I thoroughly enjoyed my training contract (all those years ago!). I trained in the personal injury, professional negligence/healthcare, insurance/reinsurance, employment, commercial and commercial property departments.
I managed a small caseload under close supervision and one of my cases even proceeded to trial successfully defending allegations of professional negligence against a surveyor. Preparing for trial whilst a trainee was invaluable experience and it made the transition from trainee to qualified solicitor much easier. I qualified into the healthcare department where I was appointed a Partner in 2002 and now assist in managing a team of 25 lawyers.
Whilst Kennedys may have grown in size considerably since I qualified it still remains a very friendly down to earth practice where trainees are given early responsibility and “hands on” on experience.
Magdalena Miller, Solicitor - newly qualified
I applied to Kennedys mainly because it was a litigation firm with a diverse range of practice areas. At each step of the way, beginning with my initial enquiries with HR about the application process, through the interviews and finally the welcome party organised for the first year trainees by the second year trainees and NQs, I could sense a high level of professionalism and enthusiasm.
Having completed my first seat I can say with conviction that the firm delivers on its promises. From day one I was involved in complex cases, where my input was valued by other team members. The firm operates an open door policy and I have not seen my supervisor frown once when asked for explanations or further instructions. Kennedys is a firm for people who do not fear to strive for the challenge and are focused on personal and professional development.
Amanda Mead, Solicitor
I am a solicitor based in the Cambridge office engaged primarily in defending clinical negligence claims. I qualified at Kennedys in September 2006.
I commenced employment with Kennedys as a paralegal in April 2001 working with the clinical negligence team. I undertook a part time LPC course at Nottingham while working for Kennedys full time.
My training contract commenced in September 2004. I spent the majority of my time with the clinical negligence team in Cambridge but also had time with the employment and company teams in London where I experienced a mixture of contentious and uncontentious work.
Steven Kaye, Trainee Solicitor
The most important factor in my decision to apply to Kennedys was my desire to work with a growing London based law firm that focused on practice areas that mirrored my own interests.
The first interview was extremely relaxed and friendly and let me know that Kennedys are interested in personality as well as intelligence. The second interview was more formal but the impression I came away with was that the firm placed a heavy emphasis on recruiting trainees that would fit in with the culture of the firm.
I am currently in my first seat with the Personal Injury team. From my first day I was given responsibility and encouraged to ask as many questions as I could in order to make an active contribution. I have never found anyone to be unwilling to answer a question and I certainly feel that I am being trained rather than taken advantage of.
I have found Kennedys to offer an excellent work/life balance. There isn’t a culture of having to stay until the last partner has gone home but at the same time there is a clear appreciation of the need to be professional, take pride in your work and perform to a high standard.
I have certainly enjoyed my first experiences of life as a trainee. It can be daunting when you’re in your first seat but there is always someone to ask and plenty of support if you need it. The impression I had of Kennedys when I made my application was that they are a dynamic and vibrant firm. I am pleased to say that I still hold this view and am very happy I decided to apply here.
Jeremy Jukes, Solicitor - newly qualified
I studied History and Politics at Warwick University and graduated with a 2:1 degree. I then joined Callaghans Solicitors where I worked as a paralegal in the Personal Injury department for two years whilst I also undertook the Graduate Diploma in Law part-time at Kingston University. Following on from this I studied the LPC at the College of Law in Guildford, which I passed with a Commendation.
At Kennedys it was refreshing to be interviewed by people who were genuinely interested in me, asking questions based on why I wanted a career in law, what my previous experiences had been, what my outside interests were and why I wanted to join Kennedys. I found this a welcome change from some of the bizarre questions that had been thrown at me at other law firms, presumably designed to ‘catch me out’ (including “please tell me how many golf balls there are in the UK” and “I am an alien from the planet Zorg and would like you to explain what the Stock Exchange is”!). The interview process was relaxed, friendly and respectful and this has continued throughout my training contract so far. I have been given a good variety of work and responsibility that has challenged me and helped me to experience and put into practice a wide range of legal skills.
Sheena Raikundalia, Trainee Solicitor
I graduated from the University of Bristol with a 2.1 law degree and completed the LPC at BPP Law School with a Distinction. I then began working in-house in a property management firm whilst completing an MBA from Ashcroft International Business School.
I wanted a firm where I would obtain exposure to a diverse range of practice areas, receive excellent training and work in a supportive environment. Kennedys provided all three. The recruitment process was enjoyable and informative and this friendly approach has continued in my training. As an illustration, on my third day of my first seat, a senior partner took me through an insurance policy and gave me his file of ‘jargon’ that he had complied over the years in order to give me an introduction to the world of insurance!
The quality of work that I have been provided so far has been excellent and I have already sat in conferences with clients and counsel, undertaken research, conducted disclosure exercises and attended seminars. The learning curve is fairly steep and the intention at Kennedys is to enable trainees to develop both legal skills and business acumen.
