Training Contracts at Hawkswell Kilvington

Who are we?

• Hawkswell Kilvington is a boutique law firm specialising in construction and engineering; one of only a handful of such firms in the UK.
• We provide legal advice in areas ranging from contract procurement and negotiation through to dispute resolution, all with a straightforward, no-nonsense commercial approach.
• We have a wealth of experience in dealing with issues relating to office developments, industrial units, shopping centres, hospitals, schools and colleges, airports, power plants and large infrastructure projects.
• The firm is ranked highly in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, as are a number of our solicitors.
• Training and development is at the heart of what we do. Our aim is always for our trainee solicitors to be retained, and to have a long and successful career with the firm. Two of our current Partners trained with the firm and are testament to this.

What is construction law?

• The construction industry is one of the most significant contributors to UK GDP. You only have to look at the skyline in any major town or city to see the vast amount of construction work being undertaken.
• Construction law is an area of legal practice dealing with matters relating to the built environment (infrastructure, construction and engineering).
• It encompasses many different areas of law, including contract, tort, and commercial to name but a few.
• It really is very diverse, covering a vast range of legal issues including contract negotiations, payment disputes, defects and professional negligence claims.

What is it like to work at Hawkswell Kilvington?

• The wellbeing of our staff is at the core of our values.
• Trainees are an integral part of our team, and we will provide support and mentoring to ensure you get the best possible training.
• You will be part of an inclusive, supportive culture where everyone has the opportunity and encouragement to develop their skills and do their best work.
• We value diversity. Our office is an inclusive environment where the individuality of every team member is embraced. As a firm our goal is to have balanced representation across the firm, and to grow with a rich and diverse talent base.
• We are committed to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and work hard to promote the importance of CSR both internally and externally. For example, we are conscious of the changing climate and are always looking at opportunities to reduce our impacts and associated emissions further, including through energy and resource efficiency, waste prevention and sustainable travel. We have recently achieved the Carbon Neutral Plus Standard. We also have a dedicated charity partner each year and run various events to raise money for that charity.

What’s on Offer?

• A competitive salary that increases in your second year
• Gym membership
• Significant contribution towards the cost of your LPC or SQE1 and SQE2 (on successfully completing your probation period)
• State of the art IT equipment
• Mobile phone
• A brand new collaborative office space, along with the option for agile working
• A dedicated training mentor to guide you through your learning and development.

What are we looking for?

• A vibrant, energetic individual looking for an exciting career opportunity in one of the UK’s leading construction law firms.
• A candidate with a strong academic record with at least a 2:1 degree.
• If you have undertaken the LPC/SQE you must have passed first time.

How to apply?

• If you would like to apply for a training contract at Hawkswell Kilvington, please email a copy of your C.V. and a covering letter to Louise Tankard at ltankard@hklegal.co.uk
• Interviews usually take place in spring and training contract offers are made a little while after that – usually by the summer.
• Most applicants apply either when they’re at law school or, having completed the academic stage of training, while working as a paralegal.
• We are happy to consider applications from candidates who have studied either the LPC or SQE. We require that candidates have completed and passed either the LPC or SQE1 before commencing a training contract or qualifying work experience with us.
• The period of the training contract or qualifying work experience is 2 years.