Caroline Wilson, Kennedys HR Director

Kennedys has ditched annual appraisals for all its staff and partners, joining the throng of firms reconsidering their feedback systems.

The reform comes after its people requested more regular feedback about their career development.

Kennedys HR director Caroline Wilson told Legal Week the firm has introduced an online performance management system, called Clear Review, through which people can request more frequent reviews with their supervisor.

Users can also request feedback after a specific task has been completed.

"Appraisals have always been a frustration for businesses," Wilson told Legal Week, "because it's an enormous annual burden that both the employee and supervisors have to get through. Our work is so fast moving that objectives can change throughout the year."

Wilson said since its introduction earlier this year, the platform has received at least 1,000 requests for feedback. She added that the goal during the next year is to make quarterly reviews standard for every member of staff.

"We recognise that the younger generations coming through our firm now want this new kind of feedback, and not the annual appraisal system anymore," she said.

"It has just become the natural way of doing things."

Kennedys joins several firms in adapting feedback for its lawyers and employees.

Last year, Eversheds Sutherland, Hogan Lovells and Slaughter and May scrapped annual reviews in favour of more regular feedback sessions.