Overview
Herbert Smith Freehills – The future of law is here.
We’re a leading, full-service, global law firm working on some of the world’s biggest cases and deals at the forefront of the world’s most exciting sectors. With an award-winning depth of expertise across a wide variety of sectors, geographies and legal specialisms, we’re the firm where you can build your future in law.
By combining perspectives and potential from diverse backgrounds, we can offer our clients pioneering solutions. With our innovative and inclusive culture, we’re building a law firm ready to lead the future. Our progressive approach allows us to continually break new ground; whether it’s a complex international dispute or a billion-pound, cross-border deal. You’ll add your insight and expertise from day one.
Our work is incredibly varied. We provide top-quality tailored legal advice to major corporations, governments and financial institutions as well as various commercial organisations. We operate at the forefront of many exciting sectors and no other firm has more Chambers rankings. Our dispute resolution practice is widely recognised as number one globally and this includes both our leading international arbitration practice and award-winning in-house advocacy unit. We can therefore offer a complete litigation service and a realistic alternative career to the Bar. We also specialise in finance, competition, regulation and trade, intellectual property, real estate and more. As a truly global law firm, we do this by attracting the brightest minds across the world to collaborate on work which has an international impact.
At Herbert Smith Freehills, we recognise and appreciate all the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture of inclusion that fosters these differences is fundamental to our business and the diverse clients and communities we work with. Embracing a diversity of backgrounds and views means we attract and retain the best talent and continue to do the pioneering work that offers our clients the most considered and effective advice.
Graduate Programmes
Our two-year training contract will offer you the opportunity to become an exceptional lawyer and develop your skills across a range of practice areas. With four, six-month seats to choose from, you can tailor your training contract to suit you from your very first seat. Join us as a trainee and start building your future in law today.
We only recruit our future trainees from our vacation schemes and all candidates will have the opportunity at the end of their vacation scheme to interview for a training contract.
What are the benefits?
- Salary: First year £45k, second year £50k, upon qualification up to £100k (including salary and bonus)
- 25 days’ annual leave
- Cycle to work scheme
- Medical, dental, travel and gadget insurance
- Subsidised gym membership, restaurant and café facilities
- Retail vouchers
- Pension contributions from Herbert Smith Freehills
- Interest-free season ticket loan
- Corporate discounts
How do I apply?
We only recruit our future trainees from our vacation schemes and all candidates will have the opportunity at the end of their vacation scheme to interview for a training contract. These schemes have been specifically designed to build and test the unique combination of skills and potential required to succeed at Herbert Smith Freehills. It’s really important to us that you have the combination of skills and potential that we’re looking for: it will enable you to become a better lawyer, build stronger connections with our team and hit the ground running when you start your career here.
It’s a two-way process. The scheme gives you the chance to get to know us and see what life for you would be like at Herbert Smith Freehills before you make a decision about your career.
For those who are unable to attend a vacation scheme, please get in touch with Anna O'Dwyer at anna.odwyer@hsf.com to discuss your individual circumstances, which we will consider on a case-by-case basis.
Internships & Placements
It’s never too early to start building your future in law. Join us on the Herbert Smith Freehills Spring, Summer, and Winter vacation schemes and start today.
Explore our firm for yourself, build your connections and find your vocation, with hands-on training from leading lawyers. You’ll have a guaranteed interview for a training contract at the end of the scheme.
What are the benefits?
- Salary: £450 per week
- Guaranteed interview for a training contract upon completion of the scheme
What will I be doing?
Our vacation schemes immerse you in our work, networks and the international world of law. Key features:
- You’ll sit with a partner or a senior associate, delivering real work for key clients.
- You’ll attend workshops and presentations covering all of our practice areas. You’ll also spend time working on a pro bono research project.
- We’ll give you the chance to apply to spend time in our network of international offices in addition to the London vacation scheme. This is a great opportunity to experience first-hand our truly global network.
- You’ll be invited to various networking events with partners, associates and trainees.
Key dates for Winter Vacation Scheme
- Winter Vacation Scheme runs: 2 – 13 December 2019
- Apply between: 16 September 2019 – 14 October 2019
- Assessment centres: October – November 2019 (open to finalists and graduates)
Key dates for Spring Vacation Scheme
- Spring Vacation Scheme runs: 14 – 24 April 2020
- Apply between: 16 September 2019 – 18 December 2019
- Assessment centres: January – March 2019 (open to penultimate-year students, finalists and graduates).
Key dates for Summer Vacation Scheme
- Summer Vacation Scheme runs: 15 June – 3 July 2020 and 6 July – 24 July 2020.
- Apply between: 16 September 2019 – 18 December 2019.
- Assessment centres: January – March 2019 (open to penultimate-year students, finalists and graduates).
We only recruit our future trainees from our vacation schemes and all candidates will have the opportunity at the end of their vacation scheme to interview for a training contract. These schemes have been specifically designed to build and test the unique combination of skills and potential required to succeed at Herbert Smith Freehills. It’s really important to us that you have the combination of skills and potential that we’re looking for: it will enable you to become a better lawyer, build stronger connections with our team and hit the ground running when you start your career here.
It’s a two-way process. The scheme gives you the chance to get to know us and see what life for you would be like at Herbert Smith Freehills before you make a decision about your career.
For those who are unable to attend a vacation scheme, please get in touch with Anna O'Dwyer at anna.odwyer@hsf.com to discuss your individual circumstances, which we will consider on a case-by-case basis.
Apprenticeships
Herbert Smith Freehills currently do not offer any apprenticeships.
School Leaver Programmes
Sponsored Degrees
Coming soon...
Salary & Benefits
· Salary: First year £45k, second-year £50k, upon qualification up to £100k (including salary and bonus)
· 25 days’ annual leave
· Cycle to work scheme
· Medical, dental, travel and gadget insurance
· Subsidised gym membership, restaurant and café facilities
· Retail and childcare vouchers
· Pension contributions from Herbert Smith Freehills
· Interest-free season ticket loan
Requirements
How To Apply
Three simple steps:
COMPLETE OUR ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
Tell us about your academic credentials, the skills you have gained from extra-curricular activities and work experience, and why you have the motivation and potential to become a great Herbert Smith Freehills lawyer.
TAKE A BLENDED ONLINE ASSESSMENT
Demonstrate your problem-solving and verbal reasoning skills, as well as your approach to scenarios relevant to the work at
Herbert Smith Freehills.
Don’t underestimate the importance of this stage: it is a strong indicator of good future performance as a Herbert Smith Freehills lawyer. You can find a practice test on our website to help you prepare.
COME TO OUR ASSESSMENT CENTRE
Our assessment centre comprises three elements that are designed to give you the opportunity to showcase your potential to be a future lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills – you can find out more about what to expect on the day by watching the assessment centre video on our website.
A CASE STUDY INTERVIEW
Engage with a case study based on work that our lawyers do at Herbert Smith Freehills, and present your thoughts to a partner.
A SCENARIO-BASED INTERVIEW
Demonstrate your ability to think on your feet when discussing with a partner how you would have approached a project they have worked on recently.
A COMPETENCY INTERVIEW
Discuss your motivation for a career in law at Herbert Smith Freehills and show you have the key skills to become a part of our team.