Herbert Smith Freehills – Your Growth. Our Ambition.

We’re a leading, full-service, global law firm delivering high-profile work that matters to our clients, on some of the world’s biggest cases and deals. With an award-winning depth of expertise across a wide variety of sectors, geographies and legal specialisms, you don’t just watch from the sidelines here, you hit the ground running, make a difference and tackle the important issues.

We have a responsibility to do the right thing and raise ambitions: for the firm, for our clients and for you. We invest in your experiences, well-being and development, knowing that the work you do will make a lasting impact on the firm. By combining perspectives and potential from diverse backgrounds, we offer our clients pioneering solutions, and with our innovative and inclusive culture, we’re building a reputation for excellence across legal disciplines, business sectors and continents. Wherever you are in your career, at Herbert Smith Freehills, your growth is our ambition.

The work we do here is incredibly varied. We provide top-quality tailored legal advice to major corporations, governments and financial institutions, and various commercial organisations. We operate at the forefront of many exciting sectors. Our dispute resolution practice is widely recognised as number one globally so 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 attract the brightest minds across the world and always make sure we prioritise the growth of our people because it’s what drives the growth of our business.

At Herbert Smith Freehills, we recognise and appreciate all the differences that make each of us unique. The diversity of our backgrounds and perspectives makes us more innovative, which is key to our success in a global, fast-moving world. Our culture of inclusion that fosters these differences is fundamental to our business and the diverse clients and communities we work with. Here, you’ll be part of a working environment where you’ll be valued for what makes you different and accepted for who you are.

We know that for you to have a long and rewarding career here, you need to be supported to do your best work. That’s why we provide a number of benefits, including: 25 days' annual leave, pension contributions, private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised gym membership, cycle to work scheme, travel insurance, interest-free season ticket loan, access to a mortgage broker and many more.

First-year workshop

Salary: N/A
Deadline: 31 January 2024
Location: London

It’s never too early to take control of your career. Join us on one of the Herbert Smith Freehills first-year workshops and start today.

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, you don’t just watch from the side lines here, you hit the ground running and tackle important issues.

By combining perspectives and potential from diverse backgrounds, we offer our clients pioneering solutions. With our innovative and inclusive culture, we’re building a reputation for excellence across legal disciplines, business sectors and continents. 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 get involved in new situations and experiences and discover new skills to learn and apply.

Experiencing life at a law firm during your first year of study opens up a world of opportunities. You’ll discover what it’s like to be a lawyer, the work we do, how we do it and how we think. It’s a great way to learn if a career in law is right for you and it will give you the tools to make a successful application for a vacation scheme later on.

What will I be doing?

Each spring, we run two, two-day workshops at our London office. You’ll hear from leading lawyers, take part in interactive sessions covering subjects like corporate negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, insights into our pro bono work and a careers fair. You’ll also shadow one of our current trainees and attend an evening social event. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a good idea of what life at the firm is really like and whether you’re ready to take control of your career. 

What we look for

You don’t need to study law to attend. In fact, we welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. We’re looking for people with motivation for a career in law, strong academics and individuals with the potential to become exceptional lawyers.

Key dates

Workshop one: 2-3 April 2024

Workshop two: 8-9 April 2024

(Open to first-year students and second-year students on a four-year course)

To apply, you’ll need to complete our online application form and blended online assessment. You don’t need to interview for a place on the workshop. If you’re offered a place on one of the workshops and decide to apply for a vacation scheme, you won’t need to retake the online assessment and we’ll fast track your application to review stage.

Your Growth. Our Ambition.

This opportunity is now closed to applications. It will re-open in January 2025.

Campus ambassadors 

Salary: competitive
Deadline: 31 March 2024
Locations: nationwide

It’s never too early to take control of your career. Become a Herbert Smith Freehills campus ambassador and start today.

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, you don’t just watch from the side lines here, you hit the ground running and tackle the important issues.

By combining perspectives and potential from diverse backgrounds, we offer our clients pioneering solutions. 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 get involved in new situations and experiences and discover new skills to learn and apply.

First-year students can apply to take on the campus ambassador role during their second year of study. As a campus ambassador, you’ll need the passion and communication skills to inspire other students, both in person and on social media. In doing this, you’ll help your peers elevate their ambition by educating them about the opportunities available at Herbert Smith Freehills.

Being a campus ambassador offers you work experience, the chance to hone key transferable skills for any professional career and gain a unique insight into our firm; as well as the chance to start building up your reputation and your legal network.

What we look for

You don’t need to study law to be a campus ambassador. In fact, we welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. We're looking for people with strong communication skills, enthusiasm and creativity.

What will I be doing?

The position of campus ambassador provides you with invaluable experience, gives you further insight into the firm, prepares you for the vacation scheme application process, and involves:

Planning activities and organising events

Growing your professional and personal network

Managing the HSF Facebook and Instagram pages for your university

Sharing information and amplifying our impact on your campus.

Key dates

Apply between: 1 January – 31 January 2024 (open to first-year students and second-year students on a four-year course)

Start year: 2024/2025

To apply, you’ll need to complete an online application form and blended online assessment. If you’re offered the role and decide to apply for a vacation scheme in your second year, you won’t need to retake the online assessment and we’ll fast track your application to review stage.

Your Growth. Our Ambition.

This opportunity is now closed to applications. 

Salary: £50,000 starting salary. Progress to £55,000 in your second year. Newly-qualified lawyers earn a base salary of £120,000.

Entry criteria: Must complete HSF vacation scheme and receive an offer for a training contract

Location: London

Find out more about the training contract programme here.

Your Growth. Our Ambition.

Our trainee associates are the future, so it’s only right that we invest in them. When you join the trainee associate programme at HSF, you’ll work on high-profile cases, network with prestigious clients, and undergo specialist knowledge, skills and mindset training. You'll be elevated in your personal life too, with fantastic benefits and support networks designed to help trainees from a diversity of backgrounds. Your new career starts here.

We recognise that talented people grow best by experiencing work which excites, challenges and stretches them whilst receiving the appropriate blend of support and structured learning to ensure they thrive. We believe that your growth will define our success as a firm. That's why we've kept it front of mind when designing our trainee associate programme.

We only recruit our future trainees from our vacation schemes where students are assessed by their supervisors and given an assessed piece of work across your chosen two seats. We look at a combination of these assessments when making offers on our trainee associate programme.

Who are Herbert Smith Freehills?

We’re a leading, full-service, global law firm delivering high-profile work that matters to our clients, on some of the world’s biggest cases and deals. With an award-winning depth of expertise across a wide variety of sectors, geographies and legal specialisms, you don’t just watch from the sidelines here, you hit the ground running, make a difference and tackle the important issues. Join us and you’ll be involved in new situations and experiences and discover new skills to learn and apply.

Your benefits:

£50,000-£120,000 salary

25 days’ annual leave

Cycle to work scheme

Medical, dental, travel and gadget insurance

Subsidised gym membership

Pension contributions from Herbert Smith Freehills

Interest-free season ticket loan

Corporate discounts

Why join us?

Diverse

As well as ensuring we recruit from a range of backgrounds, we take a roughly equal split of law and non-law students. This diversity of experience and perspectives allows us to develop creative solutions to our clients’ problems.

Challenging

We created the trainee associate programme to ensure our trainee associates are given the best opportunities to develop the skills they need to become a successful lawyer. Through our business skills academy, trainee associates will be equipped with the business knowledge, skills and mindset they need to work on the biggest matters and deals with our clients across the globe.

You’ll undertake structured learning and development, from interactive workshops to Professional Skills Course training.

A partner will mentor you as you progress through your training contract, and in each seat, you’ll share your office with either a senior associate or a partner who's committed to supporting your personal and professional development.

Progressive

If you’re keen to develop client relationship skills and business growth strategies, you can join our entrepreneurial trainee business development committee (TBDC). The TBDC is a trainee-run initiative that empowers trainees to contribute to our business development strategies through networking with clients and building business development skills.

You’ll get the opportunity to submit seat preferences before every rotation, including before your first seat, enabling you to tailor your training contract to your specific interests. You can also discuss your preferences with our dedicated trainee HR team.

Global

There are opportunities to undertake a client or an international secondment.

What we look for:

Personal leadership

You must demonstrate an interest in client relationships and building upon these. You should also be able to show us good active listening skills and persuasive skills to gain support for ideas.

Technical capability

As well as considered reasoning and a desire to learn, using initiative is a key skill for a trainee. Think about how you would seek out new opportunities in order to gain a deeper understanding of the role.

Intellectual capability

Academic excellence should be demonstrated through degree classification. While a minimum of a 2:1 is preferred, we take mitigating circumstances into account. There’s space on the application form to include these details and they will be taken into consideration throughout the application process.

Contributions to the team’s success

Communication skills are critical for trainees, think about examples where you’ve been able to bring about positive outcomes by communicating and collaborating with colleagues.

Working styles

You can demonstrate competency by giving examples of organisational skills and showing your ability to cope well under pressure.

Motivation for a career in law here

Think about why you’ve chosen to pursue a career in commercial law, and why Herbert Smith Freehills in particular.

How do I apply?

We only recruit our future trainee associates from our vacation schemes, and to be eligible for the schemes, you must be a graduate or in your penultimate or final year at university. When making our decision, we look at assessments made by supervisors and an assessed piece of work in each of the two seats. 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.

The scheme gives you the chance to get to know us and see what life at Herbert Smith Freehills would be like before you make a decision about your career, so make the most of this opportunity.

Find out more about the training contract programme here.

For those who are unable to attend a vacation scheme, please get in touch with the graduate recruitment team at [email protected] to discuss your individual circumstances, which we will consider on a case-by-case basis.

£17,000 SQE grant.

2024 Roger Leyland Memorial Scholarship

Roger Leyland was a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills until his death in October 1996 at the young age of 43. He was the first black partner at a leading City firm and chaired The College of Law’s ethnic minority subcommittee. Roger was deeply committed to supporting the development of young lawyers, including sitting as a governor on the Council of The College of Law.

Our Roger Leyland memorial scholarship is designed to help exceptional Black and ethnic minority students access funding and work experience in law. Applicants should be in their first year of a three-year course or second year of a four-year course and must be a Rare candidate in order to apply.

Benefits of being a Roger Leyland Memorial Scholar include:

- £9,000 awarded over three years of study

- A mentor at the firm, as well as an HSF partner contact and a trainee buddy

- A guaranteed spot on the summer vacation scheme (conditional on reaching the required benchmark in first year exams)

- Personal study sessions with Rare’s Melissa Andrewes, a former head of students at The University of Law

- Invitations to exclusive firm events

- Runners-up may be considered for a place on the summer vacation scheme.

Your Growth. Our Ambition.

This opportunity is now closed to applications. It will re-open in autumn 2024.

£9,000 pa for PGDL maintenace grant outside London.

£10,000 pa for PGDL maintenance grant in London.

• Dispute resolution
• Corporate
• Finance
• Competition
• Regulation & trade
• Intellectual property
• Employment
• Pensions & incentives
• Tax
• ESG
• Pro bono

• Corporate & Commercial

• London

• A4ID
• Asylum Support Appeals Project
• Fair Trials International
• Refugee Council
• Reprieve
• The Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau
• Whitechapel Mission

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Bright Network
• City Horizons
• MyPlus Consulting
• PRIME
• Rare Recruitment
• Social Mobility Foundation
• Stonewall
• The Switch
• University of Warwick Multicultural Scholars programme