
Rating
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Skills
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Business Insight
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Culture
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Your Impressions
- 1. Please give an overview of the insight and what was involved on a day-to-day basis.
- 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
- How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
- How would you rate the knowledge learned around industry-specific skills during the experience?
- How would you rate the knowledge learned around personal or professional skills during the experience?
- Please rate how the knowledge learned has helped you with regards to your career development
- 3. What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
- Please rate how insightful you found the insight
- How would you rate the structure of the insight
- How would you rate business leader involvement during the insight
- 4. What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
- How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
- How would you rate the networking opportunities?
- Please rate how valued you felt during your insight?
- 5. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
- Please rate your level of enjoyment on the insight
- Please rate how your experience met your expectations
- Please rate the future employment prospects at Herbert Smith Freehills
- 7. Would you recommend Herbert Smith Freehills to a friend?
- 8. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Herbert Smith Freehills
Overview
During the vacation scheme, you are placed in a practice area and work closely with a supervisor who assigns tasks similar to those a trainee solicitor would undertake. The nature of the tasks varies depending on the team鈥檚 workload, offering a realistic insight into day-to-day work. In each seat, you complete one assessed task to demonstrate your understanding and skills. Alongside the seat work, you attend information and training sessions designed to deepen your knowledge of the firm and legal practice. You also participate in a group project, which involves regular meetings and culminates in a pitch, developing practical skills such as collaboration, presentation, and client interaction. The scheme takes place in a very friendly and supportive environment. People are genuinely keen to help and take the time to get to know you. It鈥檚 easy to approach anyone for a chat, whether to ask questions or learn more about their work and practice area, which makes the experience both insightful and enjoyable.
Skills
Yes, I developed a range of new skills and built on existing ones throughout the scheme. I learnt how to conduct a company search, draft transactional documents, and approach legal research tasks effectively. Through the group project, I strengthened my teamwork and communication skills. I also improved my attention to detail, legal analysis, and legal drafting, particularly when preparing research notes.
Business Insight
It was very helpful to gain insight into the business and potential roles through both structured and informal opportunities. The practice area fair was especially useful, it gave us the chance to speak to people from a range of teams and hear first-hand about the type of work they do. More broadly, the culture of the firm made it easy to approach anyone from a team you're interested in, whether for a quick chat or a deeper conversation about their work. This openness really helped me understand the variety of roles available and where I could see myself fitting in.
Culture
The culture at the firm was warm, inclusive, and people-oriented, while also being intellectually rigorous. The lawyers I met were incredibly smart and capable, yet always approachable and open to sharing their experiences. There was a clear emphasis on collaboration, and it was easy to see how the culture supports both personal and professional development. The firm also felt very diverse, with a strong commitment to inclusion and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. It鈥檚 the kind of environment where you鈥檙e constantly learning and growing, with lots of support and room for career progression.
Your Impressions
I really enjoyed the insight; it was engaging, well-structured, and gave a realistic view of life at the firm. The variety of work, friendly culture, and opportunity to explore both contentious and transactional practice areas made the experience particularly valuable. I appreciated how much effort went into making us feel welcome and supported, and how keen people were to involve us in meaningful tasks. The scheme struck a great balance between learning, networking, and practical experience, and left me genuinely excited about the prospect of training at the firm.
Yes
Be authentic. The firm really values individuals who are genuine and curious, so don鈥檛 be afraid to show your personality and talk honestly about your interests. Make sure you鈥檝e done your research, not just on the firm鈥檚 practice areas, but also its culture, clients, and global presence. During the scheme or interviews, ask thoughtful questions and take every opportunity to speak to people across the firm. Finally, stay engaged and open-minded, there鈥檚 a lot to take in, and showing a willingness to learn goes a long way.
Details
Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
Legal/Law
London
July 2025