Freshfields |

Law never stops moving forward - neither do we. At Freshfields, we're not just a global law firm, we're a partner in shaping the future. Fresh thinking for a changing world. This mindset shapes the way we advise businesses on their most critical issues and guides us in building a responsible firm for everyone.  

Our approach is grounded in action. Across the firm, we are breaking down barriers, building connections, and empowering individuals to thrive. Our community impact programs create access to opportunities. Our pro bono work expands access to justice and tackles systemic issues. Through our culture and engagement initiatives, we seek to ensure that all can belong, engage and excel. And through our environmental commitments, we contribute to a more sustainable world.  

Life at Freshfields

At Freshfields, we seek visionaries.

Experience and contribute to a culture that values community and each person as an individual. Deliver meaningful work, turn ideas into action and drive our business forward.

Learning and Development

Build the skills and gain the experience to grow – personally and professionally.

We supplement your on-the-job training with a formal learning curriculum. This develops your skills in areas such as business development, commercial acumen and project management.

Take the initiative and you’ll be empowered to shape your journey with us.

Mentoring and Supervision

You'll receive ample support through regular catchups with your supervisor and partners, as well as valuable development and career insight sessions. Our early careers team also offers coaching opportunities to ensure continuous growth.

Health and Wellbeing

At Freshfields, we embrace differences and offer flexibility where possible to help every team member thrive. 

We prioritise mental health and wellbeing, with a flexible and collaborative agile working environment to help our talent grow. 

We are a disability-inclusive employer. We partner with Business Disability Forum and Myplus Consulting to attract, retain and progress disabled talent. Where appropriate, we offer adjustments and support during the recruitment process, such as additional time, to enable applicants to demonstrate their full potential. Please let us know as soon as you can if you think you will need any adjustments by emailing our Early Careers Team. 

All colleagues can easily access appropriate support, including through our mental health affinity network and trained mental health first aiders. They proactively look out for any signs of struggle and step in to help if needed.

Get a taste of life at Freshfields on our vacation schemes. Experience the work we do, develop lifelong skills, and gain a unique insight into our culture. 

Key Dates

Summer Vacation Scheme 2025

• Application window: Now closed
• Programme dates:
  • Scheme 1: 16 June 2025 - 4 July 2025
  • Scheme 2: 14 July 2025 - 1 August 2025
• Location: London

Winter Vacation Scheme 2025

• Application window: 4 August 2025 - 11 September 2025
• Programme dates: 1 December 2025 - 5 December 2025
• Location: London

Make an impact

Growth and development

Wherever your ambition takes you, our vacation schemes give you the experience, connections and skills to thrive. Gain exposure to the work we do through sitting in a practice area of your choice, and get a comprehensive, realistic insight into the role of a trainee at Freshfields.

Salary and benefits

Our vacation schemes are paid placements. 

You will receive a stipend of £515 per week to put towards accommodation and living costs. We will pay 50% of the total stipend two weeks before you start at Freshfields. The remaining amount will be paid during the first three days of your placement.

We are committed to ensuring our opportunities are accessible to everyone. You will have the opportunity to inquire about our accommodation and bursary support offerings.

Route to the Trainee Associate Programme

During the scheme we will have the opportunity to find out about each other and decide if a place on our Trainee Associate Programme is the right next step for your career.

A Trainee Associate Programme offer is available for all vacation scheme interns.

How to Apply

Eligibility Criteria

The Summer Vacation Scheme is available to penultimate-year undergraduate students in any discipline.

The Winter Vacation Scheme is available to final-year undergraduate students in any discipline. It is also available to graduates and individuals currently enrolled on a:

• Law conversion course (GDL/PGDL)
• Legal Practice Course (LPC)
• Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) preparation course
• Masters degree

Our vacation schemes are paid placements so you must have the right to work in the UK. If you have a visa to study in the UK, the vacation scheme must fall outside of your term time.

Please note that you can only apply once per academic year across all opportunities.

Stage 1: Online application and personal statement

• Complete an application form and an 850-word personal statement.

What to include in your personal statement

• About you: This is your chance to emphasise your strengths and showcase what makes you unique. Tell us about your university activities, hobbies and work experience. Share your passions and demonstrate how your interests align with ours and our clients’. Avoid bullet-point CV extracts and support claims with evidence.
• Why law?: You should have a good idea of why you want to work at Freshfields, so make this clear. Why does Freshfields appeal? Do you want to join an international firm? Have you heard good things about us from a trainee? Be specific. We already know the facts and figures from our website, so only talk about Freshfields if it genuinely supports a point you’re making.

Top tips

• Use your word limit effectively, avoiding repetition of personal information. Be simple, direct and distinctive. Stay concise and maintain a professional tone. Structure your statement with essential points first and use paragraphs.
• Keep your sentences relatively short. Long sentences can be difficult to follow. Tone is important. Don’t be too informal or deferential. Your writing should reflect who you are.
• We read a lot of applications so avoid cliché. Don’t talk about ‘honing’ your analytical skills or use common phrases such as ‘I enjoy being challenged’ or ‘I find the law interesting’. Avoid ‘relishing’ the chance to work on ‘cutting-edge, high-profile deals. Find meaningful words of your own.
• Errors diminish the quality of your application. Edit, seek feedback and refine your statement before submitting. 

Stage 2: Law online assessment 

• After submitting your application, you will take the Law online assessment. This is an untimed test that will give you insight into the type of work we do at Freshfields and provide you with a realistic job preview. Before attempting the assessment, we recommend visiting Cappfinity’s Preparation Hub to familiarise yourself with what to expect. As the law online assessment is untimed, you do not need to contact us to request additional time for the assessment.

Please note that only candidates who pass the online psychometric test will have their written applications reviewed in detail.

Stage 3: Critical thinking skills test

Successful applicants will be asked to take the Watson Glaser Test, which assesses critical thinking skills, decision making and problem-solving abilities. You can use our practice test to prepare.

Stage 4: Half-day assessment centre

Congratulations! If you progress to this stage, we think you have the potential to become a Freshfields lawyer. You'll now be invited for a half-day assessment that includes a written exercise, a general interview and an analytical interview.

Written exercise

A lot of work for our clients is in writing so we want to evaluate your attention to detail. Our written assessment does not test your legal or technical knowledge.

General interview

This is your opportunity to tell us more about you and your skills, including examples of things you’ve done that demonstrate your best qualities.

There are no traps: we want to know why you would make a good trainee. The one-hour interview will be conducted by two interviewers, usually a partner and an associate. Your interviewers will have read your personal statement but won’t have access to any other part of your application. 

You’ll need to have done some deep thinking about yourself and be self-aware to answer our questions. Think of examples from your life that show how you’ve contributed to getting something done, how you’ve stuck at a difficult task or pushed yourself. Be yourself and openly discuss your motivations, strengths, weaknesses and desire to work with us. Feel free to ask questions about our firm and culture.

The analytical interview

The analytical interview will assess your ‘business acumen.

We’ll give you 30 minutes to read an article. You’ll then have an hour-long interview with two different interviewers, usually a partner and an associate, who will ask you questions about what you’ve just read.

Your interviewers will not have seen your application and will only know your name prior to meeting you.

The analytical interview is not a test of your legal knowledge. Our interviewers want to get a sense of your commercial acumen and how well you think on your feet. You’ll get the chance to show your curiosity about commercial and legal topics. If you’re unsure of an answer, admit it – remember, there are no tricks.

Before the interview, you might want to read recent articles from the business press (such as the FT or the Economist) and consider how political, economic and financial developments could affect our clients.

Our unique eight-seat, two-year graduate programme lets you take the reins of your career as you experience a wide range of legal disciplines.

Key Dates

Trainee Associate Programme starting in February 2027 or February 2028

Application window: Now closed 

Eligibility: Penultimate and final year undergraduate students from any degree discipline and graduates. You must be eligible to start your Trainee Associate Programme in either February 2027 or February 2028. Your intake will be allocated by the Early Careers Team based on your current academic status.

Putting you first

Insights

For two years, you will experience the dynamism of life at Freshfields and shape your future. From day one, expect to collaborate with partners, associates, and business team professionals across our global network. You will have exposure to a wide range of legal disciplines, including commercial litigation, M&A, antitrust and competition, employment, tax, and intellectual property.

Variety

You will move seats every three months, with the flexibility to decide what you would like to experience next or to remain in a seat for longer. Life on the Trainee Associate Programme includes a variety of learning opportunities. Your development will never stop - enabling you to shape your own future, professionally and personally.

Secondments

We aim to send all our trainees on a secondment in the final six months of the programme. You could find yourself working in one of our global offices (such as Silicon Valley, New York, Hong Kong, or Dubai) or at one of our clients.

Qualification Leave

You will receive four weeks' paid leave upon completing the programme. 

Shape a bold new vision with us

Life as a prospective trainee

For prospective trainees from under-represented backgrounds, we offer additional mentoring and coaching as well as the opportunity for all future joiners to formally connect with others in our colleague networks.

Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL)

If you have not completed a qualifying law degree, you must complete the Law Conversion Course and obtain a PGDL prior to commencing the City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (CCP). You can complete this course online or at any of the BPP university campuses in the UK (Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, London Waterloo or Manchester).

If you earned your undergraduate law degree outside of England and Wales, we may require you to complete some modules of the Law Conversion Course. We will discuss this at the point of offer.

The City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (CCP)

Freshfields is a proud member of the City Consortium, a group of six leading global law firms. In collaboration with BPP Law School, we offer the CCP to prepare trainees for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and for practice as a city lawyer. 

BPP Law School and our dedicated Early Careers Team support you throughout the programme. You will study alongside fellow Freshfields trainees and those from consortium firms, developing your network as you prepare for practice. The bespoke City Consortium Plus Programme focuses on key areas of our practice and helps develop legal knowledge, skills and behaviours to make sure you are practice ready.

The programme comprises 11 months at BPP's London Holborn campus, including:

• SQE1 Preparation Programme: Covers business law and practice, dispute resolution, contract and tort law, the legal system of England and Wales, property practice, wills and estate administration, criminal law and practice and solicitors’ accounts.
• SQE2 Preparation Programme: Focuses on client interviewing, legal analysis, advocacy and case analysis, as well as legal research, writing and drafting.
• City Consortium Plus Programme: This bespoke programme allows you to experience what it’s like to work in a global law firm. You will rotate through mini-training seats in four key practice areas. On top of legal expertise, you will develop skills and behaviours that will set you up for success on our trainee associate programme.

Financial support

In addition to paying your course fees in full, we provide maintenance grants to cover living costs:

• £12,500 for the Law Conversion Course (PGDL)
• £20,000 for the City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (CCP)

If you have already completed a course, you may also be eligible for tuition fee reimbursement on a discretionary basis.

As a prospective trainee, you will have access to our employee assistance programme, which offers support on a range of matters, from wellbeing to personal finances.

For those pursuing pro bono legal internships (such as with charities or NGOs), we provide a discretionary grant of up to £2,500.

How to apply

Stage 1: Online applications and personal statement

Complete an application form and an 850-word personal statement. 

What to include in your personal statement

About you: This is your chance to emphasise your strengths and highlight what makes you unique. Tell us about your university activities, hobbies, and work experience. Share your passions and demonstrate how your interests align with ours and our clients’. Avoid bullet-point CV extracts and support claims with evidence. 

Why law?: You should have a good idea of why you want to work at Freshfields, so make this clear. Why does Freshfields appeal? Do you want to join an international firm? Have you heard good things about us from a trainee? Be specific. We already know the data from our website, so only talk about Freshfields if it genuinely supports a point you are making. 

Top tips:

• Use your word limit effectively, avoiding repetition of personal information. Be simple, direct, and distinctive. Stay concise and maintain a professional tone. Structure your statement with essential points first and use paragraphs.
• Keep your sentences short. Long sentences can be difficult to follow. Tone is important. Do not be too informal or deferential. Your writing should reflect who you are.
• We read a lot of applications so avoid cliché. Do not talk about ‘honing’ your analytical skills or use common phrases such as ‘I enjoy being challenged’ or ‘I find the law interesting’. Avoid ‘relishing’ the chance to work on ‘innovative, high-profile deals'. Find meaningful words of your own.
• Errors diminish the quality of your application. Edit, seek feedback, and refine your statement before submitting.

Stage 2: Law online assessment 

After submitting your application, you will take the law online assessment. This is an untimed test that will give you insight into the type of work we do at Freshfields and provide you with a realistic job preview. Before attempting the assessment, we recommend visiting Cappfinity’s Preparation Hub to familiarise yourself with what to expect. As the law online assessment is untimed, you do not need to contact us to request additional time for the assessment.   

Please note that only candidates who pass the online psychometric test will have their written applications reviewed in detail.  

Stage 3: Critical thinking skills test

Successful applicants will be asked to take the Watson Glaser Test, which assesses critical thinking skills, decision making and problem-solving abilities. You can use our practice test to prepare.

Stage 4: Half-day assessment centre

Congratulations! If you progress to this stage, we think you have the potential to become a Freshfields lawyer. You will now be invited for a half-day assessment that includes a written exercise, a general interview, and an analytical interview.

Written exercise

A lot of work for our clients is in writing so we want to evaluate your attention to detail. Our written assessment does not test your legal or technical knowledge.  

General interview

This is your opportunity to tell us more about you and your skills, including examples of things you have done that demonstrate your best qualities.

There are no traps: we want to know why you would make a good trainee. The one-hour interview will be conducted by two interviewers, usually a partner and an associate. Your interviewers will have read your personal statement but will not have access to any other part of your application.

You will need to have done some deep thinking about yourself and be self-aware to answer our questions. Think of examples from your life that show how you have contributed to getting something done, how you have stuck at a challenging task or pushed yourself. Be yourself and openly discuss your motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and desire to work with us. Feel free to ask questions about our firm and culture.

The analytical interview

The analytical interview will assess your ‘business mind’.

We will give you 30 minutes to read an article. You will then have an hour-long interview with two different interviewers, usually a partner and an associate, who will ask you questions about what you have just read.

Your interviewers will not have seen your application and will only know your name prior to meeting you.

The analytical interview is not a test of your legal knowledge. Our interviewers want to get a sense of your commercial acumen and how well you think on your feet. You will get the chance to show your curiosity about commercial and legal topics. If you are unsure of an answer, admit it – remember, there are no tricks.

Before the interview, you might want to read recent articles from the business press (such as the FT or the Economist) and consider how political, economic, and financial developments could affect our clients.

Your questions answered

What skills do you look for?

We look for many skills including determination, entrepreneurship, enthusiasm, time management, flexibility, attention to detail, an interest in business, willingness to work as a team and resilience. Ensure you link your experiences to the types of skills we seek. Look at our website and follow our social media channels to find out what makes a great lawyer. 

I don’t have any legal work experience. Is it worth still applying?

All work experience is relevant and valuable to your application. We ask you to include all past work experience in your application, including open days, focus events and workshops at other firms. We do not reject applicants for having no legal work experience.

Should I mention my extracurricular activities/part-time jobs?

Yes. We encourage you to include detail about extracurricular activities and any part-time jobs to demonstrate important competencies like time management, flexibility and organisation.

What if I have mitigating circumstances?

Any mitigating circumstances can be explained in the relevant section on the application form.

Do you look at applications on a rolling basis?

No. We review all applications before making our final decisions. Check our deadlines carefully as applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

What financial support is available?

We cover any reasonable travel expenses for those attending events or interviews in our London office.