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Freshfields

Freshfields

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In their own words

Global exposure, complex work and flexibility to shape your training.

Snapshot

Firm type

Magic Circle

UK offices

London, Manchester

International offices

More than 25 offices worldwide, including Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Riyadh, Rome, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo, Vienna and Washington DC

Training contract places

70

Vacation scheme places

40

First-year salary

£56,000

Second-year salary

£61,000

Newly qualified salary

£150,000

Trainee retention

68%

SQE support

Full SQE1 and SQE2 funding; maintenance grant available

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Yes

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

Yes

Recruitment route

Vacation scheme and direct training contract

Rolling recruitment?

Yes

Seat structure

Eight seats

Can trainees repeat a seat?

Sometimes, depending on the circumstances

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, preferences are taken into consideration

Non-law applicants

Actively welcomed

Career-changer applicants

Actively welcomed

Remote working

Formal flexible working policy

Holiday allowance

26 days

Minimum academic requirements

On track for, or achieved, a 2:1 in any degree

Wellbeing support

Mental Health First Aiders; subsidised gym; private health insurance; Employee Assistance Programme

SQE maintenance grant

Yes

PGDL funding

Yes, full funding

Retrospective SQE or PGDL funding

Yes, full funding

Diversity networks and partnerships

Includes the Black Affinity Network, Freshfields Enabled, Gender Equality Network, Halo (LGBTQ+), Social Mobility Network and faith networks, alongside partnerships with Rare Recruitment, Aspiring Solicitors, PRIME and the Social Mobility Foundation
Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Would you value completing eight seats, giving you the opportunity to explore a wider range of the firm’s departments, work and clients before deciding where to specialise?

Would you enjoy working on complex matters with colleagues and clients across different jurisdictions?

Would you be comfortable taking an active role in your development by asking questions, seeking opportunities and adapting as priorities change?

Would a hybrid working pattern with a minimum of three days per week in the office suit you?

Would you value the opportunity to spend part of the final six months of your training on an international or client secondment?

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

Explore more through eight seats

What this could mean for you
Trainees generally rotate every three months, creating opportunities to experience a wider range of departments, matters and clients. There is also flexibility to spend longer in a particular area as your interests develop. You could explore more of the firm's practice before qualification, helping you build a clearer picture of the work, teams and clients that interest you most.

Global work from day one

What this could mean for you
Trainees contribute to live matters and work alongside partners, associates and business teams across Freshfields' international network, with cross-border collaboration forming part of the training experience. You could develop experience working across jurisdictions from an early stage, while learning how international teams collaborate on complex matters.

Secondment in your final six months

What this could mean for you
Freshfields aims for trainees to complete a secondment during the final six months of the programme. This can involve joining an international office, with examples including New York, Silicon Valley, Hong Kong and Dubai, or spending time with a client. You could spend part of the latter stage of your training experiencing another international office or working within a client's business before deciding where to qualify.

Practice area strengths

Corporate/M&A

Freshfields’ Corporate/M&A practice advises on major public and private transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and other strategic corporate matters. The team regularly works on complex transactions involving multiple jurisdictions, drawing on lawyers across the firm’s international network. The practice works with major businesses, financial institutions and investors on transactions that can involve significant commercial, regulatory and financing considerations. Its broader corporate capability also extends into areas such as private equity and international restructuring, giving the team experience across different forms of business transformation.

Disputes and investigations

Freshfields has a broad contentious practice covering commercial and corporate litigation, banking disputes, investigations, corporate crime, competition disputes and international arbitration. Matters can involve major businesses, financial institutions and other organisations facing complex legal, regulatory or reputational issues. The international nature of the practice means disputes and investigations can involve multiple jurisdictions, regulators and legal systems. The team also handles sensitive investigations involving issues such as fraud, bribery, corruption, money laundering and sanctions, alongside high-value commercial disputes.

Antitrust, competition and trade

Freshfields’ Antitrust, Competition & Trade practice advises businesses on the competition and regulatory issues that can arise during major transactions and in their day-to-day operations. The work spans areas including merger control, competition investigations, regulatory advice and competition litigation. Many matters have an international dimension, requiring teams to coordinate advice across jurisdictions and engage with different competition authorities. The practice combines transactional, advisory and contentious work, giving it a role in both major corporate deals and standalone competition matters.

All practice areas

AntitrustCompetitionArtificial intelligenceCapital marketsCommercial litigationCorporate governanceMergers and acquisitions (M&A)Data, privacy and cybersecurityDerivativesStructured financeVenture capital and emerging marketsEmploymentIncentivesPensionsEnvironmentalESGForeign Direct InvestmentGlobal risk and national securityOperational risk and environmentRisk advisoryIntellectual propertyInternational arbitrationInternational tradeInvestigationsLeveraged financeClass actionsPrivate capitalCharity law and governanceReal estateRestructuringSanctions and export controlSecuritisationPrivacy and data securityRegulatory and complianceTaxInvestigations and white collar defenceFraud, financial crime and investigationsBusiness crimePro bono
Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself:

  • Would you value completing eight seats, giving you the opportunity to explore a wider range of the firm’s departments, work and clients before deciding where to specialise?
  • Would you enjoy working on complex matters with colleagues and clients across different jurisdictions?
  • Would you be comfortable taking an active role in your development by asking questions, seeking opportunities and adapting as priorities change?
  • Would a hybrid working pattern with a minimum of three days per week in the office suit you?
  • Would you value the opportunity to spend part of the final six months of your training on an international or client secondment?

This firm may suit candidates who…

  • Want to explore a broad range of practice areas, teams and clients before deciding where to specialise.
  • Are interested in complex, international work and collaborating with colleagues across different jurisdictions.
  • Want to take an active role in shaping their training and exploring their developing interests.
  • Value high expectations alongside structured learning, supervision and development support.
  • Would value gaining experience outside their usual team through an international or client secondment.

Things to consider

  • The eight-seat structure involves more frequent movement between teams than a traditional four-seat training contract.
  • Freshfields describes the environment as demanding and expects trainees to adapt as priorities change.
  • Trainees can express preferences and have flexibility within the programme, but particular seat preferences cannot always be guaranteed.
  • Trainees are expected to spend a minimum of three days per week in the office.
  • Freshfields aims for trainees to complete a secondment during the final six months, with the type and location of opportunity varying.
Work-life reality

Work-life balance varies by team, seat and transaction cycle. This section is designed to help you understand the pattern, not reduce the experience to a score.

Predictability

Workload and working patterns can vary depending on the team, matter and stage of a transaction or case.

Busy periods

Complex matters and changing priorities can create busier periods, with the experience varying between practice areas.

Seat variation

The eight-seat structure gives trainees opportunities to experience a broad range of teams, matters and clients, with flexibility to spend longer in an area where appropriate.

Support

Trainees have access to supervision, learning and development support.

Flexibility

Freshfields operates a formal flexible-working policy, with trainees able to work remotely alongside the minimum three-day office attendance requirement.

Holiday allowance

26 days.

Office attendance

Trainees are expected to spend a minimum of three days per week in the office.
Culture & support

Supervision style

Trainees learn through working alongside partners, associates and wider business teams, with supervision and structured development supporting their progress throughout the programme.

Relationship with partners

Trainees work directly with partners as part of their teams and are encouraged to ask questions, contribute ideas and learn from experienced colleagues.
Application process

Online application form

(1 - 2 hours)

What happens

This is the initial application stage.

Online situational judgement test

(Up to one hour)

Online blended assessment

(Up to 45 minutes)

What happens

This includes a pre-recorded video interview element

Assessment centre

(Full day)

What happens

This includes a written task, group exercise and interview.

Vacation scheme

(Three weeks)

What happens

Freshfields runs two three-week Summer Vacation Schemes for those not applying for the direct training contract route. Participants sit in a practice area of their choice and gain exposure to trainee-level work and the firm's culture.