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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Next deadline

2027 London - Summer Vacation Scheme · 1 Dec 2026

(45 days)

Apply now
In their own words

Where could your ambition take you? At HSF Kramer, we align your growth with ours. We make your development, personal and professional, our business. If you're curious, collaborative and ready to lead, we'll help you become who you want to be.

Snapshot

Firm type

Silver Circle

UK offices

London, Belfast

International offices

More than 22 offices, including Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Brussels, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Melbourne, Milan, New York, Paris, Perth, Riyadh, Shanghai, Singapore, Silicon Valley, Sydney, Tokyo and Washington DC.

Training contract places

61

Vacation scheme places

90

First-year salary

£56,000

Second-year salary

£61,000

Newly qualified salary

£145,000

Trainee retention

79%

SQE support

Full SQE 1, SQE2 and PGDL funding

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Yes

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

No

Typical secondment locations

Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, plus client secondments and internal ESG/Pro Bono placements

Recruitment route

Vacation scheme only

Rolling recruitment?

No

Seat structure

4 six-month seats

Can trainees repeat a seat?

Sometimes, depending on the circumstances

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, preferences are taken into consideration

Trainee salary basis

Reviewed annually

Non-law applicants

Actively welcomed

Career changers

Actively welcomed

Remote working

Formal flexible working policy; 3 days per week in the office

Holiday allowance

25 days, plus qualification leave

Minimum academic requirements

AAB at A-level, and consistent 2.1 module grades at university

Typical start time

9:30am

Typical finish time

Undisclosed

Wellbeing support

Includes 24/7 EAP, global Health and Wellbeing Hub, "Thrive" mental health strategy, private medical insurance with corporate GP, wellbeing fund, and trainee network of mentors and buddies

Maintenance grant

£20,000 for SQE; £12,500 for PGDL in London; £10,000 for PGDL outside London

PGDL funding

Full funding

Retrospective funding

Yes

Diversity networks and partnerships

Includes Black Employee Network, Gender Equity Matters, IRIS Network (LGBT+), Disability Network, Social Mobility Network, Multiculturalism Network, Family Network, Christian Network, Jewish Network, Muslim Network, Military/Veterans Network, Rare Recruitment, Aspiring Solicitors, MyPlus and 93% Club

% female partners

29%

% BAME partners

13%

% female trainees

51%
Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

The firm wants trainees who are resilient and comfortable when priorities shift at short notice. Is that how you do your best work?

The firm describes itself as collegiate and low on hierarchy, with real trust from partners and supervisors, but also expects trainees to feel properly stretched. Would you thrive in an environment where you would be genuinely supported and genuinely pushed simultaneously?

Would you value the opportunity to apply for a highly competitive international or client secondment, with locations including Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore and Tokyo?

Pay here sits near the top of the market, and the firm is upfront that the work is demanding, that priorities can shift at short notice and matters can suddenly accelerate. Does that excite you?

Next deadline

2027 London - Summer Vacation Scheme

1 Dec 2026

(45 days)

View job

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

You'll be challenged and supported in equal measure, working with some of the best minds.

What this could mean for you
The firm's learning framework prioritises gaining experience rather than structured training. However, structured training is also provided and tailored to your needs. You'd be trusted with real matters early, working alongside genuinely well-regarded lawyers but expect that trust to come with real pressure attached rather than a curated version of responsibility.

Your growth is critical to our firm's success, so it will always be our priority.

What this could mean for you
There are mentoring, coaching and sponsorship opportunities regardless of the stage you are at in your career. This means that you would be assigned someone senior to you to help identify and make the most of the opportunities given to you.

Your voice will be heard

What this could mean for you
This lines up with how the firm talks about itself elsewhere, less hierarchy than you'd expect from a firm this size, trainees trusted with real responsibility early, colleagues described as approachable rather than distant. Expect an approachable culture where what you think matters more than just a cog in a machine.

Practice area strengths

Dispute resolution

One of the firm’s market-leading global practices, Dispute Resolution advises on complex, high-value commercial disputes and international arbitrations. The team has particular strength in commercial and corporate litigation, competition litigation and international arbitration, with experience acting on major matters involving Mercedes-Benz, Amazon, BP, Chevron and Eni, as well as disputes involving the Republic of Italy and the Government of Azerbaijan. Trainees may be involved in legal research, drafting, document review, preparing bundles, attending hearings, taking notes and supporting case strategy.

Corporate/M&A

HSF Kramer has a market-leading corporate practice in the UK and Asia, with particular strength in the energy sector and major cross-border transactions. The team advises on high-value public and private M&A, including transactions such as Wincanton plc’s £960 million takeover by GXO Logistics, Altice UK’s sale of its 24.5% BT Group stake, and the £630 million National Grid Electricity System Operator disposal. Trainees typically assist with due diligence, transaction management, drafting board minutes and resolutions, verification exercises, preparing signing documents and attending client meetings.

Competition, regulation and trade

HSF Kramer’s Competition, Regulation & Trade practice advises on merger control, investigations, competition litigation, foreign direct investment regulation and emerging regulatory regimes. The team acts on major competition matters, including defending Meta against a collective claim brought on behalf of around 45 million Facebook users and defending Amazon and Google in separate competition proceedings. Trainees gain experience combining legal analysis, economics, project management and strategic client advisory work, often for major technology companies, financial institutions and multinational corporates.

All practice areas

Dispute resolutionCorporateMergers and acquisitions (M&A)Restructuring and insolvencyHuman rightsCapital marketsClass actionsLitigationAntitrustCompetitionCrisis managementData, privacy and cybersecurityRisk advisoryDigital legal deliveryTechnologyArtificial intelligencePensionsEmploymentRewards and incentivesEnvironmentalESGSustainabilityEmployee benefitsFinanceFinancial services and regulationImmigrationIntellectual propertyInternational arbitrationInvestment managementPrivate creditPrivate equityProjectsPublic and regulatoryReal estateSpecial situationsTaxMedia and entertainmentWhite collar defence and investigationsLand
Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself:

  • The firm wants trainees who are resilient and comfortable when priorities shift at short notice. Is that how you do your best work?
  • The firm describes itself as collegiate and low on hierarchy, with real trust from partners and supervisors, but also expects trainees to feel properly stretched. Would you thrive in an environment where you would be genuinely supported and genuinely pushed simultaneously?
  • Would you value the opportunity to apply for a highly competitive international or client secondment, with locations including Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore and Tokyo?
  • Pay here sits near the top of the market, and the firm is upfront that the work is demanding, that priorities can shift at short notice and matters can suddenly accelerate. Does that excite you?

This firm may suit candidates who…

  • Would rather help shape a firm's identity than join one that's already fully formed, energised by being part of an institution still actively building out what it becomes post-merger.
  • Want breadth before committing to a specialism, with four seat rotations and opportunities to apply for international or client secondments.
  • Want meaningful involvement in complex matters from an early stage, supported by a named supervisor and partner mentor as their experience develops.
  • Care about pro bono and social impact sitting alongside the commercial work, not as an afterthought, a formal pro bono programme, an ESG secondment route and active outreach partnerships all point the same way.

Things to consider

  • HSF Kramer is a newly combined global firm, giving trainees the opportunity to begin their careers as its integrated culture and international offering continue to develop.
  • Getting in is only the first hurdle, seats and secondments are competed for too, so a place here means continuing to make your case well past the application stage.
  • Working patterns can vary according to the demands of live matters, with busier periods arising as transactions and cases reach key stages.
  • Development leans more on collaborating with your supervisor day to day than on fixed, classroom-style training, worth considering if you learn best from structured teaching rather than picking things up as you go.
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.

Late finishes

This can vary depending on business needs.

Seat variation

Four seats of six months each.

Flexibility

A formal flexible working policy is in place.

Holiday allowance

25 days plus qualification leave.

Office attendance

Minimum 3 days per week in the office.
Application process

Application form

(3 - 4 hours)

Online test

(40 minutes)

Assessment centre

(4 hours)

Opportunities
2027 London - Summer Vacation Scheme

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

45 days leftCloses 11:59pm, 1 Dec 2026

View job
2027 London - Spring Vacation Scheme

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

45 days leftCloses 11:59pm, 1 Dec 2026

View job
Roger Leyland Memorial Scholarship 2027

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

107 days leftCloses 11:59pm, 1 Feb 2027

View job
Insights
Working at Herbert Smith Freehills