Freshfields

Overview

Freshfields is a leading global law firm with a long heritage and a truly international platform. The firm positions itself as a strategic adviser to major corporates, financial institutions and governments, combining deep sector knowledge with global delivery across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Freshfields is known for top‑tier practices in antitrust/competition, international arbitration, corporate/M&A and complex litigation and for investing heavily in innovation (Knowledge, data and legal tech) and pro bono. The firm emphasises global mobility in training (London–Asia pathways and guaranteed overseas secondments in some offices) and is a major provider of cross‑border, high‑value mandates.

• Headquarters: London, 100 Bishopsgate
• Lawyers: 2,800+
• Trainees: 85
• Offices: 36

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Competition & Antitrust
• International Arbitration
• Corporate & M&A
• Capital Markets
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Tax
• ESG & Sustainability
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Intellectual Property
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Environment & Planning
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Banking & Finance
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• White Collar Crime

Geographic Focus: A global firm with a strong European centre (London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Amsterdam), leading US platform (New York, Silicon Valley, Washington, DC) and major Asia presence (Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo). The firm advises on multi‑jurisdictional, cross‑border matters and positions itself to deliver integrated teams across these hubs, with an explicit strategy of combining local market knowledge and global scale.

Training Contract

UK Trainee Associate Programme: an eight‑seat, two‑year training contract with structured rotations through core practice groups and options to sample specialist practices. Seats are typically split across Corporate, Finance and Dispute Resolution plus elective seats in specialist teams. Hong Kong: an eight‑seat two‑year programme with at least six months in Corporate, three months in Finance and three months in Dispute Resolution; Hong Kong trainees are guaranteed overseas secondments (three months in Beijing/Shanghai/Singapore and six months in London). Seat allocation combines business needs and trainee preference, with formal mentoring and training support throughout.

• Starting Salary: £56,000 (Year 1) / £61,000 (Year 2)
• NQ Salary: £150,000
• Trainee Intake: 85
• Qualification Rate: 84%
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree: 2:1 (published); Minimum A‑level requirement: No minimum (published). Accepts non‑law graduates (varied by jurisdiction).
• Application Deadline: 1 December 2025

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Banking & Finance
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Competition & Antitrust
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Intellectual Property
• Capital Markets
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• ESG & Sustainability
• Tax
• International Arbitration
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Real Estate
• White Collar Crime
• Data Protection & Privacy

Sponsorship

Financial support includes a PGDL/ GDL grant (published figure £12,500) and other course funding for some routes. Freshfields funds a fully funded LL.M (Law & Technology) places at King’s College London for selected future trainees and provides a £20,000 maintenance grant during LL.M studies. In Hong Kong, Freshfields funds PCLL tuition and provides a maintenance grant; it also covers travel/accommodation costs for overseas students sitting PCLL conversion exams where needed.

SQE Support

SQE financial support is offered: a SQE grant of £20,000 is published in available data. The firm also provides study leave and integrates training with internal learning resources and mentoring.

International Opportunities

Firmwide secondment and mobility opportunities are a core feature: LegalCheek data reports a 42% chance of secondment abroad. Hong Kong trainees receive two guaranteed overseas secondments (three months in Beijing, Shanghai or Singapore and six months in London). The London‑Asia Trainee Associate Programme places the trainee year one in London and year two in Hong Kong.

Client Secondments

LegalCheek reports an 18% chance of client secondment. The firm also runs client‑facing collaborative programmes (e.g., joint work experience with A.S. Watson) and works with clients on bespoke secondments where business needs align.

Mentorship

Structured mentorship with a named supervisor, buddy system and partner sponsor in each seat; global trainee networks and local trainee committees support pastoral and career development. The firm also operates global Associate and Business Services Advisory Boards and executive sponsors for wellbeing and sustainable working.

Apply on the Freshfields website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Freshfields Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Resilience and drive
• Time management and organisation
• Curiosity and intellectual appetite
• Communication skills
• Languages (for London‑Asia / cross‑border programmes)

Evidence Signals

• Relevant commercial or transactional work experience (internships, vacation schemes)
• Pro bono involvement
• Mooting or advocacy experience (for arbitration/disputes roles)
• Academic performance (2:1 or equivalent)
• International experience or language skills (especially for London–Asia routes)
• Demonstrable interest in technology/AI for innovation or data roles

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary Year 1: £56,000
• Trainee salary Year 2: £61,000
• Newly qualified (NQ) salary: £150,000
• PGDL/GDL grant: £12,500
• SQE grant: £20,000
• Fully funded LL.M (Law & Technology) places at King’s College London for selected future trainees
• £20,000 maintenance grant for LL.M students (King’s College partnership)
• PCLL tuition fees and maintenance grant for Hong Kong candidates (amounts published for PCLL funding; travel allowance for conversion exams where required)
• No published annual target / billable hours (no targets)
• Annual leave: 26 days
• Wellbeing app and access to professional mental health support
• Peer‑to‑peer Mental Health First Aid trained colleagues
• Learning and development programmes, global secondments and funded study
• Social events, networks and firm‑wide volunteering opportunities

Wellbeing

A global wellbeing framework (mind, body, balance) with a wellbeing app, peer‑to‑peer support (Mental Health First Aid trained colleagues), access to professional support, global executive sponsors for wellbeing and 'Fostering High Performing Teams' training for leaders. The firm runs listening exercises and a Mental Health Support Team to inform initiatives.

Awards & Recognition

• FTSE Women Leaders Top 10 Performer for Women on Boards (UK) 2024
• Social Mobility Index - Top 10 employer (UK) 2024
• Mansfield Certification Plus (UK/US) 2024
• Stonewall Top Global Employer – Gold 2023
• FT Innovative Lawyers in Pro bono award 2024 (for advising ECPAT UK)
• Law.com Best Law Firm for UK Pro Bono 2021
• UPJ Special Award for Corporate Engagement (pro bono)
• City Bar Justice Center Pro Bono Service and Community Impact award 2024
• Sanctuary for Families’ Above and Beyond Award 2023
• International Refugee Assistance Project Excellent Pro Bono Case Team award 2024
• FT Innovative Lawyer Awards 2024 (Innovation in regulatory solutions / GenAI client solution)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Partnerships and commitments include Mansfield Certification Plus (2024), Stonewall Top Global Employer – Gold (2023), Social Mobility Index Top 10 employer (2024). The firm partners with NGOs and social mobility bodies and runs the Freshfields Aspiring Professionals Programme with the Social Mobility Foundation.

• Asian Affinity Network and Asian/Pacific/South Asian/American
• Black Affinity Network and Black Employee Resource Group
• Campos Frescos
• Christian Network
• Freshfields Enabled
• Gender Equality Network and Women’s Networks
• Halo and Champions (LGBTQ+)
• Jewish Network
• Mental Health Affinity Network
• Muslim Network
• Social Mobility Network
• Valor and Champions (Veterans)
• Freshfields Aspiring Professionals Programme (partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation)
• Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme
• START scholarship (Germany)

Pro Bono

Pro bono is a strategic priority: over 1,600+ lawyers across 33 offices gave over 112,000+ hours of free legal work on 661 matters for more than 330 pro bono clients (last reported year). Focus areas include child rights, refugee rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and human trafficking. The firm partners closely with legal services organisations and corporate clients on pro bono projects.

Innovation

Freshfields treats innovation as integral to legal service delivery — combining knowledge, legal data, AI and applied legal technology to improve efficiency and client outcomes. The firm runs ideation and adoption processes to pilot emerging tools, embeds Knowledge and Legal Data teams to capture matter intelligence and offers trainees opportunities to collaborate with the Innovation team and Freshfields Lab. The firm has received FT Innovative Lawyer recognition for GenAI‑driven client solutions and for use of data and technology.

• Freshfields Lab
• Freshfields Innovation team
• Ideation and Adoption team
• Knowledge team (Knowledge and legal data)
• Smarter service delivery
• Legal technology and AI pilots

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise global mobility and commercial awareness — reference Freshfields’ London‑Asia programmes and the guaranteed overseas secondments offered to Hong Kong trainees when explaining why you want a global training experience.
• Show interest in legal tech and AI — cite Freshfields’ Innovation team/Freshfields Lab and the firm’s funded LL.M in Law & Technology with King’s College London as evidence you want to work at the intersection of law and technology.
• Link applications to the firm’s pro bono and community programmes — mention the Aspiring Professionals Programme, Stephen Lawrence Scholarship or the firm’s pro bono focus areas (refugee or child rights) to demonstrate cultural fit and commitment to access to opportunity.
• If applying for disputes or arbitration roles, reference Freshfields’ recent high‑profile wins (for example Sciannella v. AstraZeneca or ISDS victories such as Eurus v. Spain) to show you understand the team’s remit and can describe the commercial stakes.
• Use concrete examples of collaborative international work (e.g., joint client programmes with A.S. Watson in Hong Kong) to demonstrate team skillsets and cross‑border working experience that align with the firm’s global model.