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challenge today United by excellence.
Our people
Differently, laterally, logically, practically. However you think, there’s a place at Freshfields for you.
At Freshfields, we value difference and it’s our diversity that powers us.
We’re absolutely committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone achieves their potential. We want everyone to feel they can belong, engage and excel. We still have more to do, and we work closely with external partners to support our goals. We’ve a wide range of UK initiatives and objectives across disability, gender, LGBTQ+, mental health and wellbeing, race and ethnicity, and social mobility. We’re proud of our extensive pro bono work too, because we believe everyone deserves justice and opportunity. Wherever you work, you’ll have the chance to get involved.
Our people
Who are we looking for
Legal
We recruit graduates, experienced lawyers, knowledge management lawyers and non-UK-qualified lawyers. We welcome all backgrounds and nationalities but the nature of our work means you must speak and write English fluently.
We expect outstanding academic qualifications but we’re also looking for people with an appetite for challenging work and the ability to think creatively.
We want people who can fit in easily with colleagues and clients, and perform under pressure. Market or industry experience is also an advantage.
We have a high performance and work hard as a team to deliver exceptional client service. We are open to differences in working practices, and will support you in effectively managing your work and personal commitments.
We’ll also give you a competitive salary, benefits package and offer a full range of subsidised activities.
Business services
We look for the very best people in HR, IT, marketing and business development, finance, and more.
Our talented and dedicated business services teams help our lawyers deliver exceptional client service while ensuring our national and international offices run smoothly.
Diversity
Freshfields has an exceptional population of professionals working in our London and Manchester offices.
They have a lot in common. They’ve got the people skills that make them good at working in teams – with clients as well as colleagues. They’re hard working and they’re always up for a challenge.
But they’re a diverse group too. They bring a broad range of nationalities, backgrounds and skills to what we do.
That’s important to us. Diversity helps us create an environment where everyone can realise their full potential. And it helps produce the fresh thinking and new ideas that set us apart and keep us ahead.
Career development
Lawyers
Our learning and development programmes help associates improve their technical knowledge and professional skills through seminars, workshops and training sessions.
In corporate, finance and dispute resolution, this includes two-week intensive foundation courses for newly qualified and laterally hired associates.
Competency
We have developed a comprehensive framework , setting out the firm’s expectations of our lawyers and their career path. Known as Career Milestones, it’s built on the principles of transparent performance standards, structured training, and 360 degree feedback. The Career Milestones have been designed both to ensure that the highest standards of technical legal knowledge and business skills are achieved, as well as to help attract, retain and motivate the best people in the legal sector.
Development
Through individual development and firm-wide training programmes aligned with each Career Milestone and its associated skill-sets, we develop our lawyers to work in and lead effective teams; be effective project managers; deliver exceptional client service; coach, manage and motivate colleagues; and to present and negotiate with confidence. In addition to our development framework, we support our lawyers through ongoing coaching and mentoring programmes.
To help us to become more knowledgeable about our clients’ businesses, we run focused ‘know-how’ and sector-specific groups, providing a forum to share knowledge, insight and experience at the highest level. From early in a lawyer's career, they will gain a wide experience of different types of client assignment and the opportunity to take on secondments to clients and our wider network of offices .
Our award-winning Virtual Office and Real Deal programmes have pioneered the combination of technical and developmental training, while our development programme for junior, mid-level and senior associates covers everything from team working and project management, to negotiation skills and coaching. We also offer shorter skills workshops on specific topics, such as presentation skills and performance under pressure.
Our programmes are run globally and give associates the chance to meet and develop working relationships with colleagues from around the world.
We encourage our staff to gain additional qualifications during their time with us, including LLMs or other postgraduate qualifications. We support them financially and give them time off for study.
Our lawyers also benefit from on-the-job training and secondments to clients and other offices around the world.
Business services
We make sure all our employees supporting our fee-earners receive a comprehensive range of personal and professional development.
We offer a modular skills training programme for business services staff as well as tailored on and off-site courses.
The courses address individual and firm-wide needs by encompassing all key areas of personal development and practical skills training. They include a series of skill workshops that will help you develop key capabilities such as influencing and presentation skills, effective writing, team leadership, management development, facilitation skills and coaching.
Our tailored development programmes and activities help career progression by building on your existing strengths and responding to development needs.
Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer.
We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.
