We are a leader among international law firms, providing business law advice of the highest quality throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

With over 2,700 lawyers in 27 key business centres around the world, we provide a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Training and development
Our trainee solicitors receive a thorough professional training in a very broad range of practice areas, an excellent personal development programme and the chance to work in one of our international offices or on secondment with a client in the UK or abroad. You’ll be working with and learning from one of the most talented peer groups in the legal world, and you’ll get the blend of support and freedom you need to evolve your career and take advantage of the opportunities our international network offers.

Your training contract will be unique to you. Flexibility is one of the hallmarks of our training programme and one of the features which most differentiates our training contract from others.

Support and balance
As a firm we believe in making sure that everyone counts, and organise ourselves accordingly. We believe that lawyers are better at handling the intense pace and pressure of work if they are part of a supportive team. We have a friendly and relaxed atmosphere which comes from having a diverse range of individuals who share a strong set of common values.

We also recognize the importance of ensuring that people are able to keep their lives in balance, and therefore encourage a range of sporting, cultural and social activities, as well as participation in our award-winning corporate social responsibility programme.

Who we are looking for
There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ Freshfields lawyer. Our broad array of practice areas and clients demands a wide range of individuals with differing skills, abilities and interests. However, you’ll need strong academic qualifications (the ability to achieve a high 2.1 or first at degree level), a broad range of skills and a good record of achievement in other areas.

Training contract applications
Applications for training contracts starting in February 2012 and August 2012 will be accepted from 1 November 2009. The deadline is 31 July 2010. Applications should be made on the firm’s online application form.

Vacation placements
Summer schemes are offered for students in their penultimate year. Applications are accepted between 1 October 2009 and 15 January 2010 for placements in 2010. Applications should be made on the firm’s online application form.

Diversity

Broadening the diversity of our people is important to the success of our firm. Diversity of cultures, backgrounds, ability and ideas improves the quality of our work and enriches our working experience. In order to excel, our employees need to work in an inclusive and open culture based on respect; people are more productive when they can be themselves.

Accordingly, we want our firm to attract, develop and retain a range of people irrespective of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or impairment. We work hard to ensure we recruit the best talent from the widest pool and advance people solely on their ability, by creating a level playing field for everyone, which respects and values the contributions of all.

Our clients must take priority. A diverse team of advisers with the widest spectrum of styles and ideas not only generates the most innovative ideas but enables us to understand and respond appropriately to the needs of each client.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity at: www.freshfields.com/csr/diversity.