Based on 20 surveyed graduates working at Herbert Smith Freehills. Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate.
4.4
Based on 20 reviews
Pros & Cons
The people and opportunities here. The people are down to earth, welcoming, intelligent and inclusive. There are also so many opportunities to learn and to get involved in co-curriculars e.g. volunteering, networking, innovation.
Great work and people; fantastic international opportunities/secondments
All the staff were kind and approachable; everyone made time to assist with questions and tasks.
HSF was extremely inviting, and everybody was easy to work with. There was lots of support and ways to improve both your personal and work-related skills. It was an amazing environment filled with very skilled and personable people. I learnt a lot.
The people - talented, enthusiastic, driven, friendly people.
The hours can be long, but so far, may have been fine relatively speaking.
People have different styles of communication, which can be difficult to navigate as a junior graduate.
Many senior partners are extremely busy and because of that not approachable. However, there is a number of standout partners who make an active effort to resist that tendency.
The expectancy to work late in some teams - although this is a general issue in the legal industry and not specific to my firm.
I cannot fault HSF.
What Insiders Say
8.2
Career Prospects
8.2
Career Prospects
Structured program of promotions and what is expected of staff at each level.
HSF has the perfect balance of focus and ensures all tasks are completed as well as a work-life balance. The ability to catch-up with colleagues and go to pre-planned events is refreshing.
Specific groups have been set up ensuring that diversity occurs at HSF. HSF has also ensured that anyone can set up groups on diversity and raise ideas for change with management.
As a Vacation Clerk, I was working on real matters, attending client meetings, hearings, and firm events. Day to day responsibilities included legal research, drafting documents, proofreading, creating chronologies.
It was an open plan with glass walls for associates and partners. This made it easy to approach everyone and is in the same workspace as the team which was also great. The actual location of the building was also good and easily accessible from a range of public transport options. The facilities were also clean and well maintained. The dress code was business but on Friday's it was casual which made the workspace even more comfortable.
The hours were lengthy, but we were supported the entire way through and it was not a work culture where you had to stay back. Even if you wanted to stay back to complete your work, food and transport were provided which was very comforting.
The firm is becoming more and more digital instead of paper-based which is fantastic. Also looking around the office you can see that the cutlery utilised is wooden and the take-away containers from the kitchen are compostable. These are great initiatives and it is also evident that global warming prevention is on the firm's agenda/taking action towards reducing their impact.