First Year Workshop Review

Very enjoyable. Herbert Smith Freehills are a very likable firm who want you to get the most out of the two days. Everyone at the firm genuinely seemed to enjoy working there and this helped us enjoy the experience ourselves. It was also enjoyable to meet other first years from other universities.

Herbert Smith Freehills obviously had put in considerable time and effort into the scheme. We were all treated very well and everybody we talked to appeared like they wanted to give their time up to help us.

We received an email before attending which provided a brief overview of what we would be doing. Before each of the workshops, solicitors would do a presentation about what to expect and how to do well during the tasks. Whilst we shadowed a trainee I was given work to do and my trainee spent time with me outlining how to go about the task successfully.

The ADR workshop was very useful as this was something I have never undertaken before and so I gained a great deal from this workshop, as well as the corporate workshop which included a negotiation exercise. We also had a departmental careers fair which was highly useful as we all received considerable information about the type of work each department undertakes. The trainee shadowing provided a valuable insight.

The two days were filled full of interesting tasks to undertake. It was obvious considerable planning had gone into the scheme. All the presentations worked well and the social event in the evening was enjoyable. The schedule which we were given when we arrived was followed very closely so we always knew what was planned next.

Herbert Smith Freehills' representatives seemed to enjoy talking to us about their work and this enjoyment and good feeling rubbed off one and other. The social event in the evening was also enjoyable as we got to socialise with a wide range of Herbert Smith Freehills' staff in a more informal manner.

During the negotiation and ADR workshops we received feedback from trainees about how we had gone about the task and how we could improve.

The department careers fair allowed us to find out what type of work each department undertakes and therefore what type of client you would be working with if you worked at the firm full time. Shadowing a trainee allowed us to see first hand what type of tasks they commonly undertake.

Very helpful. We spoke to a wide variety of employees from Herbert Smith Freehills and it soon became apparent the culture is the same throughout the firm. Employees seemed to genuinely enjoy working there and the majority of work was done across offices with departments in very regular contact with the same department in other offices.

Allowed us to recoginse what to look for when applying to companies. The Workshop also provided us with insights which cannot be found in brochures or websites.

Herbert Smith Freehills provided a hotel room for those who lived outside London and also reimbursed travel expenses.

Trainees would join us for lunch whilst trainees also helped with the corporate and ADR workshops meaning we had plenty of time to network with trainees. The evening social was attended by trainees, associates, partners and Graduate Recruitment so there was plenty of opportunity to have any questions we had answered.

We had plenty of opportunity to network, not only at the social event, but also during the workshops and lunch/ breakfast.

Generally the trainees know each other very well before starting at Herbert Smith Freehills as they completed the LPC together. Whilst at the firm there were sports teams which employees of Herbert Smith Freehills could participate in. Furthermore there were regular social events in departments and as trainees. Employees are also encouraged to engage in pro-bono work.

Definitely. The Workshop was very well organised and as a result was very beneficial from my perspective. I also believe that I understand Herbert Smith Freehills as a firm much more and that this understanding is far greater than one I could have picked up through reading about the firm only. Furthermore, meeting fellow first years and participating in the workshop was a very enjoyable experience.