FreshfieldsGraduates

he Americas and Asia. Graduates who accept a training contract with the firm have the opportunity to experience up to eight areas of law – twice the number offered by most law firms. The training is largely provided from the firm’s London office but many trainees will also spend time on secondment to a client or to one of the firm’s US, European or Asian offices. The lawyers work in teams, often of no more than three: a partner, an associate and a trainee. Whatever clients want to achieve, the team’s job is to work out how. Is it possible? What will be the most effective way of structuring the deal or tackling the problem? What are the risks? How should it be documented? Background, university, and the degree studied are immaterial. But every successful candidate has three qualities that are non-negotiable: intellectual talent, excellent English (written and verbal), and a generous spirit. Before a training contract starts all graduates complete the Legal Practice Course; and non-law graduates also need to take the Graduate Diploma in Law before the LPC. The firm meets the cost and provides a maintenance grant for both. The firm pursues premium, cross-border work that is nearly always complicated. This means that the learning curve is steep, so the graduates who do best are those who like to be challenged.