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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Vacation Scheme Student Review

at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

Commercial Law

City of London

Review Submitted: July 2024

Overall Rating

5 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

5/5 - Overview of Experience
5/5 - Skills Development
5/5 - Company Culture
5/5 - Overall Experience
5/5 - Recommendations and Advice

Overview of Experience

Please give an overview of the insight and what was involved on a day-to-day basis.
The Vacation Scheme involved two seat rotations, where you sit with a Supervisor and a Trainee Buddy and are immersed in the daily work of each practice. This involved sitting in on calls and meetings, undertaking legal drafting and research, and attending various additional presentations and social events held by the Graduate Recruitment team.
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
The various talks and sessions held as part of the Vacation Scheme helped to deepen my understanding of the various practice areas in the firm. Lawyers at all levels around the firm were eager to meet up with me over coffee to discuss their practice areas, which helped me to understand the business better. By getting involved first-hand in real-life work, I now understand the expectations of clients, and how lawyers manage client relationships.
Please rate how insightful you found the insight
5/5
How would you rate the structure of the insight
5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
I have greatly developed my legal drafting abilities, as I have had the chance to engage in drafting multiple complex legal documents, from transfer agreements to deeds of undertaking.
I have also developed my research skills, as I was assigned a number of research tasks, which required critical thinking and detailed research into relevant areas of law.
My communication skills have been greatly aided by the chance to learn through osmosis by sitting in the office.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around personal or professional skills during the experience?
5/5
Please rate how the knowledge learned has helped you with regards to your career development
5/5

Company Culture

How would you rate business leader involvement during the insight
5/5
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
The culture at HSF is collaborative and welcoming. It was encouraging to see extensive collaboration between employees during my time at the firm, with lawyers sharing work and being keen to offer advice whenever it was requested. Lawyers at all levels were enthusiastic to answer any questions that I had about the firm over coffee, and I truly felt welcomed and energised by the level of responsibility on real-world work that I was conferred during the Vacation Scheme.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the networking opportunities?
5/5
Please rate how valued you felt during your insight?
5/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
The Vacation Scheme has been a profoundly enjoyable experience. It has been rewarding to get to know my fellow Vacation Schemers during work and at social events, and I have relished discussions with employees at all levels surrounding their work at the firm.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on the insight
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
I was paid

Recommendations and Advice

Please rate the future employment prospects at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
5/5
Would you recommend Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer to a friend?
Yes
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
I would advise students looking to apply to the Firm to familiarise themselves with the business' strategic aims, practice areas, and to ensure that they have sharp commercial awareness. Familiarity with the above are crucial in order to pass the three interviews as part of the Assessment Centre.
In This Review
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