First-Year Student Review

On the two-day insight scheme we were given a look into the various practices of the firm, with a chance to look deeper at cases worked on by associates and trainees. This was a good way to understand what role a trainee plays at the firm and how involved they are in key matters. The ADR workshop was particularly enjoyable as it gave me an opportunity to apply my negotiation skills to a practical setting.
The second day offered another chance for networking but focused on ways to create a good application for the vacation schemes we apply to, next academic year.

I already had an inkling of how the process works when transgressing from a student at university to a future trainee. This event helped enormously in making me feel more secure in succeeding and eager to reapply to HSF next year.
I have a deeper understanding of how areas of the law were affected by the pandemic and how this has been approached given the easing of lockdown restrictions currently.
I have also become more open-minded what route I want to take and what area of law I would like to specialise in. I had a very generic idea of wanting to specialise in corporate law, which I now realise is much broader than I had expected, but am also considering the areas of Real Estate, Finance and Intellectual Property.

My critical analysis and negotiation skills have improved substantially. It is key that critcal thinking is necessary in almost all scenarios as a future trainee, student and even associate. They proved this at both the ADR workshop and the Technical Skills workshop.
The event at HSF has allowed me to improve my networking skills and interactions with people I rarely have contact with on a day-to-day basis.

Very welcoming. They did everything to make everyone feel included and were supportive throughout.
Genuinely cultivated a very safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment!

It truly was one of the most enjoyable schemes I have attended. The sheer support and welcoming nature of the firm, from the graduate recruitment team to the partners only pushes me to reapply for a place on the HSF spring/summer vacation schemes next year.

Yes