My name is Alex, and I was a vacation clerk over the 2021-2022 summer period, and rotated through the Funds, M&A and Financial Services, and Disputes (Regulatory) teams. After clerking, I was a Disputes paralegal, and am now a Graduate Lawyer in my first rotation in the Funds, M&A and Financial Services team.
My experience at Herbert Smith Freehills has been second to none, keeping me constantly on my toes with exciting and legally complex matters, and providing me with valuable insights into our diverse clients’ business needs. The teams I have worked with have been technically excellent and provided great mentorship, ensuring I am always learning new things and being exposed to high-calibre work. The Firm’s culture is extremely inclusive, and there are many opportunities to connect with others socially and to collaborate on areas of passion.
The Clerkship Application Process
The clerkship application process with Herbert Smith Freehills was an enjoyable experience, as the Firm, true to its great culture, made the written, interviewing and interactive stages seamless. The fantastic HR personnel ensured that, despite completing our process virtually, we always felt supported and connected – they kept us in the loop at all times, and checked-in frequently. This was a stand-out feature of Herbert Smith Freehills and was one of the many reasons I was so drawn to the Firm.
The interviewing stage was also unique in that interviews are conducted one-on-one between applicants and partners, allowing you to have in-depth and genuine conversations which stemmed beyond the usual discussions had during interviews. In fact, I recall that in one of my two interviews, my interviewing partner and I discussed coastal walks and gardening – this allowed me to feel connected and at ease, so that I could be my true self during the interview, which is another aspect I love about the Firm’s culture.
The Clerkship Program
As a vacation clerk, we were given many opportunities to get to know the Firm and its people, and to be involved in great initiatives, including Pro Bono work – this meant we were exposed to not only our teams’ specialised work, but also engaged in causes which contributed positively to others beyond a commercial sense. The work we perform as clerks also offers a great foundational platform to learn the ropes and assist your teams in their matters, which allowed us to see how we could valuably contribute to the team effort. Whether it be drafting emails, reviewing contracts, researching cases and preparing case notes, or hopping onto client conferences, there is always something exciting to do. While tasks were challenging at times given the new nature of the work we were completing and the fast-paced turnover periods, asking questions and seeking feedback were great tools for learning – everyone is always very happy to provide guidance, and this is another stand-out feature of Herbert Smith Freehills.
Herbert Smith Freehills is a fantastic workplace, and whether you are starting off as a vacation clerk or graduate, there will never be a dull moment.