Freshfields Vacation Scheme - January 2025
What was the full recruitment process?
1. Brand ambassador role: I was lucky enough to be fast-tracked to an assessment centre because of my role as brand ambassador for the firm
2. Written test
3. Assessment centre
4. Vacation scheme
Which aspect does this report cover?
Vacation scheme assessment centre
Where did the assessment centre take place?
Zoom
What did the assessment centre involve?
1. Written test: proofreading exercise (1 hour)
2. Interview: competency and motivation questions (~60 minutes with 1 partner and 1 senior associate)
3. Case study interview: asked questions based on an article that was written by a partner (~30 minutes reading and preparation time, ~60 minutes with 1 partner and 1 senior associate)
Written test
This was an online test carried out prior to the day of interviews. It still formed part of the overall assessment centre however (it wasn’t a separate step).
I had one hour to complete the test. I was given approx. 1 side of A4 text as background material, plus a table. The text contained various spelling, grammatical and tone errors. In the table, I had to identify the errors (including the location of each) in one column, then in another column suggest edits/suggestions for improvement. At the bottom of the table was a short section with space for me to rewrite an entire paragraph of the text (it was a very short paragraph).
I was not given a timer, so make sure to have your phone with a timer on to keep track of the time.
Competency and motivation interview
This was a very straightforward interview to get to know me and my motivation for applying. The interview was CV blind but they did possess my cover letter/personal statement (provided previously) to form the basis of questions. The interview was very casual, asking the classics:
Also more competency based questions:
Case study interview
I was provided with a 2 page article about deep sea mining (I wasn’t assessed specifically on the topic of deep sea mining). I had approx. 30 mins to prepare (including during my break). I was asked to summarise the article, and then faced what seemed like scripted questions about the content of the article, including:
There was also a graph within the article and I was asked what the graph demonstrates. The graph showed various countries with the number of licences each had issued in connection with deep sea mining.
Whilst a few scripted questions were asked, the interview quickly (positively) derailed into a debate surrounding what kind of lawyers the partner should hire, private equity lawyers vs equity capital markets lawyers etc. We then went on to debate the benefits of higher regulation and taxation vs lower regulation and taxation, especially regarding how the current Labour government can drive growth.
What was the outcome?
One of the partners who interviewed me called me a couple of weeks later to let me know I had been successful.
Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?
Be prepared to show your clear motivations around why you would like to work for Freshfields. Think about the following questions:
The summary you provide about the article is vital, so make sure you know what the article is about. It is worth learning what the various stages of growth a company goes through and what a law firm does at various levels for their clients. Also don’t be afraid to have opinions and be able to back them up with knowledge and ideas.
Have fun with it.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Training Contract - February 2024
What was the full recruitment process?
1. Application: 850 word personal statement
2. Psychometric test: Watson Glaser
3. Written exercise: to be completed in the week leading up to the assessment centre
4. Assessment centre: consisting of two interviews
Which aspect does this report cover?
Written exercise and training contract assessment centre.
Where did the assessment centre take place?
Microsoft Teams.
What did the assessment centre involve?
1. One-on-one chat with grad recruitment: we ran though the structure of the day and I had the opportunity to ask questions (~10 minutes).
2. General interview: motivation and competency questions (~1 hour with counsel and a senior associate).
3. Call with a trainee: I had the chance to ask a trainee for advice on the analytical interview (~15 minutes).
4. Analytical interview: questions relating to a fictional article (30 minutes reading time, followed by ~1 hour interview with a partner and an associate).
Written exercise
I was sent a written exercise 3 weeks before the assessment centre. I had a 3-day window in which to submit it, and once I started the exercise, I had 60 minutes to complete it. It was essentially a simple proofreading exercise based on three fictional emails, one of which included a set of client instructions.
In particular, I needed to identify and comment on spelling, grammatical, and punctuation mistakes in the draft email, as well as the tone and formality of the text. I also needed to comment on whether the email to the fictional client followed the given instructions and contained the necessary information, and identify any irrelevant information, mistakes, and ambiguities.
Make sure you read the instructions and emails very carefully, as attention to detail is key. Check names, dates, terminology, figures, who is signing off and so on – every detail counts! In addition, make sure you take the time to properly get to grips with all the facts. It can be a little confusing at times, as one email might reference purported facts or instructions that do not properly reflect the facts or instructions set out in one of the other emails (e.g. one party might misquote another party, or misspell something that other party has written, in which case you would need to identify this as an ambiguity or mistake).
Read and re-read everything, just to make sure you fully understand what each document is setting out. And have a clock or timer to hand, as you are expected to manage your own time and submit within the 60 minutes yourself.
General interview
This interview involved a range of motivation and competency questions, including:
I was then given a chance to ask questions at the end.
Case study interview
30 minutes before the interview, I received an online link to a fictional article. I had 30 minutes to read the article and make notes. The article focused on alternative energy resources and provided information about a start-up company seeking to capitalise on a new method of energy production. To give a few examples of the questions I was asked based on the content:
The interview felt like a conversation and the interviewers were personable throughout, which allowed the interview to flow naturally. I was also given the opportunity to ask questions at the end.
What was the outcome?
I received my vacation scheme offer by phone two days after the interview.
Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Training Contract - February 2022
What was the full recruitment process?
1. Application: 850 word personal statement
2. Psychometric test: Watson Glaser
3. Written exercise: to be completed in the week leading up to the assessment centre
4. Assessment centre: consisting of two interviews
Which aspect does this report cover?
Written exercise and training contract assessment centre.
Where did the assessment centre take place?
Microsoft Teams.
What did the assessment centre involve?
1. One-on-one chat with grad recruitment: we ran though the structure of the day and I had the opportunity to ask questions (~10 minutes).
2. General interview: motivation and competency questions (~1 hour with counsel and a senior associate).
3. Call with a trainee: I had the chance to ask a trainee for advice on the analytical interview (~15 minutes).
4. Analytical interview: questions relating to a specific Financial Times article (30 minutes reading time, followed by ~1 hour interview with a partner and an associate).
Written exercise
I was sent a written exercise 5 days before the assessment centre. I had a 3-day window in which to submit it, and once I started the exercise, I had 60 minutes to complete it. It was essentially a simple proofreading exercise based on three fictional emails, one of which included a set of client instructions.
In particular, I needed to identify and comment on spelling and grammatical mistakes in the draft email, as well as the tone and formality of the text. I also needed to comment on whether the email to the fictional client followed the given instructions, and identify any irrelevant information, mistakes and ambiguities.
Make sure you read the instructions and emails very carefully, as attention to detail is key. Check names, dates, who is signing off and so on – every detail counts! In addition, make sure you take the time to properly get to grips with all the facts. It can be a little confusing at times, as one email might reference purported facts or instructions that do not properly reflect the facts or instructions set out in one of the other emails (e.g. one party might misquote another party, or misspell something that other party has written, in which case you would need to identify this as an ambiguity or mistake).
Read and re-read everything, just to make sure you fully understand what each document is setting out. And have a clock or timer to hand, as you are expected to manage your own time.
General interview
This interview involved a range of motivation and competency questions, including:
I was then given a chance to ask questions at the end.
Case study interview
30 minutes before the interview, I received an online link to an article that was published in The Financial Times in 2019. I had 30 minutes to read the article and make notes. The article focused on the plant-based “meat” industry, including how it was competing with established meat sellers and producers. To give a few examples of the questions I was asked based on the content:
The interview felt like a conversation and the interviewers were personable throughout, which allowed the interview to flow naturally. I was also given the opportunity to ask questions at the end.
What was the outcome?
I received my vacation scheme offer by phone two days after the interview.
Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?