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Herbert Smith Freehills

4.4
  • #1 in Law
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Application Process & Interviews at Herbert Smith Freehills

8.9
8.9 rating for Recruitment, based on 15 reviews
Please describe the interview process and assessments.
I went through the clerkship application process. HSF was by far the best firm at running this process. Their buddy system for applicants is very effective. The firm's communication is excellent, and the one-on-one interactions with interviewing partners is valuable also.
Other (Please specify) - Solicitor. Finished the graduate program about a month ago., Sydney
Standard top tier graduate recruitment program. Online application, interview, clerkship, application for graduate employment, graduate offer.
Graduate, Perth
Relaxed and supportive because you are allocated a graduate or lawyer during the interview process to answer any questions you may have or provide extra context to the whole process.
Graduate, Perth
Great! There is a very dedicated team of HR people and those involved in interviews are very engaged.
Graduate, Perth
It was tough but fair
Graduate, Perth
Respectful, transparent and very well invested in us, even as clerks and graduates.
Graduate, Perth
Involves an interview and cocktail evening. Pretty standard process.
Graduate, Melbourne
We were asked a series of questions to respond to and had to submit a CV with it. No cover letter, per se, and no psychometric tests. Only one interview which was with one partner.
Graduate, Melbourne
I went through the formal graduate program - I found HSF's approach to be far more welcoming, relaxed and down to earth than the process experienced elsewhere. There was a written application, followed by an in person (virtual - COVID) interview, and a few networking evenings.
Other (Please specify) - Just finished graduate program, Sydney
What questions were you asked in your interviews?
Can't recall. It was very conversational and relaxed, one-on-one with a partner (I think that changed recently).
Other (Please specify) - Junior solicitor, Melbourne
The interviews were very conversational. I was not asked anything out of the ordinary. I was asked a little bit about how I saw my previous work experience applying in a commercial law context.
Other (Please specify) - Solicitor. Finished the graduate program about a month ago., Sydney
I can't remember. This was a while ago.
Graduate, Perth
5 behavioural questions and after that it is really your personal style and hobbies.
Graduate, Perth
A few questions about my abilities, but a lot to do with my hobbies and personal experiences.
Graduate, Perth
I can't remember
Graduate, Perth
A balance of questions about my personal pursuits and interests (the things that 'make' me who I am) as well as my legal interests - with a commercial focus.
Graduate, Perth
50/50 split between experience questions and questions aimed at seeing if my personality is the right fit for the firm.
Graduate, Melbourne
It was all very personal, about the things I was interested in, why I wanted to work at the firm. No trick questions, it was really just about me getting to know the firm and vice versa.
Graduate, Melbourne
Quite notably a lot of non-legal questions - about my life experiences, CV, interests and reasons for having chosen my career path more generally. It felt more like a free-flowing conversation than a structured interview.
Other (Please specify) - Just finished graduate program, Sydney
Do you have any specific tips and advice for candidates applying to your company? How would you recommend they best prepare?
Research your interviewing partner. It helps stimulate conversation and it shows that you care. Prepare your applications thoroughly and early. They take longer than you think.
Other (Please specify) - Solicitor. Finished the graduate program about a month ago., Sydney
Just to be their authentic self during the interview.
Graduate, Perth
be yourself and be confident in your ability to manage relationships. I am originally from the Pilbara region of WA so I am a country kid. I knew my upbringing is different to many of my peers so I used my life experiences to become my strength.
Graduate, Perth
Be yourself. There is no point convincing the firm to hire someone you are not, because you are not that person. Prepare by practicing talking about yourself and be willing to explore your resume. Also, don't worry about not knowing anything, we didn't know much either.
Graduate, Perth
Be a genuine nice person - everyone can be taught legal skills, you can't be taught how to be a nice person.
Graduate, Perth
Have a good understanding about the work that the firm does (not just the deals from a high level, but on a finer detail how it suits your interests - e.g. research, drafting, negotiation) - and why commercial law interests you.
Graduate, Perth
Try to understand what the firm is about and think about if you genuinely see yourself doing the work. If that is you, just be yourself.
Graduate, Melbourne
Think a bit about why you want to work at HSF specifically, it can be hard to distinguish between the top firms in Melbourne, but it shows you've really considered things and done your research if you can point of distinctions which appeal to you. Other than that, just be familiar with your CV and be ready to talk about it.
Graduate, Melbourne
Lean in to what makes you stand out in your cover letter.
Other (Please specify) - Just finished graduate program, Sydney