Herbert Smith Freehills
2022 Melbourne Graduate Program (Mar 2022)
Melbourne
Opportunity expired
Opportunity details
- Graduate Job or Program
- 8 vacancies
- Apply by 15 Nov 2021
- Start date 14 Mar 2022
THE OPPORTUNITY
We have new opportunities to join our March graduate program commencing in March 2022.
Our graduate program gives you the chance to start shaping your future and hone your skills in a range of practice areas, providing you with broad-based training and ensuring that you are ready to become a qualified solicitor.
You'll rotate through three distinct practice areas for six months each and will be assigned a partner and buddy for support.
You'll get the opportunity to submit practice area preferences before every rotation, enabling you to tailor your graduate program to your specific interests. You can also discuss your preferences with our dedicated Graduate Recruitment team. If you are interested in broadening your skills further, you can also apply to complete an international rotation or a rotation through our Digital Law Group or our Legal Operations team.
Just tell us what you need - Support and Training
We know that life in a commercial law firm can seem daunting, and we're here to provide you with all the support you need. Once you join, you'll benefit from a two-week induction, ongoing practice group training throughout each rotation, a solicitor assigned as your dedicated "buddy", regular feedback, plus extensive on-the-job support from solicitors, senior associates and partners.
We support graduates on their pathway to becoming solicitors by providing Practical Legal Training (PLT) and support through the admission process.
Once admitted, our Graduates will begin the second stage of their formal learning program – Advance. This program focused on the client, financial and people skills needed to take you to the next step of your career.
At different times throughout your career, you may feel like you need a new challenge or a change. This could mean developing new skills, setting a new direction or focus, starting a new role within the firm, or taking a short break. Pursuing a new path doesn't mean you have to close off others.
That is why we are committed to redefining how we invest in our people as they pursue diverse personal and professional pathways, both at Herbert Smith Freehills and beyond. Through our Career Pathways program, we will show you the countless personal and professional pathways that are available to you, both inside and outside the firm; demonstrate how you may be supported and rewarded as you develop a wide range of skills and pursue varied opportunities; and empower you to follow your own pathway, whatever that may be, with the firm's complete support.
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
We recruit people with the desire and ability to be exceptional, commercial lawyers. This means that we look for more than just a great academic record and strong technical aptitude. We seek people who are curious, empathetic and understand the importance of building relationships with clients and colleagues. We also look for an international mindset and a desire to work within our global network, not just one office.
To be eligible to apply, candidates need to:
- Have recently completed an Australian Bachelor's degree in law or Juris Doctorate, or be in their final semester.
- Have working rights for Australia (eg a valid Graduate visa)
- Be able to commence full-time employment in March 2022
Hiring criteria
- No experience required
- Australian Work Visa (All Other) +more
- Law, Legal Studies & Justice +more
- Bachelor or higher
Reviews
My role has, essentially, been to act as a sponge. Take in as much about the culture of the team and the firm as I do about the law and the work. My day to day responsibilities would include managing email correspondence and document management systems, doing drafting or proofing work, and helping out other Brisbane and interstate teams that are stretched with time intensive work in things like document review.
I am responsible as the junior lawyer on a range of matters that I have worked on since I started the graduate program. This allows me to develop client relationships and familiarity with the subject matter. My tasks include emailing clients updates, responding to client queries, amending contracts based on client or partner feedback and attending client meetings. As I have progressed in the graduate program, my responsibilities have increased at a rate that challenges me and allows me to grow.
Graduate role - tasks range from having a first go at reviewing and drafting documents, preparing pitch proposals to potential clients and assisting the team with document management when closing a deal.
About the employer
Herbert Smith Freehills
4.5
1,000 - 50,000 employees
Law
A leading global law firm delivering high-profile work that matters to our clients. We have the ambition to do things differently.
Pros and cons of working at Herbert Smith Freehills
Pros
Learning from the best. Everyone is super smart and invested in my career development. I have felt incredibly supported from day 1.
HSF has great people, great work, and great experience for anyone who comes here, especially for a graduate like myself.
The firm is really flexible with its work-from-home policy and benefits for employees who are required to work late.
The firm's culture is top-notch across the board, everyone from senior lawyers and partners to support staff are so willing to help each other.
The training and development at HSF is unmatched. Hands-on in a challenging environment where you have every opportunity to learn and grow.
Cons
Same as every top-tier firm, if there is a big deal you can be working longer hours. But the sense of achievement provides a lot of satisfaction.
There isn't anything that I can think of - it would be better if the firm invested more in graduate bonding/social events.
Long hours are a common experience in the industry and largely unavoidable given the client-centric nature of the work.
The fast-paced nature of the work means you don't always get to spend as much time as you would like on tasks.
As with all big commercial firms, work hours and pipeline can be unpredictable but that is the nature of working with big clients and transactions.