Herbert Smith Freehills Internships & Clerkships

With over 25 offices spanning Asia, Europe, Australasia, and the Middle east, we can show you exactly what a world class commercial law firm has to offer, giving you the chance to work as part of an international team, on high-profile matters, for some of the most significant organisations in the market.

Our focus is on the future: the future needs of existing and new clients, the future of the legal profession and investing in our future lawyers. That’s why we aim to attract the best talent from a broad range of backgrounds, ensuring we are optimising our position as a progressive, forward thinking professional services business. At Herbert Smith Freehills, you’ll be given the opportunity to develop the skills you need to help solve our clients’ most complex challenges in thoughtful and innovative ways.

We’re organised along eight divisions – Corporate; Dispute Resolution; Finance, Real Estate and Projects; Employment, Industrial Relations & Safety; Competition, Regulation and Trade, Digital Law, Legal Operations and Alternative Legal Services. We pull together bespoke teams of experts from across our global network to draw on the right experience and expertise regardless of location. Our multidisciplinary and sector-based approach allows us to deliver value by focusing on the critical issues for our clients.

We offer 3-4 week Vacation Clerkship placements in our Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth offices during the Summer and Winter time, and 9-10 week Summer placements in our Sydney office. During this immersive experience, you’ll receive hands-on practical experience, actively contributing, as you work on some of the diverse challenges facing the team you’re collaborating with.

You will gain a deeper understanding of life at the firm and what your future could look like if you join us. Some key features include the opportunity to:

• Sit within a specific team, delivering real work for key clients
• Before you join, submit a preference for a team to tailor your experience
• Navigate the first step of your career with partner and graduate mentoring support
• Attend workshops and presentations covering all our practice areas
• Contribute to our pro bono practice
• Work with cutting edge technology through our innovation projects
• Networking opportunities to meet people across the firm

“When I was applying for clerkships the word on the grapevine was that Herbert Smith Freehills was a great firm at the top of its field but in terms of culture was very serious. I began my clerkship with the expectation that that would be the case. My experience with the firm could not have been more different. From day one I found everyone at the firm to be warm, welcoming and friendly. Of course it is true that everyone takes their work seriously but that is not at the expense of having a laugh and making time for one another. I was particularly surprised by the amount of time that solicitors, senior associates and partners invest in junior team members.”

Molly McInerney, 2018/2019 Vacation Clerk

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 a 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 will get the opportunity to submit practice area preferences before every rotation, including before your first 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.

Our focus is on the future: the future needs of existing and new clients, the future of the legal profession and investing in our future lawyers. That’s why we aim to attract the best talent from a broad range of backgrounds, ensuring we are optimising our position as a progressive, forward thinking professional services business. At Herbert Smith Freehills, you’ll be given the opportunity to develop the skills you need to help solve our clients’ most complex challenges in thoughtful and innovative ways.

We also recognise and value the differences that make us unique. We are not looking for the finished product and we know that gaining legal work experience is increasingly difficult. What we are looking for is your potential to become a Herbert Smith Freehills lawyer. Demonstrate the transferable skills you have gained through the experience you have, legal or non-legal.

Our approach to diversity encompasses gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and social inclusion. We want you to bring your whole self when you come to Herbert Smith Freehills. We place great value in our people’s life experience and we’re hiring more graduates from diverse backgrounds than ever before.

Working this way, we’re able to attract and retain the very best talent and provide our clients with the most considered and innovative advice.

Our diversity networks are at the heart of our firm and our Leading for Inclusion strategy. They are a vibrant part of our inclusive culture, influencing key decisions, educating teams and driving change through innovative events, campaigns and initiatives. Joining our networks unlocks a supportive group of role models and peers committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive profession – you will have the opportunity to be involved in some exciting projects from day one.

“Our vision is that we are a world class firm bringing together the best people to achieve the best results. Fundamental to our vision is embedding a culture where we are truly inclusive – diverse people, perspectives, ways of thinking and skill sets – and where this diversity permeates throughout all levels.”

Danielle Kelly, Head of Diversity & Inclusion

Our lawyers are encouraged to participate in the firm’s pro bono practice. This might be internationally or closer to home – it really is up to you.

Globally we focus on five key areas: access to justice, international development, social impact investment, not-for-profit advisory work and human rights (particularly anti-trafficking and anti-slavery).

Our practice groups provide many of our long-standing clients with a range of advice including partnership agreements, structuring, property, employment issues and governance. These include: CanTeen, CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Foodbank Victoria, McIntyre Centre, Médecins Sans Frontières, Mission Australia, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Save The Children Australia, Starlight Foundation, St Vincent de Paul, The Big Issue, Yalari and Youngcare.

Join Herbert Smith Freehills in their upcoming 'Practice Group Live Chat Series' on Meet and Engage!

Hear firsthand from their Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth graduates about their rotation experience, practice group insights and life at the firm!

Register for an upcoming session today at meetandengage.com/hsfcareers

Program Schedule