Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

London–Asia trainee associate programme 2026


PayCompetitive
LocationLondon/England
Employment typeFull-Time

This job is now closed

  • Job Description

      Req#: R-02288
      Freshfields Overview


      Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

      Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

      - we show respect to everyone

      - we are there for one another

      - we are open with each other

      - we are positive role models

      We think and work globally - we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

      We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

      Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

      Location Overview: Manchester

      The Freshfields Global Centre provides both business and legal services to the firm. Our services are delivered in a way which supports the global nature of our firm and our clients, enables our fee earners to deliver exceptional service to our clients and to do that in a way which is efficient and effective.

      London–Asia trainee associate programme

      If you are native (or fluent to a native standard) in an Asian language such as Mandarin, Korean or Indonesian, you can apply for a training contract whereby you spend your first year in London and your second in an Asian office, giving you the best foundation for an international career and building your network and knowledge on both sides of the globe.

      You'll be curious, commercially minded and keen to help the world's biggest brand names on their most challenging legal issues.

      You’ll qualify as a lawyer in England & Wales after the two years. Where permitted by local bar rules and after a period of post-qualification experience, you will also be admitted in the country where you’ve been working. You'll work with the biggest companies in the world, at a top international law firm, surrounded by dedicated, supportive people who are ready to help you learn.

      If you’re selected, you’ll be invited for a virtual assessment day and if you progress from that, we'll invite you to join us for a month's Summer vacation scheme at Freshfields – three weeks in Asia, plus one in London. Based on your performance during the internship, plus an interview and a language test, we could offer you a London-Asia training contract.

      Qualifications

      Key Requirements

      You can apply from 2 October 2023 – 5 January 2024 if you are a law or non-law student in your penultimate or final year at university, or if you have graduated in any discipline.

      Inclusion

      Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

      Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.

  • About the company

      Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on ground-breaking and business-critical mandates.

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