Winter Vacation Scheme

About us:

At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, we align your growth and ambition with ours. We invest in your personal and professional growth and support you to achieve your ambitions. And you share responsibility for playing a part in delivering the firm’s growth and ambition too.

A leading global law firm, with over 6,000 people, we are in the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. We’re recognised leaders in demanding contentious matters, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private transactions.

We’re immersed in the many challenges facing our clients. We’re invested and resourceful. We understand the part technology and digitalisation play in the delivery of legal services. We want to make a positive impact wherever in the world we operate. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with an open mind and curiosity.

We are known for our diverse perspectives and renowned for our culture. Being human, bold and outstanding are more than our values: you’ll discover they are our lived experience. And by being ambitious for your growth and ours, we’ll achieve our goals together.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your growth. Our ambition.

Your opportunity

Our vacation schemes are designed to give you a taste of what it's like to tackle exciting challenges and deliver high-profile work that matters to our clients.

Gaining experience on live deals and cases is crucial to your professional growth. Across the two-week scheme, you'll submit preferences on the two seats you sit in, allowing you to tailor your experience to your individual interests. You'll share an office with your supervisor - either a partner, of counsel, senior associate or associate, who you will work alongside to build a valuable skillset that you will continue to develop across your career. You'll be expected to complete tasks such as: conducting research, legal drafting, due diligence and preparing for client meetings. You will receive specific feedback in your first seat which you'll be able to carry through to your second, giving you the insight you need to develop and improve across the scheme. You'll also be invited to a variety of events and presentations that will introduce you to our practice areas and demonstrate what it takes to succeed as a commercial lawyer at HSF Kramer.

That's not all - our early careers recruitment team, lawyers, and partners want you to feel at home and part of the team, which is why we host social events where you can network with other students on the scheme, as well as our current trainees and partners.

What you'll get in return

We support and care for you to help you grow, with a complete package that includes:

- A trainee buddy who will be on hand to share invaluable advice and support you in each of the practice areas you sit in

- A salary of £500 per each week of the scheme.

During your time with us, you'll grow and help the firm to grow with you. It's a two-way deal. Work hard and perform well on your vacation scheme and you'll be rewarded with a place on our Trainee Associate Programme.

What we're looking for

  Our winter vacation schemes are open to final-year students and graduates.

We consider applicants from any degree discipline, with a keen interest in commercial law. We do look for consistent 2:1s throughout all your undergraduate modules. If you have mitigating circumstances that impacted your studies, we would urge you to mention these on your application form.

When to apply

Applications close on 1 October 2025 (23:59 GMT), so make sure you've completed and submitted your online application form by then. Please note that all applications will be reviewed after the deadline.

Inclusivity

We value diverse perspectives and embrace difference. We’re proud of our achievements, committed to building on our good work, as well as our awareness of and focus on well-being. You’ll be supported to bring your whole and best self to work in an environment that is not only professional, but also connected and caring. We’re renowned for our culture. We balance being human, bold and outstanding and you’ll find these are more than our values: a lived experience. At the heart of this, you’ll be supported to grow, achieve your ambitions and play a part in helping us achieve the firm’s. So as a graduate, by being ambitious for your growth and ours, we’ll achieve our goals together.

Application deadline:
Wednesday, 1 October 2025 at 22:59 (UTC)
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