I joined Freshfields in September 2021 as a trainee after doing a summer vacation scheme in 2019. I qualified into the Hong Kong corporate team in October 2023 after two years as a trainee at Freshfields.

I really enjoyed the vacation scheme. I was surprised how welcoming the firm is: everyone was so open, encouraging and easy to talk to. There were a lot of events, too: it almost felt like a summer party!

The culture here is very inclusive, with trainees each taking turns to give presentations and receive feedback. Trainees take charge of organising events, including the annual dragon boat race with other Hong Kong firms, and play a key role in managing transaction workstreams such as due diligence.

I was initially surprised by how diverse Freshfields is. We all come from different backgrounds, which is respected and valued. In fact, we draw upon our different experiences to bring the varied perspectives that help improve our service.

Training at Freshfields is very well thought out. I am not a native Mandarin speaker but have been receiving lessons regularly to help me with my client work. That’s in addition to the specialist training we get. The Hong Kong training contract guarantees a secondment to the London office and a mainland China office, which was really useful in building relationships across the firm’s global network.

One deal I worked on as a trainee involved a reorganisation in almost 100 jurisdictions, and I was working with local counsel in multiple countries. A lot of the time you make your own decisions – under supervision, of course – which is very rewarding.

Pro bono clients are treated just like any other client. I worked on a non-refoulement case for a vulnerable asylum seeker, which required a completely different skillset from the corporate work I normally do. I worked closely with senior disputes lawyer and the application went well, making me feel like I had done something good for the local community.

Of the Being Freshfields values, I probably identify most with “we are there for one another” as everyone is a team player, helping each other out no matter how busy we are.

You get out of Freshfields what you put in: responsibility comes when you are willing to accept it. You can safely be ambitious here and get the support you need to excel. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as many people have incredible experience, often 20 or 30 years at Freshfields.