FAQs

This FAQ page is not intended to be exhaustive, but provides brief answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on applications and our training.

Associates

Trainees

Legal Consultants and International Legal Consultants

Are there opportunities for me to work in Hong Kong if I do not have a HK qualification?

  • Yes, you can work in the Hong Kong office as a Registered Foreign lawyer (RFL).
  • We have lots of RFLs working with us at any one time, and we value the expertise they can bring from their jurisdictions and the diversity they add to our teams.
Back to top

Can I qualify as a Hong Kong lawyer?

  • Yes you can. You will need to sit the Overseas Lawyers Qualification Exams (OLQE) to be HK qualified, and we will support and sponsor those RFLs who wish to become qualified in HK.

For information on qualifying as a Hong Kong lawyer please visit the Hong Kong Law Society website at http://www.hklawsoc.org.hk/pub_e/default.asp

Back to top

What types of transactions are handled in each of the China offices?

Our firm embraces a wide range of disciplines. These include private and public mergers and acquisitions; overseas public listings of Chinese businesses; private equity; corporate advisory; dispute resolution; securitisation; asset and project finance; intellectual property and information technology; antitrust competition and trade; financial services; and regulatory.

Back to top

Will I have opportunities to travel with work?

  • We work on transactions in all parts of greater China from all three of our China offices. You are likely to have opportunities to travel both within Mainland China and to and from Hong Kong on work assignments. Our three China offices work together as one integrated practice, and we often assemble teams with members from across each of the Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong offices in order to service our clients more effectively and efficiently.
  • Working for our firm provides many travel opportunities including to Europe, America, the middle east, of course within China and the rest of Asia.
Back to top

What types of training courses and programmes are available for China associates?

  • At every stage of your career, we will provide you with ‘off-the-job’ training, including international induction programmes, update sessions with teams and practice groups, residential development programmes and international conferences. Each is designed to develop your team, project and management skills enabling you to fulfil your potential.
Back to top

What level of language proficiency do I need?

  • As English is widely used as the universal language throughout the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer global network and in communications with our clients, it is assumed that you will have a high level of English proficiency.
  • In addition, it is preferable for you to be proficient in Chinese, however this is dependant on the area in which you practice – so we encourage you to discuss this with us further.
  • A substantial and increasing element of our work involves the PRC, and hence fluency in Mandarin is now becoming more important.
  • We would advise associates who are interested in developing their career in this region to take steps to improve their Mandarin skills (spoken, reading and writing). We sponsor language training for associates who are keen to improve.
  • If you are able to communicate with clients efficiently in both spoken Mandarin and written Chinese, it will open up more opportunities for you to gain a different variety of work experience.
Back to top

How would you describe the type of people that work in the China offices?

  • The people in our China offices are a diverse group with a range of backgrounds – both personally and professionally. Many of our lawyers have studied or lived outside of China.
Back to top

I’m not sure if a move to China is the right move for me?

We understand it is a hard decision to move to another country – and we encourage you to explore what this means as fully as possible. If you would like to have an informal chat with one of us to discuss what it is like living and working in HK, Shanghai or Beijing we encourage you to contact us.

Back to top

Is there any point applying if I’m not an Oxbridge candidate with a 2:1/First degree?

At Freshfields, we recruit people from many universities. Everyone has a rich mix of skills and talents, which makes for a stimulating and interesting environment. However, we value a consistently high level of academic performance, as we believe it demonstrates an ability to cope with complex legal issues. So, if you didn't obtain a 2:1, First or equivalent, we'd like to see evidence of exceptional academic ability elsewhere.

Back to top

How do you regard non-law and non-Common Law graduates?

We value the fresh experiences and insights these graduates can bring, so don't worry if you didn't study law or Common Law – you can still apply for a trainee position. We do however expect that you will complete the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) prior to joining us. In addition, our in-house training compensates for the shorter period of time CPE candidates have spent studying law.

For vacation placements, we prefer to consider law students first, followed by non-Common Law and non-law students studying for business or economics degrees. Availability for vacation placements changes every year, so we may also be able to consider other non-law students.

Back to top

How important are Chinese language skills in Hong Kong?

As an increasing amount of our work involves the PRC, fluency in Mandarin is becoming more important. That’s why, in recent years, we’ve recruited more trainees who are proficient in Cantonese and/or Mandarin. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in this region, we recommend you improve your spoken, reading and writing skills in Mandarin. Communicating with clients in spoken Mandarin and written Chinese will bring you many opportunities to gain from a variety of work experiences.

Back to top

Can I choose my seats during the training contract?

Yes. Our training contract structure responds to your changing interests and needs. We’ll consult with you regularly to discover which of our practice areas most interest you, while making sure you still benefit from well-rounded training. Corporate and Finance seats are compulsory as they’re the foundation to a career, regardless of whether you choose to qualify in them. We also usually recommend you take a Dispute Resolution seat, as this will provide a different perspective on commercial transactions. What’s more, you can choose to complete an Intellectual Property and Information Technology, or an Antitrust, Competition and Trade practice seat. In addition, we offer a three-month seat in our Beijing or Shanghai office, and a six-month seat in our London office.

Throughout, you’ll meet people from other departments and practice groups, and attend their presentations. This will help you decide which of our practice areas is right for you.

Back to top

When I qualify, is two years long enough to choose my area of specialisation?

Yes, we think so. Our seat rotation system should help you find the right specialisation. We will also guide and support you at key stages in your training contract, helping you feel confident your career is heading in the right direction. We have a broad range of work at Freshfields, so we’re keen to find the best match between your interests and skills, and the firm’s needs.

Back to top

Do I have to complete a vacation scheme before Freshfields will offer me a training contract?

Not at all. We want to meet people with a range of interesting paid or unpaid work experience, whether that’s in law firms or elsewhere, such as charities. However, it’s helpful if you have spent some time with a larger commercial practice. We’re delighted that many of the students who spend time with us in their vacations go on to apply for a training contract.

Back to top

Would an LLM help my application?

We don’t usually take them into account when selecting trainees. However, if you’re genuinely interested in doing an LLM, you should do so.

Back to top

Where can I find out more about the new entry requirements for the PCLL and conversion examinations?

Visit the Hong Kong Conversion Examination Board at http://www.pcea.com.hk/ or contact the PCLL course providers (for example, HKU, CityU or CUHK). The conversion examinations only apply to students with law degrees from overseas universities.

Back to top

Do you have any advice on completing the application forms?

The best advice we can give is that you demonstrate – and not just describe – your personal qualities. We also consider every aspect of your application, including the standard of your written English, and your ability to express yourself clearly and concisely.

Back to top

Should I apply for a Legal Consultant role or an International Legal Consultant role?

To be an International Legal Consultant you should have an LLB or an LLB and/or LLM from a university in China in addition to an LLM from a US Law school. Our preference is for graduates who are also completing the New York bar. In addition we also recruit US LLM graduates with a relevant prior experience gained with a reputable local or international law firm or government body.

To be a Legal Consultant you need to be an LLB graduates or LLB/LLM graduates from a top law school in China. We take intern experience into consideration when reviewing your application. Generally, we do not have a mandatory requirement on your GPA, however, an applicant with a minimum of GPA 3.5, or equivalent is preferred.

Back to top

Is it beneficial to complete an LLM in China or overseas before joining Freshfields?

We have different channels of recruitment and recruit graduates with an LLB as well as those who have taken an LLM in China or overseas. We have a need for graduates from both channels.

Back to top

Do I need a minimum level proficiency in English?

As English is widely used as the universal language throughout the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer global network and in communications with our clients, it is assumed that you will have a high level of English proficiency. In assessing this, we may take into account your IELTS or TOEFL scores.

Back to top

Will I have any opportunities to travel with work?

We work on transactions in all parts of China from all three of our China offices. You are likely to have opportunities to travel within Mainland China and Hong Kong on work assignments. Our three China offices work together as one integrated practice, and we often assemble teams with members from across each of the Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong offices in order to service our clients more effectively and efficiently.

Back to top

What type of training is provided to legal consultants in the Beijing or Shanghai offices?

We provide an induction course for new legal consultants, which introduces you to the firm and equips you with the basic skills and knowledge to start your legal career with us.

We host regular training courses and seminars throughout the year, including legal technical training, English drafting, negotiation, legal research skills, communication and interpersonal skills training, etc.

Legal consultants are also invited to participate in our annual Asian Corporate Conference, which brings together practitioners from all of our Asian offices for both learning and socializing. Our corporate conference is held in a different location each year; this year, it will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you will be provided with opportunities for extensive on-the-job training, as you work on transactions and hone your skills under the supervision of the “best in the business”, our partners and associates.

Back to top

What type of career development opportunities are available to legal consultants in the Beijing or Shanghai offices?

We hope that our legal consultants will enjoy a long and successful career with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and offer many career development opportunities.

Many of our legal consultants have been sponsored for study overseas, or had the opportunity to be seconded to the Hong Kong office.

Promotion opportunities to the position of associate will be considered after working with us for a minimum period; this will be based on the depth of your experience, your performance as well as the business needs in each office. For legal consultants joining us with no prior working experience, promotion to associate will be considered after a minimum of two years.

Back to top

Are there any opportunities for legal consultants to work in other Freshfields offices?

We encourage the development of all our people, and we are especially keen to provide our promising legal consultants the opportunity to work in our Hong Kong office. We offer these opportunities on a merit basis, and our China secondment policy allows for secondments of varying durations.

If you are subsequently successful in being promoted to the position of associate, secondment opportunities may be available to other offices in our global network – in addition to Hong Kong, Associates from our China offices have been seconded to London, New York, Washington DC and Brussels.

Back to top

Will I have the opportunity to be sponsored for study leave overseas to obtain an LLM?

We have a formal policy regarding overseas LLM study sponsorship and we offer this opportunity on a merit basis to Legal Consultants who have been with us for a minimum of 2 years.

Back to top

Will the firm allow me to take study leave for the PRC bar?

Yes, we allow all legal consultants four weeks study leave for the PRC bar (once only!).

We have a clear and transparent career path to enable all legal consultants to develop their career with us. US LLM graduates joining us with relevant prior experience will be considered for promotion to associate after working for us for a specified minimum time, providing they have passed the New York Bar.

Back to top

Will a mentor be allocated to new Legal Consultants in the firm?

We have a mentoring program for our Legal Consultants, and Legal Consultants are encouraged to raise any issues of concern with mentors, whether they be in relation to working practices, dealing with clients, workload, or any other issues.

Back to top
Michelle YipMichelle Yip's signature

"I never feel embarrassed to ask questions. It’s the best way to learn."

Michelle Yip

Associate, Hong Kong

Find out more