Law never stops moving forward, and neither do we. At Freshfields, we are not just a global law firm, we are a partner in shaping the future. Freshfields is committed to driving innovation across the firm, supported by dedicated teams such as the Freshfields Lab. It brings together people from different backgrounds — including law, technology and business — to improve the delivery of legal services.
This challenge invites student societies to demonstrate how you can shape the future of law with your ideas. You do not need a legal background to take part. We are looking for bold ideas and smart solutions that redefine speed, quality, and the client experience — ideas that help us lead the way.
This is your chance to collaborate, create, and make an impact. Submit together as a student society team, and experience how we shape ideas into bold leaps at Freshfields.
Enter now to join the next generation of innovators.
The Prizes
The Freshfields Innovation Challenge – AI in Action is your launchpad into the world of commercial law, with prizes that give you invaluable exposure to a globally renowned law firm:
For all participating societies
Every society that enters will receive a place for their members at a virtual session from Freshfields, offering first-hand insight into how we use AI in practice.
Top 10 teams
Gain exclusive access to an Insight Day at Freshfields in September 2026, where your society representatives (up to three) will experience our culture, learn about our application process and meet with our colleagues.
Final 5 teams
Competing participants (up to three) will pitch your ideas at our London office during the final on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, to a panel of senior leaders. Celebrate your achievement with an exclusive dinner alongside Freshfields colleagues. (Finalists announced 20 March 2026.)
Overall winning team
Secure a £2,000 sponsorship for your society plus six months of mentoring by Freshfields colleagues for the competing participants (up to three) — an opportunity to accelerate your growth and impact.
The Challenge
AI and law are becoming more intertwined than ever before. Your student society must submit a video pitch of up to three minutes to answer a fundamental question shaping the future of legal services.
How do we use AI responsibly in law?
Make sure to download the full competition brief for additional details and instructions.
How to Enter
- Fill in the entry form with details of your society and information of the participants who will be representing your society (a maximum of three).
- Download the full competition brief and read through the extended scenario.
- Create a three-minute video pitch based on the competition brief, and upload it via this Google Form.
Submissions open on 26 January 2026 and close on 23 February 2026.
Only one submission per student society will be accepted.
Each society may nominate up to three members to represent them in the competition.
If you are interested in taking part, please share this opportunity with your society committee. We recommend that committees run a fair and transparent selection process to decide which members will represent the society in the competition.
We welcome applications from student societies with an academic, professional, or subject-based focus (for example, law, business, economics, STEM, or related networks).