Internship programmes
China Legal Consultant Programme
The first step to becoming a Legal Consultant in our Beijing or Shanghai office is to secure a place on our China Internship Programme.
At Freshfields, you’ll train alongside the best lawyers in the business. We believe completing tasks on real cases – including due diligence, legal research, the preparation of legal memos and drafting agreements – gives you the best grounding in law.
Our internship programme runs throughout the year and is open to penultimate-year law students, offering a minimum duration of three months. Top-performing interns, subject to our business needs, may secure a Legal Consultant contract upon graduation.
To apply, email the following to
Asia.GraduateRecruitment@freshfields.com:
- An application cover letter in English which includes:
- Your preferred location (Beijing or Shanghai).
- Your career aspirations, why you chose to apply to Freshfields and your strengths.
- An application form in English and Chinese.
- A copy of full academic transcripts from your entire university studies.
We accept undergraduate Bachelor of Laws and postgraduate Juris Doctor qualifications.
We’ll look at your application as a whole. If we think you have the talent to thrive, we’ll contact you for an online interview with our People team.
Succeed here and you’ll complete a written test before attending interviews with the practice team. You’ll hear the outcome within a few weeks.
Make an impact
As a legal intern in Beijing and Shanghai, you’ll have access to:
- Real-life cases: hone your analysis, writing, research and communication skills with the best practitioners.
- Our global network: work with lawyers from across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
- Collaboration: team up with colleagues at every level in a collegial environment.
- Training: learn through our world-class in-house training.
- Support: grow with the support of a mentor throughout your internship.
What to expect when applying
This is our way of finding out more about you – from your academic record to your work/internship experience and any transferable skills you have.
Start by downloading and completing the application form in English and Chinese here.
Please include:
A cover letter in English, which should state:
- Your preferred location (Beijing or Shanghai).
- Your career aspirations, why you’re applying and your strengths for this position.
- Your interests, achievements and experience, including work/internship experience and any other qualities you think are relevant.
Your academic record
We need a copy of full academic transcripts from your university studies, including any scholarships or academic prizes you’ve won.
The work we do is intellectually demanding and we expect to see a high level of academic achievement from applicants. We’ll compare your grades against the average at your school or college.
Our people
Your questions answered
Need more information?
Start by checking our FAQs for answers to common questions. If your query isn’t covered, you can reach out to our People team.