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  3. Internship programmes
China
Internship programmes
Take the reins of your career. Join our training program where you’ll make a difference from day one. Learn, grow and together we’ll shape the future of law.
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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.  

View our application guideDownload our application form
What we offer
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. 

China Internship Program
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.  

Apply now

Our people
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Yuwei Tian

The legal consultant programme is different to training programmes outside of China: you come in as an intern and see how you like the firm. You can then be offered a position as a legal constant in one of the Freshfields practice teams for two-to-three years. I chose ECM as I really like the fast-paced and exciting work.

Yuwei Tian

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Yichen Xing

Yichen joined Freshfields in 2019 as an intern, becoming a Legal Consultant a year later. He is now an associate in our Global Transactions – Corporate practice in Shanghai.  

Yichen Xing

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FAQs
Your questions answered

Send your application to Asia.GraduateRecruitment@freshfields.com. 

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