Jayseelan and Georgina

We are Jayseelan and Georgina, a first-year law student at Warwick University and a recent law graduate from the University of Edinburgh Law. We recently completed a two-week work experience programme at Freshfields’ Dubai office. Across our time with the Dispute Resolution and Global M&A and Capital (GMAC) teams, we gained valuable exposure to the work of an international law firm while developing both our legal and professional skills. 

Our first week began with a welcome lunch with members of the Dispute Resolution team, giving us the opportunity to meet those supervising us in a relaxed setting. Throughout the week, we worked on several arbitration-related research tasks. These included analysing the Canada–UAE investment treaty to determine who may qualify as an investor and what investments receive protection. We also researched relevant case law to support an ongoing arbitration matter, which demonstrated how precedent is used to develop legal arguments in practice. 

Another particularly interesting task involved examining the ICC’s new Highly Expedited Arbitration Procedure and considering how it may affect arbitration proceedings across the GCC. This required us to engage with a developing area of international arbitration and think critically about how procedural reforms may operate across different legal systems. Through these assignments, we strengthened our ability to interpret legal materials, identify relevant authorities and communicate complex findings clearly. 

During our second week, we joined the Global M&A and Capital (GMAC) team, beginning once again with a team lunch. We then worked on an M&A matter involving due diligence and the review of shareholders’ agreements and sale and purchase agreements. This experience introduced us to the level of precision required in corporate transactions and helped us understand how different contractual documents interact within the wider structure of a deal. Moving between Dispute Resolution and Global M&A and Capital (GMAC) also allowed us to experience two distinct areas of commercial legal practice. 

Beyond the work itself, some of our most valuable insights came from conversations with people across the firm. A Q&A session with an associate offered an honest perspective on working at Freshfields, while a junior associate provided practical guidance on training contract applications and approaching the recruitment process. We also reached out to a partner who was extremely generous with his time and willing to speak openly with us about his career and experiences. 

We are grateful to everyone at Freshfields Dubai who welcomed and supported us throughout the programme. We leave with stronger research, analytical and communication skills, a clearer understanding of commercial legal practice, and an even greater interest in pursuing careers in law.