“If I could go back to my first day at Freshfields, I would tell myself to not be intimidated because you're about to meet some of the most collaborative and collegiate people you've ever worked with,” says Xuan, a second-seat trainee at Freshfields.  

Originally from Singapore, Xuan studied in London and decided to stay when she got accepted onto our Trainee Associate Programme. Since joining, she’s had a taste of the global opportunities Freshfields offers. “I’ve been in deals with people from Frankfurt and Dubai. I think that’s emblematic of how truly global the firm is, because it’s a lot of people coming together from very different backgrounds working towards a shared goal.” 

Xuan has been exposed to a wide variety of work: client matters, pro bono and business development. She says Freshfields distinguishes itself from the competition with its eight-seat trainee associate program. “You’re able to explore so many different areas in the firm without having to worry about strategically choosing which seat you want for qualification.”