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RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Learn more about our application routes for our different programmes.

TRAINING CONTRACTS AND VACATION SCHEMES

The recruitment process for vacation schemes and for training contracts is the same, assessing all applications on a rolling basis. We encourage you to tailor your application to us, providing detailed examples of the skills and experiences that you have developed that will be relevant to your future legal career.

The application form is your opportunity to tell us about your interests and achievements, and your career rationale – why you are interested in law, HFW and our sectors.

View the application form as a chance to sell yourself – what skills have you already developed that would help you to hit the ground running as a solicitor? Why would you be suited to life at an international law firm? We receive lots of applications each year, the strongest ones are underpinned by thorough research, plenty of evidence (rather than broad-brush statements), and a genuine passion for law and the work that we do.

We also use the application form to form a view on your written communication skills, (spelling, punctuation and grammar) and your research skills so invest time in researching the firm and in proof reading your application.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis so to give yourself the best possible chance avoid leaving your application to the last minute, or applying very close to the deadline.

You will need to include:

  • Details of your academic track record – GCSEs, A Levels (or equivalents)/ IB and a breakdown of your results for your university modules. We consider extenuating circumstances when reviewing your results. If you have studied overseas there is an option to tell us about the exam system that you followed and to provide additional context.
  • Details of your work experience/ part time jobs. This enables us to see the skills that you have developed to-date. Every work placement (whether legal or non-legal) is valuable. Be prepared to write about what you learnt through your work experience placement / job, and evidence your skills development with examples.
  • Your answer to a short question relating to your extra-curricular activities and achievements. You should try to relate these to the skills needed by a commercial lawyer, and explain why your achievements are relevant to your application. Here we are looking to see if your examples would be transferrable into a legal career, and again for you to provide tangible evidence of how you have developed these skills – the STAR format is a useful structure to follow here.
  • Your answer to questions exploring why you want to be a lawyer in an international firm and why you have applied to HFW. You should aim to give specific reasons for your application. This is all about us seeing that you have a career rationale, and credible reasons behind your application. We recognise that some candidates may wish to use generative AI tools to help them with their answers here. Please be aware, however, that it is important to provide a personal answer that will stand out from more generic responses.
  • Your answer to a short commercial essay question. With this question we are looking at your ability to articulate an argument/viewpoint and your commercial acumen, as well as at your communication skills, spelling, grammar and punctuation and commercial acumen. Try to write about something that is relevant and recent.

SOLICITOR APPRENTICESHIP

Our recruitment process for our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme consists of an online application, a half day assessment centre, an HR interview, and a final round interview with two Associates. We are committed to recruiting solicitor apprentices from a wider range of backgrounds with different perspectives and experiences.

The application form is your opportunity to tell us about your interests, achievements and your career rationale – why you are interested in law, in HFW and the work we do, and why an apprenticeship versus other pathways.

View the application form as a chance to sell yourself – what skills have you already developed that would help you to thrive as a Solicitor Apprentice? Why would you be suited to life at an international law firm? We receive lots of applications each year, the strongest ones are underpinned by thorough research (we ask you about sources in the form, so make sure you have some to hand), plenty of evidence (rather than broad-brush statements), and a genuine passion for law.

We also use the application form to build a picture of your written communication skills (spelling, punctuation, grammar and coherency) and your research skills so invest time in researching the firm, and in proof reading your application. We recognise some candidates may wish to use generative AI tools to help them with their answers here. Please be aware, however, that it is important to provide a personal answer that will stand out from more generic answers.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis so to give yourself the best possible chance avoid leaving your application to the last minute, or applying very close to the deadline.

You will need to include:

  • Details of your academic track record – GCSEs and A Levels (or equivalents)/ IB. We consider extenuating circumstances when reviewing your results. If you have studied overseas there is an option to tell us about the exam system that you followed and to provide additional context.
  • Details of your work experience/part time jobs. This enables us to see the skills that you have developed to-date. Every work placement and shadowing opportunity (whether legal or non-legal) is valuable. Be prepared to write about what you learnt through your work experience placement / job, and evidence your skills development with examples.
  • Your answer to a question about why you have chosen the apprenticeship pathway, rather than another pathway, to becoming a solicitor. We are curious to understand your motivations.
  • Your answer to questions exploring why you want to be a solicitor. You should aim to give specific reasons for your application. This is all about us seeing that you have a career rationale, commitment to the career path and credible reasons behind your application.
  • Your answer to a question exploring why you have applied to HFW. Your answer should show us that you have researched the firm and that you understand what sets us apart from other firms. Be prepared to cite some sources to evidence to us how you reached a decision to apply to HFW.
  • Your answer to a short question relating to your extra-curricular activities and achievements. You should try to relate these to the skills needed by a commercial lawyer, and explain why your achievements are relevant to your application. We are also looking to learn a bit about you as an individual.
  • Your answer to a short question about the achievement or accomplishment you are most proud of, and the skills you gained from this. Again, you should try to relate your response to the skills needed by a commercial lawyer. We are also looking to see if your chosen example shows us tangible evidence of how you have developed these skills – the STAR format tends to be really helpful for answering this type of question.