Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

1. 1Online application. Trainees are recruited exclusively through the vacation schemes, so the scheme application form is the route to a training contract. The firm recruits two years ahead and applications reopen in September 2026.
2. 2Online assessment. The blended SOVA assessment takes around 35 minutes and is untimed, although time taken is factored into scoring; a practice test is available. It combines a 12 question situational judgement test where you rank workplace scenario responses, 11 true, false or cannot tell verbal reasoning questions and a personality questionnaire.
3. 3Case study exercise. At the full day assessment centre you get 45 minutes of preparation, then give a 10 minute presentation to a partner followed by around 25 minutes of questions. Reported content includes contract clause analysis, spotting missing protections in agreements and errors in termination letters.
4. 4Scenario interview. A partner spends 30 minutes building up the facts of a commercial situation and asking what you would do next. Reported scenarios include banking litigation, investigations at listed companies, cyber security incidents and acquisitions.
5. 5Competency interview. This 30 to 35 minute interview covers why commercial law, why HSF and examples of handling deadlines, teams and setbacks. You can be asked to pick anything from your application form to discuss.

Assessment processes change annually. Always check the firm's website for current details.