NQ Salary
~£145,000
TC Salary
~£56,000 / £61,000 (year 1 / year 2)
Annual Intake
c.65–80 per year (London)
Seats
4 seats
This profile is compiled from publicly available sources and may not reflect the latest changes. Always check HSF's official careers page for current deadlines, application processes, and programme details.
The global leader in high-value disputes and international arbitration, with an unmatched track record in landmark litigation. Its energy and natural resources practice (spanning oil & gas, renewables and mining) is a particular strength across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Now operating as HSF Kramer following its June 2025 combination with Kramer Levin.
Culture & Values
HSF Kramer recruits 65 trainee associates a year into four six-month seats, with preferences submitted before each rotation and real flexibility to tailor the programme by sector. Disputes is the natural centre of gravity given the firm's Chambers Band 1 commercial litigation practice, but seats run across corporate, finance, competition, IP, employment and more. Retention has been consistently high, most recently 29 of 33 qualifiers, or 88%.
First Year Workshops 2027
1 Jan 2027 – 28 Jan 2027
Opens October · Closes January
Open Days
Opens annually
Vacation Schemes
Opens September 2026
Trainee Associate Programme
Recruited via Vacation Schemes
Solicitor Apprenticeship
Opens annually
India Internship
Opens June · Closes June
Virtual Internship
Opens annually
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Method
“Provider: SOVA. Blended online assessment (~35 mins, untimed but time is factored into scoring). SJT (12 questions — rank workplace scenario responses), verbal reasoning (11 true/false/cannot tell questions), plus personality/behavioural questionnaire. Stage: after application form.”
Tests
Explore HSF's work before you apply: free simulations on Forage, built to mirror real trainee tasks.
Independent Resource
Folio is an independent student project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Herbert Smith Freehills. All information is compiled from publicly available sources and may not reflect the most current data. Salary and deadline figures are approximate, based on prior recruitment cycles. Last verified: 2026-07-16. Always check the firm's official graduate recruitment page for confirmed details.
Generated by Folio · folioapp.co.uk · 22 July 2026
Folio is independent and not affiliated with any firm listed. Salary and deadline information is approximate. Always verify with the firm's official graduate recruitment page.