GoRizzume

Freshfields UK Summer Vacation Scheme 2027

Applications closed 26 October 2026.

Only some tracksUK Summer Vacation Scheme

Only in part. Freshfields sponsors its uk summer vacation scheme for some tracks or offices, not all. The firm's own site states plainly that because the placement is paid, applicants must have the right to work in the UK, which rules out sponsorship for the scheme itself. Students on a UK study visa can still apply but must schedule the scheme outside term time.

Sponsors grads?
Some tracks
Pay vs threshold
Borderline
Opportunity
vacation scheme
Pay
paid (rate not specified on page)
2027 cycle
Open: applications opened 1 September 2026 and close at 17:00 on 26 October 2026, brought forward because of high volume
Confidence
high

Freshfields UK Summer Vacation Scheme: at a glance

Freshfields runs two three-week Summer Vacation Schemes in 2027. Students sit in a practice area of their choice and get an insight into the role of a Trainee Associate, with the scheme acting as a route to the Trainee Associate Programme. Freshfields does not run winter or spring vacation schemes, and applications close at 17:00 on 26 October 2026. Source

Duration
3 weeks“We run two three-week schemes during the summer.”Source
Start date
28 June 2027 (Scheme 1) or 26 July 2027 (Scheme 2)Source
Who can apply
Penultimate-year undergraduates, final-year undergraduates and graduates from any degree discipline, with the right to work in the UK“Our Summer Vacation Scheme is open to penultimate-year undergraduate students, final-year undergraduate students, and graduates from any degree discipline.”Source
Degree requirement
Any degree disciplineSource

How Freshfields recruits

Summer Vacation Scheme 2027 (applications 1 September to 30 October 2026). 5 stages, from Freshfields's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where Freshfields names them.

Applications may close early once places are filled, so apply well before any published deadline. Source

  1. Apply online

    Application form

    Online application form.

    “Start by completing our online application form – this helps us get to know you and your candidacy.”
    Source

  2. Freshfields Online Assessment, Stage 1

    Immersive assessment

    Stage 1 online assessment of interactive tasks and scenarios. No CV or personal statement is required at application.

    “Once you have submitted your application, we will invite you to complete Stage 1 of the Freshfields Online Assessment in due course. This is your chance to showcase your strengths through interactive tasks and scenarios that reflect life at Freshfields and the role you’re applying for.”
    Source

  3. Freshfields Online Assessment, Stage 2

    Recorded video interview

    Stage 2 combines trainee-life tasks and scenario questions with asynchronous (recorded) video interview questions. Platform and timings not published.

    “If you are successful, you will then be invited to complete Stage 2 of the Freshfields Online Assessment. This includes a series of tasks and scenario questions reflecting life as a Trainee at Freshfields and some asynchronous video interview response questions.”
    SourceHow to prepare for a one-way video interview

  4. Attend an assessment centre

    Assessment centre

    In-person assessment centre with a range of exercises. Components not itemised on the page.

    “Throughout the day, you’ll take part in a range of engaging exercises designed to help us get to know you – and for you to get to know us.”
    Source

  5. End-of-scheme interview

    Final interview

    During the three-week scheme, assessment is a research task with a partner supervisor, associate feedback and an end-of-scheme interview, which decide the training contract offer.

    “Our Summer Vacation Scheme includes three assessment areas: [...] 3. An end-of-scheme interview.”
    Source

Every programme and stage at Freshfields

“...you must have the right to work in the UK. If you are on a UK study visa, the scheme must take place outside your term time.”
Freshfields, from its own careers pages
The catch: UK study-visa holders must fit the scheme outside term time since it cannot be counted as part-time work.
Freshfields early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

Applying to Freshfields? Check your CV first.

Most graduate applications are filtered by an ATS before a human ever sees them. GoRizzume Pro scores your CV against the job description and shows you what to fix.

Try Pro free for 7 days

£0 today, then Pro is £14.99/month from day 8Card needed.We email you the day before you pay.Cancel anytime in Settings, Billing.

What Freshfields publishes about this programme

Checked against Freshfields's own careers pages on 2026-10-24. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

  • Visa sponsorship policy: published
  • Application dates: published
  • Programme description: published
  • Duration and start date: published
  • Who can apply: published
  • Pay: published
  • Locations: not published
  • Degree requirement: published
  • Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at Freshfields

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-24. Application dates last checked 2026-10-24. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does Freshfields sponsor visas for its uk summer vacation scheme?

Only in part. Freshfields sponsors its uk summer vacation scheme for some tracks or offices, not all. The firm's own site states plainly that because the placement is paid, applicants must have the right to work in the UK, which rules out sponsorship for the scheme itself. Students on a UK study visa can still apply but must schedule the scheme outside term time. No separate statement about training-contract-stage sponsorship was found on this page.

What is the Freshfields uk summer vacation scheme?

Freshfields runs two three-week Summer Vacation Schemes in 2027. Students sit in a practice area of their choice and get an insight into the role of a Trainee Associate, with the scheme acting as a route to the Trainee Associate Programme. Freshfields does not run winter or spring vacation schemes, and applications close at 17:00 on 26 October 2026.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme sits close to the threshold, so it can depend on the office, the occupation going rate, or the new-entrant discount.

What is the catch international students miss with Freshfields?

UK study-visa holders must fit the scheme outside term time since it cannot be counted as part-time work.

When do applications open for the Freshfields uk summer vacation scheme?

Open: applications opened 1 September 2026 and close at 17:00 on 26 October 2026, brought forward because of high volume. Checked on 2026-10-24 against Freshfields's own site.

How long is the Freshfields uk summer vacation scheme?

3 weeks, according to Freshfields's own careers information.

When does the Freshfields uk summer vacation scheme start?

28 June 2027 (Scheme 1) or 26 July 2027 (Scheme 2), according to Freshfields's own careers information.

Who can apply for the Freshfields uk summer vacation scheme?

Penultimate-year undergraduates, final-year undergraduates and graduates from any degree discipline, with the right to work in the UK, according to Freshfields's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the Freshfields uk summer vacation scheme?

Any degree discipline, according to Freshfields's own careers information.

How should I confirm Freshfields's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Freshfields's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

All visa and sponsorship guides

Other law schemes

Before you apply

Check your CV against UK applicant tracking systems, then tailor it to the schemes that can actually sponsor you. GoRizzume Pro and Premium start with a 7-day free trial on monthly billing.

Try Pro free for 7 days
See what each plan includesSee all graduate schemes

Pro: £0 today, then £14.99/month. Card needed, we email you the day before, cancel anytime.

Other law schemes we track

Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we check this data.