Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes 2027

Applications close 1 December 2026. Pays £500 a week.

No published policySpring and Summer Vacation Schemes

Unconfirmed. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer publishes no sponsorship policy for its spring and summer vacation schemes, so we cannot state a firm answer. No sponsorship or right-to-work statement was found on the scheme page itself.

Sponsors grads?: Not published
Pay vs threshold: Not published
Opportunity: vacation scheme
Pay: £500 per week
2027 cycle: Applications close 1 December 2026 (23:59 GMT)
Confidence: medium

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes: at a glance

HSF Kramer's vacation schemes give students two to three weeks working on real cases for real clients in two practice areas of their choice, sharing an office with a supervisor and supported by a trainee buddy, alongside presentations and social events. The firm hires all future trainees through its vacation schemes, and those who perform well are offered a place on the Trainee Associate Programme, starting in 2029 or 2030 for 2027 scheme participants. Applications are open until 1 December 2026. Source

Duration: Two to three weeks“Over two to three weeks, you’ll work on real cases, for real clients, with real responsibility.”Source
Start date: 12 April 2027 (spring scheme)Source
Who can apply: Graduates, or penultimate or final-year university students, on track for a 2:1 degree“You must be a graduate, or in your penultimate or final year at university, on track for a 2:1 degree.”Source
Starting pay: £500 per weekSource
Degree requirement: On track for a 2:1 degree, any background or degreeSource

How Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer recruits

2027 Vacation Schemes (spring 12 to 23 April, summer June and July 2027), for trainee starts in 2029 or 2030; apply by 1 December 2026. 4 stages, from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer names them.

Step 1: The application form
Application form
Online application form, deadline 1 December 2026. Guidance video provided.
“Applications for our Vacation Schemes are open until 1 December 2026 (23:59 GMT). [...] Step 1 – The application form”
Source
Step 2: The online test
Online tests
Online test taken at your own pace, with a practice test offered. The practice test link points to Sova, but the firm does not name the provider in text.
“Step 2 – The online test – take the practice test Find out which areas you'll be examined in and the types of questions you'll encounter. The test can be completed at your own pace.”
Source
Step 3: The assessment day
Assessment centre
Assessment day as the final stage before the scheme. Content not described in text (covered in a video).
“Step 3 – The assessment day The final stage in your journey.”
Source
Vacation Scheme
Other stage
Two to three week scheme in two practice areas. All future trainees are hired through the schemes; strong performers get a trainee offer.
“We hire all future trainees through our Vacation Schemes. If you perform well you’ll receive an offer to join the firm.”
Source

Every programme and stage at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

“Hard work deserves good pay. That's why you'll earn a competitive salary throughout your time with us on the programme.”

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, from its own careers pages

The catch: Successful vacation scheme candidates don't start the Trainee Associate Programme until 2029 or 2030, a long lead time worth flagging to applicants.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer early careers Verify on gov.uk See the licence record

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What Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer publishes about this programme

Checked against Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's own careers pages on 2026-09-18. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

Visa sponsorship policy: not 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 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme (six years, LLB Hons Law and Legal Practice with BPP, qualifying via the SQE)apprenticeship, no
First year workshopsspring week, no published policy

Sources

https://careers.hsfkramer.com/global/en/uk/early-careers/vacation-schemes

Verdict last checked 2026-09-18. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer sponsor visas for its spring and summer vacation schemes?

Unconfirmed. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer publishes no sponsorship policy for its spring and summer vacation schemes, so we cannot state a firm answer. The firm hires all future trainees through its Vacation Schemes; strong performers receive training contract offers starting 2029 or 2030. Pay is £500 per week. The Spring Scheme runs 12-23 April 2027 and Summer runs 7-25 June and 5-23 July 2027, with applications closing 1 December 2026. No sponsorship or right-to-work statement was found on the scheme page itself.

What is the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer spring and summer vacation schemes?

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme is not published clearly enough to judge against the threshold.

What is the catch international students miss with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer?

Successful vacation scheme candidates don't start the Trainee Associate Programme until 2029 or 2030, a long lead time worth flagging to applicants.

When do applications open for the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer spring and summer vacation schemes?

Applications close 1 December 2026 (23:59 GMT). Checked on 2026-09-18 against Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's own site.

How long is the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer spring and summer vacation schemes?

Two to three weeks, according to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's own careers information.

When does the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer spring and summer vacation schemes start?

12 April 2027 (spring scheme), according to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's own careers information.

Who can apply for the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer spring and summer vacation schemes?

Graduates, or penultimate or final-year university students, on track for a 2:1 degree, according to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's own careers information.

What does the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer spring and summer vacation schemes pay?

£500 per week, according to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer spring and summer vacation schemes?

On track for a 2:1 degree, any background or degree, according to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's own careers information.

How should I confirm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer'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

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