Athena Young, an associate in the Hong Kong office, joined Herbert Smith through our vacation scheme.
“What really appealed to me was the opportunity to gain a rounded insight into what it was like to work in both corporate and litigation at a top international law firm.
“I heard about it on Herbert Smith’s website and also at a graduate recruitment fair while I was studying for my LLB in London. After filling in the relevant application forms I had an interview with two partners which consisted of a case study and some general questions about my CV, legal issues and current affairs.
“I really enjoyed the varied training I received on the vacation scheme. For example, I attended an advocacy workshop during my litigation seat which included a mock summary judgment application. Also, during my corporate seat I was involved in a number of capital markets transactions, such as a rights issue and an initial public offering.
“People here are really willing to help, not only in terms of legal knowledge, but also market practice and other softer skills – such as how to deal with different types of clients. These are all really beneficial things to learn as you simply don’t get taught them at university.”