JOB DESCRIPTION
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.
Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.
As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.
At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.
We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.
All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition
The Opportunity
Key Responsibilities
1. Development of the Early Careers (EC) and Solicitor Apprenticeship (SA) recruitment strategy in conjunction with the EC Partners, Training Principal, Solicitor Apprenticeship Sponsor Partners, Head of Recruitment and Trainee HR team.
2. Work with business partners to create and define the firm's vision, goals & key messaging in relation to Graduate & Solicitor Apprenticeship Recruitment, highlighting opportunities for improvements and innovation.
3. Develop new initiatives to enhance Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer pipeline of high calibre talent and attract target students.
4. Coordinate and deliver annual update to the firm, alongside the Head of Recruitment and EC Partners.
5. As our UK graduate cohort deliver resource to our global network, work with stakeholders in the business and HR, collaborate around the globe to determine requirements and align practices where possible.
Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and Marketing & Events
6. Responsible for ensuring consistent communication of the firm’s key selling messages through the firm’s representatives on campus and all marketing communications.
7. Develop the EC & SA brand and all marketing materials in conjunction with the Senior EC Adviser, EC Partners, in-house teams, external marketing agency & Head of Recruitment Management of academic liaison programmes to enhance links with target universities.
8. Oversee annual review of target universities and events strategy.
9. Attend virtual and physical events during the Milkround period (October to December) and during the High Fliers campaign in January/ February.
10. Ensure marketing activities are considered through a sustainable lens to uphold the firm’s commitment to sustainable recruitment.
11. Annually review marketing activities and feedback from candidates with external vendors such as Cibyl or Highfliers.
12. Oversee annual campaign conducted in line with Highfliers season to improve Times Top 100 ranking
13. Support annual refresh of early careers marketing campaign and media providers working with an external marketing agency. Considering how this may be implemented globally.
14. Work with practice groups to produce content for our virtual internship programme on Forage.
15. Coordinate with international offices to identify target demographics (such as Japanese, Korean and Mandarin speakers) and support attraction activities.
Selection Process
16. Review and develop recruitment processes to ensure the firm continues to identify top talent in our applicant pool. Ensure that processes are consistent and compliant with legislative requirements.
17. Use best practice and market insight to shape inclusive hiring approaches.
18. Run Assessment Centres and effectively manage how we are recruiting against our target throughout the year working closely with the HR Data & Analytics team and regular reporting through the ATS (Candid).
19. Manage the India recruitment campaign alongside the EC Adviser.
20. Brief, train and provide feedback to partner interviewer pool. This includes coordinating training to educate interviewers on potential biases which might impact their decisions and working with MyPlus to deliver annual disability training.
21. Work with the IP team and key STEM universities to attract STEM candidates in order to meet 20% target.
Diversity and Inclusion
22. Work with the Diversity & Inclusion, Responsible Business and Trainee HR teams to set objectives and minimise adverse impact in the recruitment process.
23. Active member of the committees for the Multiculturalism, Disability and Social Mobility networks and work closely with the IRIS to set objectives and review recruitment activities from a diversity perspective.
24. Partner with external vendors to deliver a diverse cohort of trainee hires and work with Procurement to ensure these partnerships continue to be beneficial to the firm.
25. Oversee mentoring programmes with Aspiring Solicitors and partnership with Rare Recruitment on their programmes.
26. Manage the annual D&I review including monitoring statistics throughout the cycle; work to pull statistics to present to the partnership; work with Candid and Sova to assess any adverse impact at any points in the recruitment process.
27. Review all target universities on an annual basis in conjunction with the HESA data and league rankings.
Vacation schemes
28. Manage vacation scheme programme, ensuring they remain effective as a recruitment tool for hiring trainees. Ensure candidate experience is best in class.
29. Oversee US Securities summer internship recruitment process with EC Adviser
30. Regularly review salaries to ensure we're in line with the market.
Future Joiners
31. Manage our future trainee programme of 120 students and identify new ways to integrate future trainees to the firm. Work closely with Trainee HR and L&D to ensure all future joiner events are in line with the trainees' needs.
32. Co-ordinate with Trainee HR to ensure transparent and consistent communication and effective transition for future joiners joining the firm.
33. Manage issues with pre-employment screening of future joiners and ensure the screening is initiated in a timely manner for each cohort.
34. Manage the student grants budget line to ensure all course fees and grants are correctly calculated and paid in a timely manner.
35. Key point of contact for BPP law school and ensure students are performing well through PGDL and SQE.
36. Dealing with queries from students and providing support throughout their studies.
37. Design and deliver SQE induction session for each cohort.
38. Regularly review grant payments to ensure we're in line with the market.
39. Be an active member of the SQE advisory group.
40. Implement changes to our marketing materials following any changes/updates to the SQE.
41. Work with EC and Trainee HR teams of Consortium firms to coordinate SQE programme messaging to future joiners and prospective candidates.
Solicitor Apprenticeships
42. Oversee the effective promotion and outreach to school leavers for the Solicitor Apprenticeship programme.
43. Oversee the effective application process, including an online test and assessment centres.
44. Create keep in warm strategy for candidates between offered and starting at the Firm.
Team Management
45. Manage and develop a team comprised: senior adviser, 2 advisers, 3 assistants and 1 admin assistant.
46. Ensure team processes are documented, effective and robust.
47. Monitor and manage the EC budget.
48. Undertake relevant management reporting.
49. Manage, motivate, develop and support the EC team.
50. Develop and maintain relationships with the global EC teams to share knowledge and best practice.
Qualifications / Skills / Experience
51. Excellent academics and a keen intellect
52. Experience of managing the entire early careers recruitment lifecycle
53. Experience with leading firms in the legal or professional services sector would be helpful, but we would welcome experience from other industries
54. Team management experience
55. Well organised, articulate, numerate and commercial
56. Able to demonstrate resilience whilst building strong relationships with a demanding client base
57. Experience in use of an ATS
58. Experience managing a large budget
59. Sound technical knowledge of legislation regarding recruitment and of best-practice graduate resourcing strategies
60. Awareness of emerging trends such as AI in early careers recruitment
61. Experience working as part of a global function and of delivering consistency of approach
62. Able to influence senior stakeholders
63. Robust negotiation skills, results-orientated. Comfortable with ambiguity
64. Willingness to travel
Competencies
Personal Leadership
65. Positively impacts those around them, makes quality decisions and develops themselves both personally and professionally
66. Demonstrates sound knowledge in their field
67. Anticipates potential problems and identifies a range of possible solutions
68. Adapts their interpersonal style to suit different audiences in a genuine way
Builds Authentic Relationships
69. Takes time to get to know people beyond their role
70. Treats people with respect and in a fair and consistent way
71. Recognises when colleagues are under pressure and volunteers to assist them where possible
Collaborates with others
72. Works within teams and across boundaries to share knowledge and achieve results
73. Identifies and builds relationships required to achieve the best outcomes for the firm
74. Engages people with the right skills, knowledge and expertise to provide advice and assist with tasks
75. Connects other people in the firm who have mutual interests or work objectives
76. Generously shares their time, knowledge, expertise and talent to support others’ success
Enhances the Client Experience
77. Creates opportunities to enhance the experience of the firm’s clients through their daily tasks
78. Behaves consistently with the firm’s values in their interactions with others
79. Conducts themselves in a way that reflects positively on the firm’s brand, both inside and outside the firm
Achieves Results
80. Maintains focus and drive to achieve quality outcomes
81. Focuses their time and efforts on issues that will have the greatest impact on agreed objectives
82. Anticipates responses and plans their approach accordingly
83. Looks for the most effective way to achieve outcomes
84. Maintains perspective and optimism when faced with setbacks
Team
People
Working Pattern
Full time
Location
London
Contract type
Fixed Term Contract
Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.