HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS
41
ANNA BEWLEY
TRAINEE, UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS STUDIED LAWWITH EUROPEAN LAW
When I was growing up, I wanted to be an actress but I wasn’t the best singer or dancer and thought you needed all three. I thought it would be a good idea to get an academic degree behind me because when I was applying for uni I had good grades. I first became interested in law as a career when I went along to career events at uni and then I got on really well with the people I met during my vacation scheme at Herbert Smith Freehills. So that’s how I ended up here. I did four vacation schemes before I decided I liked Herbert Smith Freehills. You don’t have a clue what a firm is like before you go there, so I’d encourage anyone to do the same. In the end you get a gut feeling – about the people on the scheme and the lawyers themselves. I felt happy and at ease here, like I could really be myself. You’re not expected to know everything on day one. I think everyone puts a lot of pressure on themselves, but getting good at this job depends on learning and gaining experience. You have a lot of opportunity to learn from all the people around you, and to connect with people all over the world.
I FEEL HAPPY AND AT EASE HERE, LIKE I CAN REALLY BE MYSELF on the importance of mental health and wellbeing, and I was encouraged to develop the idea myself. We worked with the Guide Dogs charity to create an event, with people booking time to spend with puppies. It was a lovely day… a bit mad, but everyone really enjoyed it. People might expect a law firm to be very corporate, but Herbert Smith Freehills is a place where you have the freedom to organise something like that. I’m going on international secondment to Paris. The secondment opportunities at Herbert Smith Freehills were really appealing when applying, so I am very excited to become a Parisienne for six months! I’ve just organised a Guide Dogs in the Office day with an associate in my current group. There’s a real focus here
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