HSF secures top spot as Australia’s law graduate employer

Leading international law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), has been ranked in first place as Australia’s 2024 Top Law Graduate Employer for a second year running. It also placed in the top 40 across all sectors for Prosple’s 2024 Top 100 Graduate Employer ranking.  

The recognition was awarded by international graduate job platform, Prosple, which assessed the graduate programs of Australia’s leading law firms based on student preference and program quality. 

HSF’s Senior Manager for Graduate Recruitment, James Keane, said this recognition is a positive reflection of the firm’s commitment to developing outstanding talent.  

“We’re proud to be recognised as the top graduate employer again. It’s important to us that we continue to attract top talent to our firm, and investing in our people and their career development and growth is one of our key priorities.

“From the moment our graduates are onboarded, they get exposure to working on complex and high profile cases and deals across Australia and the globe for our clients, one-on-one mentoring, as well as various opportunities including development training and our international graduate secondment program,” Mr Keane said.  

Prosple’s ranking methodology includes data submitted from student applications and graduate reviews. 

“It’s fantastic that our program is so highly regarded among the student and graduate cohorts in Australia, and that we’re being recognised for our high-performing and supportive firm culture,” Mr Keane said. 

Rebecca McCaughan, Graduate Lawyer at HSF, said the experience she gained throughout her graduate rotations has been invaluable and she has made a lifelong mentor from it.  

“As a graduate at Herbert Smith Freehills, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some of the most brilliant legal minds on the most complex and high-profile matters. Each day I am encouraged and challenged to collaborate, innovate and thrive both professionally and personally, however what I cherish most is the culture,” Ms McCaughan said.

“Particularly as a grad, when I am still developing my expertise, I have received unwavering support from my mentor Maged Girgis, supervisors and my peers who are genuinely invested in my success,” she added. 

Rebecca’s mentor and HSF Corporate Partner, Maged Girgis, said: “As partners we recognise the importance of investing quality time to grow and develop young talent and to meaningfully involve our graduates on matters as early as possible so that they can reach their potential," he said. 

HSF also placed fifth in the Australian Association of Graduate Employers ranking this week under the ‘Australia’s 2024 Top 25 Graduate Employers (Large Program)’ category. The recognition by both organisation’s comes as HSF prepares to welcome its 2024 graduate intake. 

“We are looking forward to welcoming our next intake of graduates in March,” Mr Keane said.