Based on surveyed graduates working at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate.
4.3
Based on 1,237 reviews
Pros & Cons
The people at HSF Kramer are some of the most kind and supportive individuals I have worked with. These people are at the top of the legal game and have an incredibly deep understanding of complex legal landscapes, yet take the time to share their knowledge and guide juniors through new and interesting tasks.
The graduate induction at HSF Kramer is a fantastic way to learn about the values of the firm as well as expectations and various administrative points prior to starting.
My work hours are good. I am currently under the LSA so cannot work past 6.30 but I am rarely called upon to work even that late. I work very reasonable hours and am able to take comfortable breaks throughout the day.
HSF Kramer’s graduate program gives me the opportunity to rotate through three teams for six months each. This gives me a breadth of experience which I think helps with my professional progress.
The offices at HSF Kramer Sydney are top tier and are in a very central location in Sydney. I am given my own desk which is very handy. The building management team are extremely attentive to our needs and often run fun events.
The work life balance in certain teams is not good.
The hours can sometimes be long and the pressure can sometimes be high.
The requirement with almost no flexibility to do 1 transactional and 1 disputes rotation.
Sometimes the workflow can be unpredictable.
I think the culture in some teams could be improved.
What Insiders Say
8.0
Career Prospects
8.0
Career Prospects
The career progression conversations I have had as a graduate do not feel very meaningful. In my rotation so far there have been two conversations with my supervisor and feedback I have given does not feel like it has been meaningfully taken into account.
I love the work, the people, and the culture. I genuinely enjoy coming to work every day. The matters are interesting, and the people are kind, personable, and highly competent.
Managers are fantastic. Great and supportive mentors who are invested in your development. Even managers who are not in my structured manager line have consistently taken time for me and sought to mentor me.
The office is really nice and new. Partners and senior lawyers have offices and the rest is open plan so we can learn together and work collaboratively.
The recruitment process was very personable. HSF Kramer were attentive to ensuring I felt welcomed into the firm and could ask any questions I wanted while applying.
There is structured and regular workflow meetings, practice-group and sector-specific training sessions. You are also encouraged to opt into training in areas outside of your practice group, which interest you.
Work hours as a graduate are highly team and work dependent. You can expect to be doing full days in all teams, and long days in certain teams. We can work remotely - some teams do this more than others but generally people are in at least three days per week.