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Career mentoring for female lawyers

Freshfields Women’s Network in action. With our Career Mentoring Programme for Women, we are setting a course for success.

Career mentoring for female lawyers

Talented, prospective female lawyers are the target group for our exclusive one-year career mentoring programme. As a participant, you benefit from the experience of our female lawyers. Your personal mentor will accompany you for one year at the start of your career. She will give you career tips and insight into her daily professional routine at a major law firm.

But that’s not all. Specially created training courses will also support you in developing your professional skills. You will learn what’s important for appearance and communication in everyday professional life and what other things you can adjust.

By participating in our programme, you will be given the opportunity to complete a legal clerkship or to carry out part-time work at Freshfields. This will give you an authentic impression of the daily work routine at Freshfields.

The programme is rounded-off by occasional get-togethers, such as kick-off events for participants and their mentors to get to know each other, as well as various other opportunities to network with our partners and associates.

Patroness of the programme

Dr. Uta Itzen is a partner at our office in Düsseldorf and is a member of the Antitrust, Competition and Trade practice group. After her studies and doctorate at the University of Freiburg, she joined Freshfields in 2002 and became a partner in 2010.
Her work covers all aspects of German and European competition law, with a specialisation in compliance advice, and the defence in court, of companies in national and European antitrust proceedings and subsequent actions for damages.

Would you like to become a mentee within the framework of the “Anwältin sucht Referendarin” programme?

If so, we look forward to receiving your application. Victoria Pfrommer will answer your questions and inform you about our next entry dates. You can find more information about our programme and your application in the FAQs below.

How to become a part of the programme
What do I need to apply for the “Anwältin sucht Referendarin” programme?

The programme is aimed at prospective female lawyers who are about to take their first state exam or have already successfully completed it. You are planning to undertake a clerkship in a law firm with a commercial background. You should enjoy working in a team, have legal expertise, be creative, and enjoy new tasks and challenges.

How can I apply and what documents should I include with my application?

Your complete application documents should consist of a cover letter, your curriculum vitae and all relevant certificates starting with your final school exams. Remember to also indicate when, and in which area of law you would like to complete your work or traineeship. You can find a summary of the range of practice groups at our locations here.

Please compile all your documents into a single PDF file and send it by email to Victoria Pfrommer.

What are the next steps after my application?

As soon as we have received your application, we will send you confirmation of its receipt. This means you can be sure that your application is being considered in the further process.

If you are shortlisted for the programme, we will contact you after the application deadline to invite you to take part in an application day with the desired team. This gives both sides the opportunity to get to know each other better. If your application for “Anwältin sucht Referendarin” is successful, we will welcome you to the programme and you will be able to complete a legal traineeship or research assistantship at Freshfields without having to apply again.

How long does the programme last?

The next “Anwältin sucht Referendarin” programme begins in January 2022 and lasts for the whole calendar year. We will be happy to stay in contact with you even after the programme ends.

Do I incur any costs during the programme?

You will not incur any expenses. Of course, all travel and accommodation expenses for events which are part of the “Anwältin sucht Referendarin” programme will be covered by Freshfields.