Herbert Smith Freehills alumni talent network
Register with Elevate law
What is the alumni talent network?
The Herbert Smith Freehills alumni talent network connects former HSF lawyers, paralegals and legal-operations professionals with meaningful opportunities delivering work that matters to our clients.
Contracting through our alumni talent network allows you to work alongside exceptional colleagues, delivering first-class service to world-leading businesses and organisations.
The network offers opportunities for the full range of HSF's client work – from enhancing capacity on large matters, to supplying specialist skills, to providing clients with high-calibre secondees.
Through our alternative legal services delivery partner, Elevate, we place former HSF colleagues on fixed-term assignments varying from short-term surge support to long-running matters of many months – or more.
Clients benefit from working with alumni of a trusted firm with deep knowledge and expertise about their business, of a quality and skill level they expect from HSF.
Our alumni benefit from flexible opportunities to do world-class work for a firm they know, in a way that that suits their chosen career paths.
Registration
FAQs
Working flexibly for HSF allows you to work for a firm you know alongside your other commitments in life. We appreciate that our alumni have often left full-time practice because they require a more flexible way of working, and Herbert Smith Freehills alumni talent network facilitates that flexibility. Returning to work for HSF means that you will be working with HSF-quality colleagues on HSF-quality matters.
Elevate is a Band 1 (highest) ranked Alternative Legal Service Provider (Chambers, 2023)
Following a competitive tender process we have partnered with Elevate to establish this provision. Elevate will provide dedicated support to HSF alumni and those who choose to participate will be considered for all suitable HSF opportunities. HSF alumni will be prioritised for all relevant roles within the firm. In addition, Elevate will provide HSF alumni with access to interim and permanent opportunities outside the firm with Elevate's global Customer network, across law firms and law departments.
A range of HSF's client work may be available, subject to client and business need. In some cases, HSF will be looking for more resources for large matters or to cover specialist skills. In other cases, retained knowledge and client relationships may drive the resourcing need. Client secondments may also be available.
You will record the time spent working for a particular client against the relevant matter.
- Elevate will store contact details and CVs for HSF alumni who register on the Herbert Smith Freehills alumni talent network platform.
- The firm will discuss resourcing requirements with Elevate as they arise.
- Elevate will review the Herbert Smith Freehills alumni talent network pool for suitability for the placement.
- Alumni candidates will be put forward to the HSF matter team (along with other candidates, if relevant).
- The HSF matter team can invite candidates to interview if they wish. Interviews will be arranged by the HSF recruitment or resourcing teams. Alternatively, the HSF team can make an offer without an interview if they already know the candidate, for example if they are HSF alumni.
- If mutually agreed, you may be able to start work as soon as two or three days later.
It will depend. Assignments may vary from a short-term surge support of just a few weeks, to a long-term matter over a year or more. The length of your commitment can be discussed with the matter team on a case-by-case basis.
If you accept an assignment, you will be asked to sign a contract with HSF setting out the terms by which your services to HSF will be governed.
You will be employed by Elevate Legal Services UK Limited (Elevate Services Australia Pty Ltd. of Level 3, 1049 Victoria Road, West Ryde, NSW 2114 if you are engaged in Australia), who will be responsible for your remuneration. Whilst you are working for HSF, you will be considered to be a representative of HSF and should act accordingly. Clients will expect the same high quality legal advice and service that they normally receive from HSF. Your work will be supervised by a partner or senior lawyer of HSF (or by a client supervisor when on secondment). During your time at HSF you must comply with the SRA's Standards and Regulations, or the legal profession legislation and professional conduct rules applicable in the state in which you practise and where you hold you practising certificate.
Terms relating to confidentiality and conflicts of interest, inside information and restrictions in dealing in securities and investments will apply to you, amongst others.
Rates, and whether you are paid on an hourly or daily rate, will be agreed between you and Elevate on a case-by-case basis, with input from HSF. The rate will depend upon your level of experience and the work required.
Yes, you will be entitled to overtime if the work requires it. The rate will be communicated to you during the onboarding process.
For lawyers working in the UK, yes, you may choose whether to work on a PAYE basis or through an Umbrella or Limited Company. You will be required to work on an IR35 compliant basis.
In Australia, you may choose to work on PAYG or as an independent contractor via your own company.
It will depend on the assignment. Typically we may require a two-week notice period, although this may need to be longer in certain circumstances such as a client secondment, to allow us to find a replacement. Notice terms can be discussed with the matter team on a case-by-case basis.
Yes, in most cases you will be provided with HSF IT equipment (or for secondments the client will provide). Occasionally and if you are working 100% remotely, you may be able to use your own equipment. This will be discussed and agreed at the onboarding stage.
We appreciate that many alumni may wish to work for HSF on a flexible basis.
If the role allows for flexibility, HSF will endeavour to meet your flexible working needs. We have had several alumni returning to work for HSF on a flexible basis and it has worked extremely well. See above success stories.
Elevate will discuss your flexible working preferences with you.
This would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Subject to the requirements of the role, it may be possible to work fully remotely. Other roles, such as client secondments, may involve hybrid working. Arrangements can be discussed with the matter team on a case-by-case basis.
Elevate will discuss your remote working preferences with you.
Yes, you can take holiday during an assignment. This must be agreed and approved in advance with Elevate and with your supervisor(s) at HSF (or the client, if you are on a client secondment). Please note that holiday pay is incorporated into your daily or hourly rate and you will not receive additional holiday pay for any days you take off as holiday. The same applies for sick pay.
This will depend on the agreement put in place for each assignment and will be agreed on a case-by-case basis.
If you are qualified in England & Wales, you will be required to hold a current practising certificate to take up a placement. If your certificate has lapsed (for example if you have not been practising), you will need to apply to the SRA for a renewal, which is likely to be a quick process. The fees for a practising certificate for 2023/24 are £337.
We strongly recommend that you renew your practising certificate if you are qualified outside England & Wales.
We cannot advise you on whether you are required to hold a practising certificate while you are working outside your home jurisdiction, or whether your home regulator requires renewal to practise. You will need to ensure that you comply with the Legal Services Act. It may be the case that your job title will need to specify your home jurisdiction.
Yes, you will need to hold a current unrestricted Australian practising certificate to engage in legal practice with HSF and/or our clients in Australia. However, paralegal or legal operations roles may not require you to hold a current Australian practising certificate. Please speak with your Elevate representative about any queries you may have.
If applicable, your PQE will be assessed and agreed on a case-by-case basis for each assignment you undertake with HSF.
You will be covered by HSF's professional indemnity insurance when working for HSF. You would be covered by the relevant client's professional indemnity insurance when working on secondment.
No, you do not need to arrange this through the HSF alumni talent network platform. We will continue to work with our other recruitment suppliers as well as Elevate. The internal HSF recruitment team can also continue to engage with you directly if this is your preference.
Yes, you are permitted to work for other recruitment suppliers or ALSPs, including those run by HSF's competitors, subject to any relevant conflict checks.
Yes, please feel free to contact the following people at Elevate and HSF to discuss any queries:
Contact at Elevate:
Val Pitt, Associate Director (Melbourne)
val.pitt@elevate.law
+61 414 904 475
Natalie Limerick, Engagement Manager (London)
Natalie.Limerick@elevate.law
+44 7888 293 233
Jeni Atlan, Director (Washington D.C)
jeni.atlan@elevate.law
+1 202 809 0401
Contacts at HSF:
Mary Carpenter, Head of Recruitment, West
Mary.Carpenter@hsf.com
+44 20 7466 3569
Jasmine Pyke, Senior Recruitment Advisor
jasmine.pyke@hsf.com
+61 2 9322 4289
Gabi Chappell, Recruitment Manager
Gabi.chappell@hsf.com
+44 20 7466 2459
Lawyers, paralegals and some legal operations professionals will be able to register for our alumni talent network.
Contact at Elevate
Val Pitt
Val Pitt, Associate Director
Melbourne
Natalie Limerick
Natalie Limerick, Engagement Manager
London
Jeni Atlan
Jeni Atlan, Director
Washington D.C
Contacts at Herbert Smith Freehills
Mary Carpenter
Mary Carpenter, Head of Recruitment, West
London
Jasmine Pyke
Senior Recruitment Adviser
Gabi Chappell
Recruitment Manager
London