Herbert Smith Freehills
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    Herbert Smith Freehills
    (46 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Herbert Smith Freehills

    3.146 ratings in total
    5
    14
    4
    8
    3
    6
    2
    6
    1
    12
    71%
    Rate salary as high or average
    54%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.7(46 ratings)
    Career development
    2.8(46 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    3.2(46 ratings)
    Management
    2.8(46 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.5(46 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.7(46 ratings)
    Ratings for Herbert Smith Freehills are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 46 reviews sorted by most recent
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    most recent
    3.0
    Client Services Role
    Nov 2023
    Brisbane QLD 40007 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Sad, given the time i was there
    The good thingsStunning office to work in. Friendly staff and the ability to build strong Client relationships
    The challengesExtreme micro management
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Adviser
    Oct 2022
    Unpredictable environment.
    The good thingsNice looking building, and some lovely staff.
    The challengesHigher management decision making and the culture. A merger of east and west (the UK) impacting east in many ways.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Assistant
    Jun 2022
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Poor work culture and a waste of time.
    The good thingsView of city and location.
    The challengesTeam was heavily under-resourced and trained. Consistently managing workloads that were above capacity. Poor work culture and management disregards issues addressed.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    IT Helpdesk
    May 2022
    Less than 1 year in the role
    Apply to big financial companies or something else instead.
    The good thingsNice looking place. Great views. Some nice people.
    The challengesManagement are cruel, unprofessional cultural atmosphere. People slacking off.
    4 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Analyst
    Mar 2021
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    One of the worst places: toxic environment, helpless management, uninteresting projects
    The good thingsFacilities, some flexible work options
    The challengesHelpless management, poor work-life balance, toxic culture
    4 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Global Executive Assistant
    Sep 2020
    Excellent global organisation
    The good thingsPolicies, employee benefits, respect, trust, fun
    The challengesMy role had me working regularly out of office hours on a daily basis, which I was more than happy to do.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    IT
    Mar 2020
    3 to 4 years in the role
    Worked with some great people but felt frustrated by senior management decisions, which led to many of those good people leaving also.
    The good thingsThere used to be some good people to work with, but unfortunately the pursuit of global merger drove many of the good people away
    The challengesLong working hours trying to juggle normal BAU activity in Australia and constant interactions with Asia and UK. Poor working location for "fee burners" aka operations staff. A global merger that failed to determine ownership and accountability results in confusion and suspicion by all parties.
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Information Technology Role
    Mar 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    A great professional firm to work in.
    The good thingsGreat work environment Professional Workplace
    The challengesJob growth and development.
    2.0
    Senior Legal Assistant
    Mar 2020
    Work was not challenging, poor support for staff. Go there if you want to be bored and just another cog in the machine. Just be careful who you show you are a human to.
    The good thingsSome really lovely admin and events staff that work there.
    The challengesPoor management and severe lack of consistency of expectations from senior management/HR to admin.
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Legal Analyst
    Mar 2020
    Enjoyed the work but enjoyed the culture more
    The good thingsThe breadth of work and the culture and people
    The challengesProgressing my career
    3.0
    Assistant
    Nov 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role
    Good , most of the people were nice to work with
    The good thingsPerks to the job are good
    The challengesNo progression , some of the people were not easy to work with
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Manager
    Nov 2019
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    This firm operates in line with other top 10 law firms
    The good thingsThis firm offers benefits in line with other top 10 law firms
    The challengesLittle internal recognition and diversity in roles
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Legal Analyst
    Nov 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    A waste of time.
    The good thingsSome of the people were friendly.
    The challengesAggressive managers, monotonous work, no challenges.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Personal Assistant
    Nov 2019
    Very very average
    The good thingsFriends who worked there
    The challengesNo pay rises for many years, no appreciation over 25 years service
    5.0
    Legal Assistant
    Sep 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    HSF is a very special and supportive work environment, I am loving it!
    The good thingsPerks, perks, perks. Interesting work, smart people.
    The challengesBeing new is always hard!
    4.0
    Legal Analyst
    Sep 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Excellent platform to kickstart your career
    The good thingsCulture, perks, support network
    The challengesLack of opportunities
    2.0
    Business Intelligence Software Developer
    May 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role
    Unrealised potential with no clear path.
    The good thingsFlexible work location.
    The challengesBad culture, low quality staff, no clear strategy.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Executive Assistant
    Mar 2019
    Glad to leave the firm after over 18 years!
    The good thingsIt's a global firm so you'll have more opportunity to further your career. Most people are nice to work with.
    The challengesToo much work and high expectation but not enough support. It is worst for support staff as you will be working with 6 to 8 people and also will be expected to cover when someone is going on leave for short or long period. If you are looking for work and life balance - this firm is not the place to work for.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Legal Secretary
    Oct 2018
    HR and SPA management no need for them. Only like there favourites.
    The good thingsSome of the Partners were nice and some secretaries.
    The challengesPoor management. Management staff always seemed to be in meetings unless the staff member requesting to meet with them was a friend then they would be available. HR seem to have no skills and just seemed to be a waste of time.
    1.0
    Business Services - General
    Oct 2018
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    My experience was great 3 years ago, but the cracks slowly appeared and I have seen them treat alot of very talented and hardworking staff, terribly.
    The good thingsThere are lots of perks to this firm if you are lucky enough to be valued and have a manager who looks out for you.
    The challengesThey care so much about their services team they sent them offsite over 40minutes away from the CBD office - in more than one city.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    IT Technical Specialist
    Sep 2018
    There are better employers elsewhere who can look after you and the location is terrible.
    The good thingsFree breakfast. Friendly, helpful colleagues.
    The challengesUncooperative and incapable management who are unwilling to support staff goals. Excessive increasing workloads due to staff reductions affecting work life balance. Limited prospects for innovation or interesting projects. Limited prospects for career progression, promotion or salary raises. Location is unsuitable for most of the employees.
    3 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Legal Secretary
    Jul 2018
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Overall an ok place to work definitely better place to work prior to the merger.
    The good thingsWork life balance excellent. opportunites for secondment
    The challengesno consistency when it came to work expectations. What one person would do was ok but if another person did the same they would be reprimanded. No pay increases for a number of years not even CPI.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Finance.
    May 2018
    Standards and care for staff at an all time low.
    The good thingsNice offices in the CBD. Good facilities if you exercise or ride a bike to work.
    The challengesAwful management and very low morale. Employees are just a dollar figure. Good work goes unrewarded. Management do not care about their staff.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Corporate Waiter
    Feb 2018
    current employee
    Fair, approachable,understanding.
    The good thingsGreat environment, non discriminatory, understanding of personal circumstances and caring.
    The challengesTo always do better.
    1.0
    Document Production Operator
    Feb 2018
    Every day is different with different challenges
    The good thingsI made some good friends that I still have today. I enjoyed Friday night monthly drinks and the Christmas parties.
    The challengesJust trying to get through each day was a challenge. Fee earners incredibly demanding and had unreasonable expectations of job turnaround at times.
    5.0
    Client Services Corporate Receptionist
    Feb 2018
    HSF were my family and employer whom without their unending support at difficult times my life would have had a different outcome.
    The good thingsThe firms culture ,commitment to constantly improve and embrace technology, diversity, work/life balance.
    The challengesLearning and embracing new technology pertaining to your role and achieving great outcomes.
    5.0
    Admin Assistant
    Nov 2017
    Better than any other firm I've worked for
    The good thingsManagement are wonderful, and there are great staff perks. Office is modern and beautiful.
    The challengesSome staff seem to work very late.
    5.0
    Manager
    Sep 2017
    Great place to work overall
    The good thingsOffices and career prospects
    The challengesGlobal meeting hours
    4.0
    Developer
    Sep 2017
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    A happy working experience.
    The good thingsColleagues are nice, work life balance is good.
    The challengesLong travel time from where I live
    1.0
    Legal Analyst
    Aug 2017
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Dead end job
    The good thingsGood facilities and work/life balance.
    The challengesAwful managers and managerial styles, zero career development opportunities.
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