About the Role
Reporting to the Head of HR – UK&I, the Career Advisor is a dedicated and confidential resource for Associates navigating their careers at Freshfields. The role collaborates across the firm—including Practice Group Leaders, HR Business Partners, Diversity & Inclusion, and Marketing & Business Development—to deliver the firm’s Talent Development strategy. It also works with the global career development and coaching community, ensuring UK&I initiatives are aligned with firmwide frameworks.
What You’ll Do
Coaching and Individual Career Support
You will provide high‑quality, confidential career coaching to Associates on topics such as practice integration, relationship building, performance improvement, promotion readiness, and long‑term career planning. Engagements range from targeted short‑term interventions to sustained advisory relationships. You will support Associates through transitions such as progression to Senior Associate or Counsel, lateral moves, secondments, and return‑to‑work following parental or other leave.
Programme Design and Facilitation
Design and deliver career development programmes and workshops that complement individual coaching and align with the global learning and development offering. Oversee the UK mentoring programme, fostering effective mentor‑mentee relationships and helping Associates develop, maintain, and review development plans.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Partnership
Work closely with HR Business Partners and Resource Managers to translate performance feedback into clear, actionable development plans and help Associates track progress against firm‑wide career frameworks. Maintain strong relationships with partners, Marketing & Business Development, and the alumni network to surface external development opportunities, strategic secondments, and client‑facing experiences. Partner with external coaching providers in areas such as neurodiversity support, early‑career coaching, and outplacement to ensure quality and value.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Integration
Collaborate with the Diversity & Inclusion team to support development and retention of a diverse Associate population and leadership pipeline. Play an active role in embedding lateral hires quickly and effectively into the firm.
Insight and Continuous Improvement
Use analytics and reporting to monitor the impact of coaching interventions, identify demographic and retention trends, and translate insights into engaging dashboards that demonstrate return on investment. Feed insights into the broader Learning and Development agenda, strengthening talent initiatives across the UK.
What We’re Looking For
Significant experience in professional development, coaching, or a career advisory capacity—ideally within a law firm or professional services environment—along with a genuine understanding of the legal profession and the career landscape.
- A bachelor’s degree, and a coaching certification or equivalent (strongly preferred).
- Demonstrable experience in a professional development, coaching, or career advisory role within a law firm, professional services firm, or academic institution; law firm practice experience is a strong advantage.
- Familiarity with legal career frameworks and the broader legal market.
- Exceptional judgement and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information.
- Interpersonal skills and credibility to build trusted relationships across practice groups, seniority levels, and geographies—both in person and remotely.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt your style for diverse stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and organisational capability, with confidence to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment.
- Proficiency in MS Office and HR systems, with the aptitude to learn new platforms quickly.
Inclusion & Equal Opportunity
Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having or securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case‑by‑case basis and take a number of factors into account (for example, the role being applied for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.
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