Freshfields rolls out ‘resilience boot camp’ for Gen Z aspiring lawyers

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is running resilience workshops for Gen Z students at top UK universities as it moves to prepare future recruits for the pressures of City legal practice.

The “magic circle” firm has been hosting interactive sessions at institutions including Bristol, Warwick and Manchester, aimed at helping prospective trainees “build key resilience skills” and understand the realities of life at a high-performing international law firm.

The workshops cover techniques for staying calm under pressure, such as “centring” methods to deploy when an urgent request lands late in the day, and practical strategies for handling robust feedback from senior lawyers. Participants are encouraged to reframe criticism by asking “what can I learn?” rather than “I got it wrong”, especially where major changes are required on tight deadlines.

The initiative is positioned as part of Freshfields’ early-talent engagement, offering students a glimpse of a working environment where newly qualified solicitors can earn around £150,000 a year, but are expected to operate in a high-intensity, client-driven culture.

The firm’s programme comes amid a broader wave of interventions by leading law and accounting firms, who say many Gen Z recruits need structured support to adapt to office expectations after the pandemic disrupted education and early work experience.

In March, US firm Gibson Dunn advertised for a “professional support lawyer” to coach junior staff, prompting debate in the City about younger lawyers’ readiness for long hours and weekend work. Accountancy firms Mazars and PwC have similarly introduced schemes focused on “human skills”, including confidence on phone calls and resilience in fast-moving client situations.

Freshfields said its resilience workshops are intended to reflect the realities of modern legal practice, equipping future lawyers with the mindset and tools needed to operate in a demanding, client-centric environment.