Is Freshfields a good company to work for as a Associate?

Associate professionals working at Freshfields have rated their employer with 3.3 out of 5 stars in 81 Glassdoor reviews. This is a lower than average score with the overall rating of Freshfields employees being 3.7 out of 5 stars. Search open Associate Jobs at Freshfields now and start preparing for your job interview by browsing frequently asked Associate interview questions at Freshfields .

Does Freshfields pay Associate employees well?

Associate professionals rate their compensation and benefits at Freshfields with 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 81 anonymously submitted employee reviews. This is equal to the company average rating for salary and benefits. Find out more about Associate salaries at Freshfields.

How happy are Associate professionals working at Freshfields?

66% of Associate employees at Freshfields would recommend their employer to a friend. This rating has decreased by 27% in the past 12 months. Associate professionals have also rated Freshfields with a 2.2 rating for work-life-balance, 3.3 rating for diversity and inclusion, 3.3 rating for culture and values and 3.6 rating for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Freshfields?

Associate (87) , Paralegal (38) , Legal Solutions Specialist (21) , Trainee Solicitor (20) , Intern (17) , Lawyer (16) , Executive Assistant (14) , Business Analyst (11) , Senior Associate (11) , Legal Secretary (9) , Personal Assistant (9) , Transaction Lawyer (9) , Internship (8) , Document Specialist (7) , Documentation Specialist (7)

What are the pros of working at Freshfields according to real employee reviews?

"great people to work with" ((in 84 reviews)); "and good benefits" ((in 52 reviews)); "My colleagues were fantastic and supportive." ((in 37 reviews)); "Great culture and lots of responsibility" ((in 32 reviews)); "The pay is good (I can't comment on what others are paid) as I negotiated when I joined the firm." ((in 28 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Freshfields according to real employee reviews?

"Long hours and difficult to plan days ahead." ((in 72 reviews)); "Poor management and communication Skills" ((in 26 reviews)); "No career progression for paralegals" ((in 15 reviews)); "Lack of diversity" ((in 8 reviews)); "Very underhand and devious manager who acted illegally." ((in 8 reviews))

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Freshfields

Freshfields Associate reviews

3.3

66% would recommend to a friend

(81 total reviews)

Edward Braham and Stephan Eilers

2% approve of CEO

96% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.1

Compensation and benefits

3.6

Career opportunities

3.3

Culture & values

3.3

Diversity & inclusion

3.0

Senior management

2.2

Work/Life balance

Associate employees have rated Freshfields with 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 81 company reviews on Glassdoor. This indicates that most Associate professionals have a good working experience there. Freshfields is rated in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) by Associate professionals compared to other employers within the Legal industry (3.8 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

81 reviews

4.0

Jun 9, 2026

Great growth opportunities, but compensation could improve

Associate

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Growth opportunities, type of work & clients, team, support

Cons

Compensation package is personally unsatisfactory compared to workload

1.0

Apr 17, 2026

‘The Apprentice’ vibes

Associate

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good pay Good quality work Nice office Some good eggs

Cons

Extremely competitive, sharp elbows and all round toxic working environment where bullying is allowed to persist.

2.0

Mar 31, 2026

Competitive magic circle firm

Associate

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good salary base in general

Cons

Bad culture, long hours, super competitive

Viewing 1 - 3 of 81 Reviews

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Freshfields

Freshfields Associate reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Great growth opportunities, but compensation could improve

‘The Apprentice’ vibes

Competitive magic circle firm

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