Freshfields asks non-law students to apply earlier for 3rd year

The magic circle firm has issued the new deadline of 11 May 2012 for non-law students, while penultimate year law students will still have until the end of July to apply.

Head of trainee recruitment Ketan Patel said: “Applications from non-law students for our 2014 training contracts have been very strong this year. Like most law firms, we want to ensure each intake comprises a good balance of law and non-law students.”

Last year the firm shifted its application deadline to 3 May for non-law students applying for a 2013 start. This was a jump from the year before where Freshfields set the deadline of 31 May 2010 (4 April 2011).

The news follows Freshfields scooping fifth place in The Times graduate employer of choice for law survey and 52nd position in the top 100 graduate employers across all sectors (29 March 2012).

Meanwhile, Allen & Overy achieved the highest spot, with Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May sitting at 43rd, 45th and 49th respectively.