Freshfields Life Sciences

Why complete this Job Simulation

A risk-free way to experience life as a Junior Associate with us at Freshfields. Practise your skills with example tasks and build your confidence to ace your applications.

Self-paced

2-3 hours

No grades

No assessments

Intermediate

Welcome to the Freshfields Life Sciences Virtual Job Simulation! We are thrilled to have you here.

Freshfields is one of the world’s leading international law firms, advising on complex, high-profile matters that shape industries and impact millions of lives. Our Life Sciences Transactions team works with global pharmaceutical and biotech companies, helping them navigate critical transactions, protect valuable intellectual property, and bring life-changing treatments to patients worldwide. At Freshfields, we combine deep sector expertise with commercial insight to deliver solutions to our clients’ most important challenges.

During this simulation, you will step into the shoes of a Junior Associate and complete tasks that mirror the work our Life Sciences Transactions team undertakes every day. You will develop key skills in:

Contract review — extracting and understanding important legal provisions.
Risk assessment — identifying issues that could affect a client after a deal closes.
Professional communication — drafting clear, concise updates for senior lawyers.
Commercial awareness — linking legal points to the client’s strategic objectives.

We hope this simulation helps you build confidence, sharpen your practical skills, and strengthen your CV as you explore an exciting career at Freshfields.

How it works

Complete tasks guided by pre-recorded videos and example answers from our team at Freshfields. No live sessions, all self-paced.
Receive a Freshfields-endorsed certificate to showcase your achievement and add it to your CV and LinkedIn as an extracurricular activity.
Stand out in applications. Confidently answer interview questions and explain why you’re a good fit for our team.

Skills you will learn and practice:

Attention to Detail

Commercial Awareness

Contract Analysis

Legal Writing

Professional Communication

Professional Judgment

Risk Spotting

Introduction from Freshfields

Tasks

Intro & Scenario

Background context and your project team

Your role

You are a Junior Associate in the Life Sciences Transactions team at Freshfields.
You are working on a cross-border transaction for a global pharmaceutical client.
The client is acquiring a clinical-stage biotech company, and you have been asked to support the legal due diligence process.
This is an opportunity to apply your analytical thinking, legal judgment, and communication skills in a real-world transactional context.

Your goal

You need to review selected provisions from one of the target company’s material agreements and identify any post-closing risks for your client.
You will present your findings in a structured internal memo and follow-up communication to the Senior Associate overseeing the matter.

Intro & Scenario

Background context and your project team

Your role

You are a Junior Associate in the Life Sciences Transactions team at Freshfields.
You are working on a cross-border transaction for a global pharmaceutical client.
The client is acquiring a clinical-stage biotech company, and you have been asked to support the legal due diligence process.
This is an opportunity to apply your analytical thinking, legal judgment, and communication skills in a real-world transactional context.

Your goal

You need to review selected provisions from one of the target company’s material agreements and identify any post-closing risks for your client.
You will present your findings in a structured internal memo and follow-up communication to the Senior Associate overseeing the matter.

Reviews

4.5

I really valued how the tasks mirrored real-world trainee responsibilities. Drafting the research memo and analyzing the client’s commercial objectives gave me a much clearer picture of the high-stakes work Freshfields handles. It felt like I was actually contributing to a deal rather than just reading a textbook.

Student, University of South Africa

It was very insightful, explanatory and helpful; it broke down terms and tasks into clear and simple instructions, and did not expect too high a level of prior knowledge for participants. It provided context, useful frameworks, and made it clear what the overall objective of a Junior Associate's role is .

Student, Nottingham Trent University

I truly enjoyed how realistic and professional the overall simulation was because it truly felt like I was an actual junior associate working for a project. This project allowed me to analyze and improve my proofreading and professional writing skills, networking and more. New things I have learned are due diligence memo, identifying causes and potential risks in a contract and agreement and more.

Student, University of Toronto, Mississauga