Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is taking a proactive approach to lawyer well-being by introducing Freshfields Gen Z Stress Training, a program designed to prepare law students for the
pressures of elite legal practice before they even enter the workforce. The initiative reflects a
broader shift within Biglaw as firms respond to changing expectations among younger generations and rising concerns about mental health in the legal profession.
The training program, delivered at leading UK universities, focuses on helping students develop resilience, emotional awareness, and stress-management skills tailored to the realities of high-stakes legal work. Rather than addressing burnout after it occurs, Freshfields aims to equip future lawyers with tools to handle pressure early in their careers.
Preparing Students for the Realities of Legal Practice
Freshfields’ training sessions are offered to students at top institutions, including several Russell Group universities. The workshops simulate real workplace scenarios that junior lawyers commonly encounter, such as receiving critical feedback from senior partners, managing competing deadlines, and responding to urgent client demands.
Participants are encouraged to practice techniques that help them remain calm and focused under stress. These include reframing criticism as a professional development opportunity, regulating emotional responses in high-pressure situations, and maintaining perspective when expectations escalate quickly. According to the firm, the goal is not to lower standards, but to help young lawyers perform at their best in demanding environments.
The Freshfields Gen Z Stress Training initiative acknowledges that many law students enter the
profession with limited exposure to the intensity of large law firm culture. By addressing this gap early, Freshfields hopes to create a smoother transition from academic life to professional practice.
Responding to Gen Z Expectations in the Legal Industry
Gen Z law students are entering the profession at a time when conversations around mental health, work-life balance, and workplace culture are more prominent than ever. Studies consistently show that younger professionals prioritize psychological safety and transparent communication, even in competitive fields like law.
Freshfields’ approach reflects an understanding that traditional “sink or swim” models may no longer be sustainable. Instead, the firm appears to be embracing structured support as a recruitment and retention strategy. With approximately 85 graduate recruits joining Freshfields in the UK each year, investing in early-stage training has long-term implications for performance, engagement, and retention.
By launching Freshfields Gen Z Stress Training, the firm positions itself as responsive to generational change while maintaining the rigorous standards expected of a Magic Circle firm.
A Broader Biglaw Trend Toward Resilience Training
Freshfields is not alone in reassessing how it prepares young lawyers for professional pressure. Across the legal industry, firms are expanding training beyond technical legal skills to include emotional intelligence, communication strategies, and stress management.
Several UK and international firms have introduced programs focused on resilience, adaptability, and cross-generational collaboration. Professional services firms outside the legal sector have adopted similar approaches, signaling that stress preparedness is becoming a standard component of early-career development.
However, Freshfields’ decision to deliver this training directly to students rather than waiting until they become trainees marks a notable evolution in Biglaw recruiting practices.
Balancing Performance With Well-Being
Critics of resilience training argue that such programs risk placing responsibility for stress on individuals rather than addressing systemic workload pressures. Supporters counter that providing coping tools empowers young professionals to navigate unavoidable challenges more effectively.
Freshfields has emphasized that the program does not replace internal well-being initiatives or structural support. Instead, it complements existing efforts by helping
future lawyers develop realistic expectations and practical skills before entering the profession.
The Freshfields Gen Z Stress Training initiative underscores a growing recognition that long-term success in law depends not only on intellectual ability, but also on emotional resilience and adaptability.
What This Means for the Future of Legal Recruitment
As competition for top legal talent intensifies, initiatives like Freshfields’ training program may become increasingly influential in shaping firm reputations. Law students are paying closer attention to how employers address mental health and workplace culture, particularly as stories of burnout and attrition continue to surface across the industry.
By investing early in student development, Freshfields signals that it views well-being as integral to professional excellence rather than a secondary concern. Whether similar programs will become standard across Biglaw remains to be seen, but the momentum is clearly building.
For now, Freshfields Gen Z Stress Training represents a notable step toward redefining how elite law firms prepare the next generation of lawyers for the realities of modern legal practice.
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