HR Recruitment Administrator

Recruitment timeline 

Location: Hybrid – 3 days per week in office (flexible). 1 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7SH 
Department: People team 
Internship duration: 8 weeks
Hours: 35 hours per week. 9.30am – 5.30pm Monday-Friday        
Salary: £14.80 per hour (London Living Wage)
Application Deadline: Midday on Friday 21 August 2026 
Interviews: w/c 14 September 
Placement start date: 19 October 2026  

Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. Currently, we have a policy for working in the office three days per week (working from home for two days per week), however we are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.

About the company

Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm, and we're committed to creating 'positive partnerships' with our clients. We represent listed and private companies, institutions and individuals, building lasting relationships to help them succeed in a complex and ever-changing world.

With more than 1,400 people, including 210+ partners, across eight offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we combine deep legal capabilities and broad commercial expertise. We have also forged close ties with high quality law firms around the world, blending local knowledge with global savvy for clients in over 100 countries.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

You can learn more about the history of the company and our values on our website.

About the team  

During this internship, you gain experience in two areas of Stephenson Harwood's recruitment function. The recruitment function sits within the wider people team, encompassing HR, Recruitment, Talent Development, and D&I teams.

Over the course of the eight weeks, you will rotate around two areas of the People team – the Future Talent team (our early careers team) and the Lateral Partner Recruitment team / Talent Acquisition team (where we recruit experienced hires and Partners).

Lateral Partner Recruitment and Talent Acquisition Teams - Working closely with the Lateral Partner Recruitment Adviser, the Talent Acquisition Adviser and wider team, the HR Recruitment Administrator will support the team with all elements of the attraction, selection and onboarding process related to Partner and experienced hires. This includes helping the team to prepare for meetings and interviews.

Future Talent Team - Working closely with the Future Talent Manager and the wider Future Talent team, the HR Recruitment Administrator will support the attraction, recruitment and development of aspiring solicitors. This includes helping to develop engaging social media content and supporting planning for the upcoming trainee seat fair.

About the role

During the Lateral Partner Recruitment and Talent Acquisition rotation, you will: 

• Assist with interview scheduling, meeting coordination and diary management for senior colleagues in the team. 
• Support colleagues with the drafting of interview questions, creation of job descriptions and reviewing of CVs. 
• Attend internal and external meetings and be responsible for taking and circulating minutes with meeting attendees.
• Support with event organisation, performing tasks such as booking rooms, arranging refreshments and ordering equipment. 
• Assist with the preparation of template docs and slides for panel interviews. Assist with filing emails and ensuring important information is accurately stored within the Firm’s iManage system (our internal online filing system). 
• Updating team records relating to candidates and agency terms. 
• Support research projects for the Talent Acquisition team. This may include gathering information about potential candidates, target firms and universities, monitoring competitor activity, and organising findings into clear summaries and reports. You will work with information from different sources and present key insights in a straightforward and easy-to-understand format.

During the Future Talent rotation, you will:

• Support colleagues with the preparation of the Firms upcoming open days, including creating slide decks and ensuring content is up to date and fit for purpose. 
• Support the Future Talent team with social media strategy and content, working to attract aspiring solicitors to the firm through creating engaging content.
• Help to review applications for vacation schemes and training contracts, identifying strong applications and making recommendations for progression.
• Support colleagues with administrative tasks including scheduling meetings and events, booking rooms, file management, coordinating couriers to deliver merchandise ahead of university law fairs and creating promotional materials.
• Support colleagues with arranging a programme of learning and events for the firm’s scholars, liaising with relevant parties and ensuring effective communication with scholars in preparation for the programme.
• Attend outreach events, such as university law fairs, to engage with aspiring solicitors and gain insight into how the firm promotes its opportunities.

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.

Skills and qualifications required for the role

• strong organisation skills and attention to detail
• able to plan and prioritise work, seeking guidance when needed
• comfortable communicating with a variety of people and support a positive candidate experience
• able to produce clear and accurate written communications
• enjoys generating ideas and exploring different ways of approaching tasks and challenges
• experience of, or willingness to learn, platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram
• high level of IT competency and understanding of programmes, including MS Office and Teams.

What you will learn

During the internship, you will learn: 

• how recruitment teams work within an international law firm 
• what is involved in the attraction, selection and onboarding process of new joiners in an international law firm
• how to coordinate and support the delivery of internal and external events, interviews and meetings
• how to use Microsoft Office applications to facilitate effective communication and event management
• how to identify strong potential in candidate applications
• how to communicate effectively with candidates to ensure a positive candidate experience
• how to communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure efficient teamworking.

Eligibility criteria

Before applying, please ensure that you meet the following criteria: 

• you are autistic
• you are aged between 18-25 years old at the time of the internship 
• you are a UK resident/have the right to work in the UK.

How to apply 

1. Read the full job description.
2. Join the Employ Autism group on our Youth Network. Details on how to login or join here.
3. Follow the instructions on the opportunity page.

The recruitment process

1. Your CV will be sent to the hiring team at Stephenson Harwood.
2. If you are chosen to progress, you will be invited to an interview. Before the interview, you will be given a short task to complete, which you will discuss during the interview. Half of the interview will be to discuss your answer to the task and the other half will be asking you questions based on the role and your reasons for applying. 
3. Final decisions will be made after the interview.

Please note, applications from candidates who have not previously completed an Employ Autism internship will be prioritised during the shortlisting process.

As this role is working within the legal industry, the successful applicant will be required to undertake pre-employment checks. As a minimum, these checks include previous employment verification, educational verification, and a criminal background check. The team will be available to assist you with completing these checks.

Support during the application process 

The Employ Autism team can provide additional application support for autistic candidates aged 18-25 years old. If would like to discuss your suitability to the role prior to completing your application, please complete the Employ Autism registration form and a member of our team will contact you.

If you receive Universal Credit / Employment Support Allowance and have any questions about the impact of taking part in the programme, please speak with your work coach or disability employment adviser at the Department for Work and Pensions Job centre directly. Each individual’s circumstances will vary. We cannot provide advice on Universal Credit / Employment Support Allowance. You may find additional advice and support at Benefits Calculators or Turn 2 Us.