Emma Yiu

Introduce yourself (who you are, what you're doing, what seat you're in, what you studied at University, why did you want to go into law?)

I am Emma, I studied law at university and I'm currently in my third seat in core real estate at HSF Kramer. I decided to study law at university because I enjoy its analytical nature. During university, I attended various open days at law firms which endeared me to a career in commercial law. The prospect of getting involved in headline deals excited me and I was drawn in by how fast paced, exciting and varied the work is.

Why did you choose Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer?

I attended HSF Kramer's vacation scheme and had a very positive experience with the team there. I also chose HSF Kramer because of its diversity and reach. I was impressed by the many specialties that HSF Kramer offers as a full-service firm, and as I was uncertain at the beginning of my career of what I wanted to specialise in this appealed to me. I also appreciate the global reach of the firm as well, as being able to work with offices around the world is important to me given my international upbringing.

What are your day-to-day tasks?

In my experience, every day is different. It could be that I go into the office expecting that my day will be taken up on one matter, but then something urgent comes up that requires me to do something else. I quite enjoy the variety that I experience from my job. However, in general, my day consists of catching up with my supervisors, going through my tasks for the day, and prioritising what I need to get done urgently.

What do you most enjoy about being a Trainee Associate?

I enjoy becoming an integral part of the team, and slowly building others' trust in you so that you get entrusted with bigger responsibilities and opportunities to impress. Even though the work can be challenging, and you sometimes end up working longer hours, it is worth it when you get recognition for your hard work. I also enjoy seeing how I develop and improve over time. The people at HSF Kramer are good at giving constructive feedback, and you always have opportunities to further improve upon your skills which is very rewarding.

What are the challenges?

This job can be challenging because as a trainee, every task you do will be for the first time. On every rotation, not only will you have to get used to a new practice area, but you will also have to get used to a whole new team. There is often a steep learning curve, and you must be prepared to get stuck in and make mistakes so that you can learn as you go along.

How would you describe the firm's culture?

The culture of the firm varies from department to department. However, in general, I have had a positive time during my seats. People at the firm understand that as a trainee, you are there to learn and develop and there is a strong culture on supporting trainees. Whenever I have had questions or uncertainties in my task, I know who I could go to get clarification. This means that even though the tasks may be difficult, I am not afraid to take them on as I know I have support behind me.