Job Description

*Fixed-term for one year*

purpose of job

The HR Assistant supports day‑to‑day HR operations by ensuring the accurate handling and flow of employment documentation and related administrative processes. The role plays a key part in maintaining compliance, supporting onboarding activities at the Frankfurt location, and responding to routine HR requests within the HR function.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

• Print HR documentation, including employment contracts, contract addendums, letters and other official correspondence
• Coordinate internal signature processes, either directly within the Frankfurt office or by liaising with personal assistants in other locations
• Distribute fully signed documents to candidates or employees in line with defined processes
• Track outstanding documentation and proactively follow up as effective dates approach
• Manage incoming post, ensure relevant stakeholders are informed, and file documentation appropriately in line with record‑keeping requirements
• Prepare and issue interim and final reference letters, as well as other standard HR letters, in accordance with established guidelines
• Verify employment documentation for new starters on their first day at the Frankfurt location to ensure completeness and compliance
• Handle other HR‑related queries within the scope of the Colleague Services team, or as assigned by the Team Leader

Key Requirements

• Good English and German language skills
• Good IT literacy
• Daily presence in the office

Freshfields Overview

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

• we show respect to everyone
• we are there for one another
• we are open with each other
• we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.