Bird & Bird

Training beyond your expectations.

To qualify as a solicitor at Bird & Bird, you can join as a solicitor apprentice or trainee solicitor. To become a solicitor apprentice, you can through our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme. To become a trainee solicitor at Bird & Bird, you can apply through two different routes: attending a Vacation Scheme or applying directly for a training contract. We are recruiting for our August/September 2026 cohort.

Solicitors Qualification Examination (SQE)

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requires aspiring solicitors to have a degree qualification in any subject, pass two centralised assessments (the SQE1 and SQE2), undertake two years’ full-time Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), and meet the character and suitability requirements to qualify.

We partner with The University of Law to deliver a bespoke SQE programme prior to your training contract. The SQE1 tests your legal knowledge and the SQE2 which assesses practical legal skills. You must pass each stage of the SQE before progressing onto the next. The SQE+ programme is a tailored experience for our future trainees joining Bird & Bird, which is being designed by our award-winning lawyers and Early Careers team in collaboration with The University of Law.

Induction Programme

Your relationship with us starts from the moment you secure your training contract. You will be invited to firm-wide socials, events, and be updated on firm news. Our aim is to ensure your transition into the firm is as smooth as possible. We will also assign a Trainee Buddy to support you during this period of change, acting as a point of contact from offer letter to qualification.

Prior to starting your first seat, you will have a comprehensive two-week induction designed by our Learning & Development team, providing you with the basic building blocks for your personal growth and professional success as a trainee solicitor. From practical learning to insight sessions and skill-based workshops, we will ensure that you are set up for success. We will introduce you to all areas of the firm, from business services to fee earners, strengthening your understanding of how we operate as one seamless international, sector-focused firm.

Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)

At Bird & Bird, your QWE is your training contract. You will spend time in four different departments for 6-months each, known as ‘seats’, giving you a rich learning experience and development opportunities. During each seat, you will be assigned to a dedicated supervisor who is an associate or partner.

Within our departments, we have sector and sub-sector specialisms. You will get exposure to different areas of law whilst working alongside an array of lawyers and clients, as you find the area you want to pursue and qualify into.

You may also experience an international or client secondment to further your experience. On an international secondment, you will explore life in a new city, immerse yourself in our global firm, and work even closer with our international lawyers. On a client secondment, you will develop your commercial edge by understanding their business from the inside.

Learning & Development

Alongside your seat rotations, you will take part in a tailored Learning & Development Programme which will equip you with a broad range of technical and business skills. This programme is led by a mixture of internal and external speakers in a combination of online and in-person sessions. You will put this learning into context as you rotate around different departments throughout your training contract.

You will receive regular feedback from your supervisors and the Early Careers team to provide you with the support and guidance fundamental to you excelling in your law career.

From induction to qualification, networking and social events will allow you to immerse you in our friendly, vibrant culture. You can also get involved in pro-bono and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, support the Early Career team with events and mentoring, or get involved in other firm-wide opportunities such as sports teams and our employee networks.

Qualification

At the end of your two-year training contract, you will qualify as a solicitor and each year we hope to retain most of our trainees in newly qualified (NQ) roles across the firm.

Benefits

• £47,000 first-year salary, £52,000 second-year salary, and £95,000 newly qualified salary.
• £10,000 maintenance grant and all fees covered for the PGDL, and £15,000 maintenance grant and all fees covered for SQE studies.
• Tailor your learning to Bird & Bird with our bespoke SQE+ programme and two-week induction prior to starting your training contract.
• Opportunity to socialise and study with your cohort before starting your training contract, to build your legal network.
• Health and wellbeing in mind with a benefits package that includes private medical insurance, health assessments, maternity, and paternity leave, shared parental leave, adoption leave, gym membership, flu vaccinations, eyecare, and dental insurance.
• Flexible benefits package for your lifestyle, including 25 days of paid holiday annually, travel insurance, interest-free season ticket loan, computer loan, cycle to work scheme, and give as you earn charity account.
• Bespoke benefits package for your finance, including 5% pension contribution, group income protection, group life assurance, group critical illness, and will writing.

How To Apply

The application process typically includes an online application form, a Watson-Glaser test, a video interview, and an assessment centre. Once you have applied, you will receive a confirmation of your received application form. You will be notified if your application has been unsuccessful or receive an email regarding the next stage of the application at each stage.

We accept applications from those who have, or will expect to have, a minimum of AAB at A-Level and a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). However, we do understand that you may not have received the grade you hoped for due to extenuating or mitigating circumstances. Please detail any relevant information in your application for us to take into consideration. We also use a Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) to enable us to recruit people from different backgrounds and help us understand your achievements in the context in which they were gained.

Apply here: https://twobirds.grad.allhires.com/

Find out more here: https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/training-contract

Kick-start your career in law.

To qualify as a solicitor at Bird & Bird, you can join as a solicitor apprentice or trainee solicitor. To become a solicitor apprentice, you can through our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme. To become a trainee solicitor at Bird & Bird, you can apply through two different routes: attending a Vacation Scheme or applying directly for a training contract. We are recruiting for our August/September 2026 cohort.

A vacation scheme with us is much more than just work experience. It is an opportunity to discover your potential and kick-start your career in law, taking you straight to the heart of our global firm.

Develop your knowledge of our firm through introductions to different areas of law and business services. Immerse yourself in a department and have an unfiltered look at the way people work in a law firm and the impact of client relationships, globally.

Our vacation scheme is both an opportunity for you to showcase your potential as a trainee solicitor and decide whether Bird & Bird is the right firm for you.

Spring Vacation Scheme – Monday 8 April to Friday 19 April 2024

Summer Vacation Scheme – Monday 24 June to Friday 5 July 2024

Find out more here: https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/vacation-schemes

Application Deadline for Spring & Summer Vacation Schemes: Friday 15 December 2023

Explore our opportunities, learn something new, and meet our lawyers.

Open Days

Our Open Days offer a unique insight into life at an international law firm and the work we do. You will experience insight sessions, network with our lawyers, learn application tips, and can ask questions to our expert lawyers and the Early Careers team.

You can only apply to one Open Day. You must be in your penultimate-year of a law degree, final-year of a non-law degree, or a graduate to apply to our All Degrees or STEM Open Day. You must be in Year 13 or a recent school leaver to apply to our Apprentice/School Leaver Open Day.

All Degrees – Wednesday 18 October 2023

Apprentice/School 2023 Leaver – Tuesday 24 October

STEM – Wednesday 1 November 2023

Applications open on Thursday 14 September 2023 and close on Friday 13 October 2023 at midnight for all dates.

Office Drop-Ins

Our Drop-In is the chance for you to meet our lawyers, Early Careers team, and fellow aspiring lawyers in-person at our London office. Come and learn about our firm, the work we do, and our opportunities available to you.

Register to attend our Drop-In on Thursday 19 October 2023, 12-2pm or Thursday 2 November 2023, 12-2pm from Thursday 14 September 2023 to Friday 13 October 2023.

Find out more here: https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/open-days-and-drop-ins

Paving a new way to qualification.

We provide aspiring lawyers with an alternative to the traditional route to solicitor qualification. You can qualify as a solicitor by undertaking on-the-job training while studying for a law degree over six years.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requires solicitor apprentices to have a degree qualification in any subject, pass two centralised assessments (the SQE1 and SQE2), and meet the character and suitability requirements to qualify. Our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme combines study with work to allow you to qualify as a solicitor without incurring student debt often associated with attending university.

At Bird & Bird, you will learn on-the-job at our London office, alongside a small cohort of solicitor apprentices, while studying for one day a week at the University of Law to obtain a law degree and complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE). We partner with The University of Law to deliver a LLB Law degree and a bespoke SQE programme during the apprenticeship. The SQE1 tests your legal knowledge and the SQE2 which assesses practical legal skills. You will earn a £25,000 salary (in Year 1) and all tuition fees and course materials covered for your apprenticeship studies.

You will spend time in different departments, known as ‘seats’, giving you a rich learning experience and development opportunities. Within our departments, we have sector and sub-sector specialisms. You will get exposure to different areas of law whilst working alongside an array of lawyers and clients, as you find the area you want to pursue and qualify into. You may also experience an international or client secondment to further your experience.

At the end of the apprenticeship, you will be a qualified solicitor.

Apply here: https://twobirds.grad.allhires.com/

Find out more here: https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/solicitor-apprenticeship-programme

Application Process

Applications open on Thursday 26 October 2023 and close on Friday 1 March 2024 at midnight. We are recruiting for a September 2024 start. You can apply if you are in Year 13 or if you have recently left school and have, or expect to have, 5 GCSEs at grade 4-9 (C-A*) including Maths and English, and AAB at A-Level or equivalent.

Please note, our apprenticeship is not open to those who have completed a degree. If you are a current university student, or have already graduated, please apply for a Vacation Scheme or directly for a training contract.

Early Bird Scholarship

Our Early Bird Pathway is supports, develops, and equips young people from low socio-economic backgrounds with the skills they need to achieve their career potential as part of Bird & Bird’s flagship social mobility initiative.

As part of this pathway, the Early Bird Scholarship offers a mentoring scheme with our trainees for support and career guidance during your university studies in law, work experience at the firm, tailored workshops and skills sessions, and financial assistance of £7,500 paid in instalments over your time at university.

As an Early Bird Scholar, you automatically have a place on our Flying Start Programme in your first year. We hope that as your knowledge and understanding of the legal world and Bird & Bird develops, you will choose to apply for a training contract with us.

Applications open on Thursday 14 September 2023.

Our Scholarship is open to all students at the end of Year 13 receiving their A-Level results/starting university who meet our eligibility criteria.

Find out more here: https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/early-bird-programme-and-scholarship

Flying Start Programme

Our Flying Start Programme consists of practical skills sessions, interactive group tasks, insightful talks and presentations, panel discussions, and Q&As. It is an opportunity for you to explore your interest in the legal industry. You will develop legal skills and commercial awareness, network with our lawyers, and add valuable experience to your resume.

Tuesday 16 July to Wednesday 17 July 2024 (online)

Applications open on Thursday 15 February 2024 and close on Friday 7 June 2024 at midnight. This programme is for those who are not yet eligible for a training contract. You can apply if you are a first-year law undergraduate, or penultimate-year non-law undergraduate student.

Find out more here: https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/flying-start-programme

Virtual Experience Programme

In partnership with Forage, the Virtual Experience Programme is an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the world of an international law firm and discover what life is like as a junior lawyer. By hosting this opportunity virtually, you’re able to experience life at the firm in your own time and in your own space.

You will complete three modules that will:

• encourage you to apply law theory to work situations at Bird & Bird;
• develop your commercial awareness, skills and knowledge; and
• practice reviewing, drafting and analysing legal documents for clients.

You will gain real work experience and learn directly from us, which you can use on your resume, during interviews, and in your future work as a lawyer. You will also earn a certificate to share with prospective employers and your professional network. If you want to research more into the firm or practice completing some work, the programme is a great place to start.

Find out more here: https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/virtual-experience-programme