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Qualify as a solicitor with two-years of exceptional training to kick-start your career in law.
At Bird & Bird, a training contract is a two-year training programme commenced after university and the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) to develop practical skills and legal knowledge, also known as Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). You'll experience four 'seats' in different practice areas for six-months each. You'll be supervised by experts in their field and work for stimulating clients across a range of sectors. After the end of the training contract, you'll be a qualified solicitor.
To become a trainee solicitor at Bird & Bird, you can apply to a vacation scheme, as all vacation scheme participants are assessed for a training contract commencing in 2027 or earlier. If you can start a training contract in 2025 or 2026, you can apply directly for a training contract.
Applying to us
You should have, or expect to have, AAB at A-Level and 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). We 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.
You should be able to start a training contract in September 2026. At the time of submitting your application, you must:
- Be in your final year of, or have completed, a law degree or graduated with a non-law degree and are studying or have completed the PgDL.
- And be committed to studying the LLM in Legal Practice, including SQE1 and SQE2 from September 2025.
Please note that if your application progresses and you're invited to an assessment centre, this will take place in-person at our London office in late November 2024. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.
Recruitment process
- Stage 1 - Online application form
- Stage 2 - Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking test
- Stage 3 - Telephone video interview
- Stage 4 – In-person assessment centre
Go to our employability hub, The Nest, to develop your legal skills and commercial awareness, learn about the recruitment process and what we look for in successful candidates, and general advice on navigating your career in law.
