Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird is a sector focused, full service international law firm. The firm has 157 partners and over 900 staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, The Hague, Hong Kong, London, Lyon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome and Stockholm.

Areas of Work

The firm focuses on the following key work areas: aviation & aerospace, banking & financial services, communications, information technology, life sciences, media and sport.

From each of its offices, the firm provides a full range of legal services to these sectors; commercial, corporate, corporate restructuring and insolvency, dispute resolution, employment, EU & competition law, finance, intellectual property, outsourcing, public procurement, real estate, regulatory and administrative, tax.

Training Contract

Bird & Bird's training contract starts with an induction course, followed by four six-month seats that can be spent in the firm's international offices.

The firm run a business skills development programme during your Training Contract to provide you with the basic building blocks for your future development within the business of law.

Training Contract starting salary is £31,000 + Bonus. The number of graduate positions available each year is approximately 18 and the number of internship positions available is 20.

Sponsorship Details

GDL Or LPC fees and maintenance grant of £5,500 is on offer for each year of study.

Academic Requirements

Bird & Bird recruit academically strong graduates potentially capable of developing expert legal skills and commercial acumen. A certain level of intelligence and common sense is a prerequisite (the firm look for excellent A levels and a strong 2:1 or higher at degree level), but more importantly look for well-rounded individuals who will fit in to the social framework of the company.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed from May onwards and successful applicants will be invited prior to the deadline to attend one of the firms Insight and Selection days.

Insight and Selection days are held for both law and non-law students in August. These days are organised as follows;

• Exercises to assess candidates’ abilities in key areas
• A presentation about Bird & Bird given by one of our partners

Successful candidates from the Insight and Selection days will be invited to attend a panel interview during the week commencing 1st September. Candidates will be informed of the outcome during September and October.

NOTE: It is important to note that the Insight and Selection day is part of the selection process. If you are unable to attend one of the Insight and Selection days, unfortunately you will not be considered for interview in September.

NOTE: The application deadline is 31st July.