Burges Salmon is the independent UK law firm which delivers the best mix of advice, service and value.  We pride ourselves on delivering an excellent standard of legal and business advice to our clients, which has led to many of our practice areas and sectors winning awards and recognition as best in class.  Our national and international client base ranges from private individuals to government departments and FTSE 100 companies including The Crown Estate, Nationwide, Lloyds Banking Group, John Lewis, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and FirstGroup. 

The quality of our expertise is widely recognised across our main departments including Corporate & Financial Institutions, Dispute Resolution, Planning, Construction & Engineering, Projects, Real Estate and Private Client. The key sectors in which we operate are energy, power & utilities, financial services, infrastructure, private wealth, public sector, real estate and transport.

We believe it is our people that make the firm great.  Our values of ambition, collaboration, commitment, fairness, quality and respect shape our distinctive culture and are evident across the firm. All of our trainee solicitors are based at our HQ in Bristol which creates a collaborative and supportive environment.

Our six seat training contract is designed to provide you with the greatest breadth of experience possible as a trainee. While traditional training contracts normally include four six-month seats, ours includes six four-month placements. This ensures you gain the maximum exposure to our varied practice areas and experience a wide range of contentious and non-contentious work from across our main departments.   

As a trainee you will be given early responsibility balanced with truly open door support.  From the beginning you will be learning from lawyers recognised as experts in their fields who are able to offer the advice and guidance you will need to develop into a trusted business adviser.  

Vacation schemes deadlines

Winter scheme: Deadline 28 October 2021

Spring/ Summer scheme: Deadline 10 January 2022 

During the vacation scheme you will have the opportunity to visit two departments of your choice over a two-week period. The emphasis is on 'real work' and, under the guidance of your supervisor, you will have the chance to attend court visits or client meetings as well as skills sessions run by trainees and solicitors.  In addition to this, there are many social and sports events throughout the placement that offer a real insight into life as a trainee solicitor. 

All our vacation schemes are open to penultimate and final year students from any degree discipline, graduates and those considering a change in career. 

Vacation schemes are part of the recruitment process for trainee solicitors to commence training contracts in 2024 so a keen interest in a career in commercial law is essential.

All participants are offered a training contract interview at the end.

You will spend 4 days a week working at the firm under the supervision of qualified lawyers and 1 day studying towards formal legal qualifications. Throughout the apprenticeship you will have the opportunity to spend time in several of our legal departments, which will provide you with the breadth and depth of experience needed to succeed as a qualified lawyer.

What will I study?

Our training provider is BPP University. During your first 2 years you will work towards a Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship, and with some additional study, a Certificate in Legal Practice, set at Level 4 (equivalent to the first year of university). This additional qualification allows you to jump onto the solicitor programme at a later stage. Those with the ability and inclination to continue onto the Level 7 solicitor programme will achieve a law degree as part of the path to qualification. The end point assessment of the solicitor apprenticeship is the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam, which all aspiring solicitors will have to take from 2021.

Where will I be based?

All positions will be based at One Glass Wharf, our Bristol HQ. Located in the heart of the Temple Quay area, we sit in the legal and business hub of the city, only five minutes' walk from Temple Meads station.

Our generous benefits package includes private health care, subsidised gym membership, bus/train season-ticket loans and an active sports and social club which offer a number of benefits including subsidised cinema and theatre tickets.

All our people are given an additional two days of leave annually to volunteer at one of the many local charities and projects we support. 

Applications for a legal apprenticeship starting in September 2022 will open in November

First year trainee: £42,000

Second year trainee: £44,000

First year legal apprentice: £20,000

340 UCAS points at A-level and minimum 2.1 degree in any discipline

Online application form which can be found on our website:
https://www.burges-salmon.com/careers/trainee-solicitors