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Burges Salmon puts sector expertise at the heart of innovative new training contract

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By Ross Fairley
19 Oct 2026 3 min read
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We are launching a new sector-focused training contract, giving aspiring lawyers the opportunity to build deep commercial and legal understanding of strategically important areas of the UK economy from the outset of their careers.

The new training contracts will be piloted for the 2029 trainee cohort in our Energy and Built Environment sectors, sitting alongside Burges Salmon’s established training contract.

With sector knowledge at the centre of development from day one, trainees will combine broad legal and commercial experience with a sustained focus on the opportunities, pressures and evolving needs of clients operating in their chosen sector.

As part of our 2026-31 Strategy, the initiative puts into practice our commitment to strengthening our sector-led model, investing in future skills and developing a client-focused, commercially minded workforce.

“The legal profession has traditionally trained lawyers by focusing first on areas of law, with deeper sector specialism often developing later. We believe there is a real opportunity to think differently and distinctively, and I anticipate this will be attractive to future talent and our sector clients.

Our clients operate in complex, fast-moving markets. They need lawyers who understand not only the law, but also the political, technological and commercial forces shaping their organisations. By introducing a number of sector-focused training contracts, we want to start building that understanding from day one.

This is a bold but natural step for Burges Salmon. We have been at the forefront of innovation in sourcing our talent such as legal and business services apprenticeships and sector expertise has been fundamental to our success and is central to our Strategy for the future. We are now extending that same thinking to the way we identify and develop the next generation of lawyers.”

Ross Fairley, Senior Partner

Our sector-focused trainees will continue to receive the breadth of experience and support expected of a high-quality training contract. Importantly, the pathways will retain Burges Salmon’s distinctive six-seat model, providing exposure to a broad range of legal disciplines and practice areas throughout the training contract. The new pathways are intended to add a further layer of development, enabling participants to understand how different legal disciplines come together around the needs of organisations operating within a particular market.

“The capabilities clients need from their lawyers are evolving. Legal excellence remains fundamental, but it increasingly needs to be combined with commercial awareness, technological confidence and a real understanding of the client’s world.

This pilot is about developing those capabilities earlier and more deliberately. It will give talented people the opportunity to pursue a clear sector interest while still receiving the rounded legal training, varied experience and high level of support that underpin our existing programme.

It also reflects our ambition to become the best place to thrive. We want to offer distinctive career opportunities that attract people from different backgrounds and with different interests and perspectives, and give them the skills, confidence and support to build sustainable and rewarding careers.”

Alice Bretherton, Chief People Officer

The initiative brings together two central elements of our Strategy: doubling down on the sector expertise we offer clients and investing in exceptional learning and development for our people. Our strategic vision is to be distinctive, shape our own future and be the firm that clients and talented people choose.

Applications for the sector-focused places are scheduled to open on 30 October alongside our wider trainee recruitment campaign. Candidates applying for the new pathways will be assessed alongside the broader trainee intake, maintaining a consistent and rigorous selection process across all routes.

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