Sector Focused Training Contracts 2029 – Energy & Built Environment

Before you apply

 This application form is for candidates interested in our sector focused training contract route in either energy or the built environment.

If you are interested only in our traditional training contract route, please apply via an alternative vacancy

 If you would like to be considered for both a sector focused training contract and a traditional training contract, you can indicate this within this application form. There is no need to submit a separate application.

Sector focused training contract 2029

 Build your career with a sector focus

 Are you ready to start your career with an award-winning law firm, voted RollOnFriday ‘Best Law Firm to Work at 2026' for the fifth year in a row?

For our 2029 trainee intake, we're introducing an exciting new pilot alongside our standard training contract. As a sector focused trainee, you will have the opportunity to shape your training around a particular interest in either energy or the built environment, while remaining fully part of our wider trainee cohort and receiving the same high-quality training, development, and support.

This opportunity is designed for people who already have, or are beginning to develop, a genuine interest in one of these sectors and would like that interest to play a meaningful part in their future legal career.

Develop your sector knowledge

Sector expertise is at the heart of how we work at Burges Salmon. Our lawyers combine outstanding legal advice with a deep understanding of the industries in which our clients operate.

Energy and the built environment are dynamic sectors that bring together complex legal, commercial and regulatory issues. From the transition towards more sustainable energy to the development of the places and infrastructure that shape our communities, both offer the opportunity to see how different areas of law come together to support clients.

As a sector focused trainee, you'll experience the breadth and strong legal foundations of a Burges Salmon training contract, with a particular focus on building your knowledge and experience within your chosen sector.

You'll have opportunities to:

• Work on live matters alongside lawyers with specialist sector knowledge.
• Build your understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing clients in your chosen sector.
• See how different legal disciplines collaborate to solve complex client challenges.
• Develop your legal, commercial and professional skills.
• Build relationships across the firm and become part of our genuinely collaborative and supportive culture.

Eligibility

Whether you're still studying, have recently graduated or are considering a career change, we welcome applications from candidates of all degree disciplines and backgrounds.

There is no single route to a sector focused training contract. Your interest in energy or the built environment may have developed through:

• your studies
• work experience or employment
• extracurricular activities
• personal interests or experiences

What matters is that you can demonstrate:

• a genuine interest in your chosen sector
• an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing that sector
• why you would like it to form part of your future legal career

Application process

We typically recruit for our sector focused training contracts through our spring and summer vacation schemes. These schemes provide an opportunity to experience life as a trainee at Burges Salmon and gain first-hand insight into our work before applying for a training contract.

We recognise that attending a vacation scheme may not be suitable or possible for everyone. If circumstances mean you are unable to take part in a vacation scheme, we still warmly welcome your application for a sector focused training contract and will consider alternative routes through the recruitment process.

Attending a vacation scheme is not a requirement for consideration. We encourage applications from talented candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances.

Important Information

 Application eligibility

 We recruit two years in advance, so you can apply for a training contract from:

• the second year of a qualifying law degree (or the penultimate year of a four-year course)
• the final year of a non-law degree
• after graduation
• as a career changer

 Please ensure you submit your application before midnight 5 January 2027 to be considered – including the online assessments.

The process

• Once you submit your application form, you'll receive an email inviting you to complete two online assessments.
• Your application will not be considered until both assessments are completed, so please allow enough time before the deadline.
•  

Stage 1: Emerging talent assessment

• Online and untimed (approx. 45 minutes).
• Simulates realistic workplace scenarios.
• Assesses decision-making, behaviours, and preferences.
• No legal knowledge required.
•  

Stage 2: Critical reasoning assessment

• Timed online test (approx. 45 minutes), completed after Stage 1.
• Measures critical thinking and evidence-based judgement.
• Focuses on evaluating arguments, assumptions, and conclusions.
• Based on reasoning ability, not prior knowledge.

 If you require any adjustments or have any accessibility requirements to complete these, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Key dates

• Applications open — 30 October 2026
• Application deadline — 5 January 2027
• If you are invited to an assessment centre, you will need to be available to attend the Bristol office on either 1st, 2nd, or 4th February 2027 — candidates select their places on a first come, first served basis.
• Our vacation schemes take place on the following dates: spring vacation scheme: 12 – 23 April 2027, summer 1 vacation scheme: 31 May – 11 June 2027, summer 2 vacation scheme: 14 – 25 June 2027

The assessment centres and vacation schemes take place in person at the Bristol office on the above dates only - we are unable to be flexible with this.

What we offer you

We want our vacation schemes to be accessible to all candidates. To support this, participants receive £450 per week to help cover expenses during the scheme.

Wishing you the best of luck with your application!

Disability Confident Leader

As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or impairments to apply for our roles. We regularly implement adjustments throughout the recruitment process to support all candidates effectively.

We invite you to disclose any disability, long-term health condition, or impairment so that we can provide tailored support during your application. We can make bespoke adjustments to assessments, interviews, and other stages to ensure you have an equal opportunity to excel in our recruitment process.

Applicants with a disability who meet our minimum scoring criteria will be offered a place at one of our assessment centres.

For further discussion on potential adjustments, please contact us at [email protected].