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Apply for a training contract or vacation scheme with us and leap into an exciting legal career.
We are a Disability Confident Leader via government accreditation, which means we have tested and strengthened our recruitment and peoples processes to ensure that our employment opportunities are inclusive and welcoming to people with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
We utilise Rare Contextual Recruitment across all our recruitment processes to contextualise candidates’ success in comparison to their background and socio-economic position.
Our resourcing team facilitates adjustments to our recruitment processes for any candidates who require them so we can offer equitable experiences. We also have support from a disability specialist organisation to ensure we follow best practice. For more information, please contact Penny Bowring.
When completing the additional questions section, we want to see that you understand what makes Burges Salmon different. Avoid copying and pasting content from other application forms or writing an answer that could apply to any commercial law firm. Try to think about the features that set us apart. Attending an event will really help enhance your understanding of the firm.
Be yourself and try to avoid guessing what we want to hear – this is an opportunity for your personality to shine through, so don’t scale back on the enthusiasm. Make the most of the assessment centre; ask questions and remember the interviewer was once a small fish in a big pond like you!
We recruit two years in advance, so you can apply for your training contract from the second (or penultimate if you are studying a four-year course) year of your qualifying law degree, or the final year of a non-law degree. You can also be invited for a training contract interview after the vacation scheme, so the same rules apply. If you are interested in completing the PGDL or SQE on a part-time basis before joining us, please get in touch with our resourcing team to discuss.
If you are offered a training contract, you will be required to sit the SQE2 exams but will be exempt from sitting SQE1. The firm will sponsor you through this part of the SQE prep course.
Committing to a career in law is a big decision so we ideally want to see that you have undertaken some legal work prior to your application. If you haven’t been able to complete work experience but have managed to carefully research what a career in law looks like, we would still like to hear from you. You do not have to have any legal work experience to apply for a vacation scheme.
We don’t pre-screen application forms using academic results. If you have not achieved a 2:1 (or above) degree, then please add any mitigating circumstances in the ‘further information’ box on the application form and we will still consider your application.
It is important that you can demonstrate that you have the additional skills needed to succeed as a commercial solicitor.
If you have completed a Scots Law degree, you will be treated like a non-law student in England & Wales, and you may need to complete some aspects of the PGDL. Like those who have completed a degree in England and Wales, you will need to pass the SQE exams to qualify as a solicitor.
The best applications we receive are well written and free from grammatical and spelling mistakes. They are well researched and demonstrate a good understanding about the firm and what it takes to succeed as a commercial solicitor.
We do not set a quota of how many law and non-law students we recruit; we are simply looking for the best people. Normally we recruit a 50:50 split.
We recruit trainee solicitors from many different backgrounds. Many are still at undergraduate level when we recruit them, but many have already graduated and are completing their GDL or LPC (from 2021 PDGL or SQE). Others decide to join us as a career change at a later stage. We are interested in hearing from anyone who can demonstrate the necessary skills and behaviours.
We don’t have a set quota on how many candidates we take from each process. However, on average we take around 80% of our trainee solicitors from the vacation scheme.
Apart from the vacation scheme there are no work experience opportunities available for university students and graduates. School and college students in Years 10-12 can apply for a place on our Bright Sparks work experience programme.
As competition is high and we receive a large volume of applications each year, we ask that candidates only apply for one process that leads to a training contract for that recruitment cycle. You are only able to apply to one of the following per year: our winter vacation scheme, our spring/summer vacation scheme or our direct trainee solicitor roles.
We would be happy to provide feedback to unsuccessful candidates from the assessment centre or interview. Unfortunately, we do not offer feedback on unsuccessful application forms due to the sheer volume we receive.
Yes, we offer sponsorship for international candidates who require a visa. We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce, and we welcome applicants from around the world. However, please note that visa sponsorship is available only for candidates who have successfully secured an employment opportunity with our firm. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas for work experience placements.
At Burges Salmon, we value authenticity and personal insight in your application and in our overall recruitment process. While we understand that AI tools can be helpful, we encourage you to ensure that your responses reflect your own experiences, thoughts, and motivations.
The sole use of generative AI to complete your application may not accurately represent your unique qualities and could impact the assessment of your suitability for a training contract with us.
We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate genuine interest, critical thinking, and personal reflection. Please take the time to provide thoughtful and honest answers to the questions in this application.
If you have any questions or queries, please reach out to Penny Bowring.
