Direct Training Contract
Becoming a trainee at Bird & Bird is the first step to fulfilling your potential and shaping your long-term career.
Apply nowIf that sounds like you, why not join us?
You’ll have responsibility from day one, working for stimulating clients across a range of sectors. You’ll experience 4 seats in different practice areas for 6 months each during your Training Contract, giving you a rich learning experience and development opportunities.
Our Direct Training Contract route is a fast-track past our Vacation Schemes and onto our Training Contract.
Applications to our 2025 Direct Training Contract open on Thursday 15 September 2022 and close on Saturday 31 December at midnight.
You can apply if you can commence a Training Contract in 2025. This means you’ll be in your penultimate-year of a law degree, final-year of a non-law degree, or already graduated by Autumn 2023. We accept applications from those who have, or will expect to have, a minimum of AAB at A-Level and a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent).
The application process typically includes an online application form, a Watson-Glaser test, a video interview, and an assessment centre. Once you have applied, you’ll receive a confirmation of your received application form. You’ll be notified if your application has been unsuccessful or receive an email regarding the next stage of the application at each stage.
To become a Trainee Solicitor at Bird & Bird, you can apply through two different routes: Vacation Schemes or Direct Training Contract. There are up to 18 contracts available each year.
We recruit most of our future trainees from our Vacation Schemes, so this route is recommended. Whilst we do still offer a Direct Training Contract route, we prioritise applications from career changers and those who are prevented from attending a Vacation Scheme for any other reason (e.g., visa).
You can’t apply for a Vacation Scheme and a Direct Training Contract in the same recruitment year. You can also only apply to either the Spring or Summer Vacation Scheme. If you’ve been unsuccessful, you must wait another year to apply again. If you’ve attended our Vacation Scheme before, you must wait one recruitment year before reapplying.
Find out more
You’re eligible to apply if you can commence a Training Contract in 2025. This means you’ll be in your penultimate-year of a law degree, final-year of a non-law degree, or already graduated by Autumn 2023. You must be able to attend the entire Spring or Summer Vacation Scheme.
We accept applications from those who have, or will expect to have, a minimum of AAB at A-Level and a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). However, we do understand that you may not have received the grade you hoped for due to extenuating or mitigating circumstances. Please detail any relevant information in your application for us to take into consideration. We also use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System to enable us to recruit people from different backgrounds and help us understand your achievements in the context in which they were gained.
Inclusivity is integral to us.
From attraction and marketing to recruitment and selection, and HR and development, the Early Careers team is committed to diversity and inclusion, social mobility, and equality. We know an inclusive culture, alongside a diverse workforce, makes us more innovative and agile as a firm. We are keen to create a recruitment process where everyone feels supported to succeed, to ensure that we recruit the top candidates onto our programmes, no matter their background or circumstance. It is also the right thing to do.
Our highlights:
- To minimise bias, we operate blind screening and blind interviewing, so all identification details and previous assessments are hidden from our assessors and interviewers.
- To increase support, we offer confidential advice to candidates with a disability, neurodiversity, mental health, and long-term health problems on adjustments at each stage of the recruitment process to ensure they have a barrier-free recruitment experience. If you require adjustments, you can email our Early Careers team.
- To increase accessibility, we’re recruiting the majority of our candidates online, with online application forms, online Watson-Glaser tests, online video interviews, and (some) virtual assessment centres. Our Flying Start Programme, Virtual Experience Programme and Open Days are entirely online.
- To increase diversity in underrepresented groups, we introduced a Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) into our recruitment process. Since August 2018, we have used contextual data to help us identify candidates with the greatest potential despite their significant academic, personal or socio-economic disadvantage. We can recognise the achievements of candidates in the context in which they were gained.
- To increase diversity in the legal professional, we partner with a number of platforms, networks and initiatives to educate and equip aspiring lawyers with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. For example, we work with 10,000 Black Interns, Aspiring Solicitors, and Vantage.
Sustainability is a core strategic initiative for us – it is vital to our people, our clients, and our planet.
From paper brochures to tote bags, plastic bottles, and travelling across the country, we recognise the impact of recruitment on the environment, and we’re committed to making a greener way of recruiting. The Early Careers UK team are transforming the way in which they recruit, with sustainability in mind.
Early Careers UK highlights:
- We are using digital brochures and/or QR codes for people to access our information. You can access all our early career opportunities online, via our social media or website.
- We no longer travel across the UK to universities to participate in in-person law fairs or events, as part of our sustainability and diversity and inclusion initiative. Instead, we are adopting a hybrid approach by hosting online events and ensuring that any in-person events are accessible by public transport or are hosted at our London office.
- We are reducing our production of merchandise in Early Careers UK, and anything we do produce will be from a sustainable, ethical source.
- We are recruiting the majority of our candidates online, with online application forms, online Watson-Glaser tests, online video interviews, and (some) virtual assessment centres. Our Flying Start Programme, Virtual Experience Programme and Open Days are entirely online.
- We are reducing the amount of meat served at our events and offering more meat-alternatives for vegetarians, vegans, and those with dietary requirements.