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Bird & Bird
An international commercial law firm with leading intellectual property, technology and data protection practices, advising businesses whose value depends on innovation and intangible assets.
About Bird & Bird
Bird & Bird is an international law firm founded in London in 1846. Its practice has a particular focus on businesses built around technology, intellectual property and other intangible assets, including those operating in heavily regulated markets.
The London office advises across commercial agreements, corporate transactions, disputes, employment, finance, real estate and tax. Its sector strengths include technology and communications, life sciences, aviation, energy, financial services, and media, entertainment and sport. For prospective trainees, the firm offers an opportunity to explore how legal advice supports the development, protection and commercialisation of innovative products and services. Understanding clients’ technology and business models is particularly relevant to its work.
The two-year London training contract comprises four six-month seats. Departments include Commercial, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Finance & Financial Regulation, Intellectual Property, Real Estate and Tax. Each seat has a dedicated associate or partner supervisor, and client secondments may be available.
Development includes an induction, technical and business skills training, regular feedback and support from the Early Careers team. A trainee buddy provides a point of contact from accepting an offer through to qualification.
Future trainees study through the University of Law. Non-law graduates must complete the PGDL before the firm’s bespoke SQE programme. Required course fees are covered, with maintenance grants of £10,000 for the PGDL and £15,000 for SQE studies. Funding is not retrospective. All trainees complete the full two-year programme, regardless of previous qualifying work experience.
Practice areas & rankings
Bird & Bird has 30 ranked departments in Chambers UK 2027. Its Band 1 practices include Intellectual Property, Patent Litigation and Information Technology & Outsourcing in London, alongside Data Protection & Information Law and Franchising UK-wide.
At the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2026, the firm won 17 awards across its international practice. These included Europe Copyright Firm of the Year, Europe Trademark Firm of the Year and Benelux Trademark Firm of the Year.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 in London in Chambers UK 2027, the practice handles patent disputes, copyright, trade marks, designs and licensing agreements. Its technical experience is particularly relevant to technology and life sciences businesses. The team also assists clients with protecting and commercialising rights across jurisdictions.
Ranked Band 1 for Information Technology & Outsourcing in London in Chambers UK 2027, the team advises on digital transformation and major technology infrastructure projects. Its clients operate across sectors including financial services, retail and defence. Communications and data protection expertise support its work on complex technology arrangements.
Ranked Band 1 UK-wide in Chambers UK 2027, the practice advises on privacy compliance, GDPR implementation and responses to regulatory investigations. Its sector experience includes technology, communications, pharmaceuticals and financial services. The team handles both domestic and international matters involving the use and protection of information.
Ranked Band 2 for Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation UK-wide in Chambers UK 2027, the practice coordinates complex international patent disputes. Its broader work includes regulatory advice, commercial agreements and transactions involving IP-rich businesses. This connects the protection of scientific innovation with the investment and agreements needed to bring products to market.
Awards
Most wins of any firm at the European Managing IP AwardsManaging IP (MIP) Awards Europe 2025
Its international IP team took more awards than any other firm at the 20th European ceremony in London.
Five awards for the international life sciences teamLMG Life Sciences Awards EMEA 2025
Including Patent Litigation Firm of the Year for medical devices.
Copyright Firm of the YearAsia IP Awards 2025
Won across the Asia-Pacific, China and Singapore categories.
Multiple wins including Benelux Firm of the YearWomen in Business Law Awards 2025
Recognising the firm's work on gender diversity in the profession.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Applicants for the September 2029 trainee intake must apply through a vacation scheme. Applications opened on 5 October 2026 and close on 11 December 2026, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
The spring scheme runs from 12 to 23 April 2027 and the summer scheme from 14 to 25 June 2027. There are up to 40 places across both schemes. Candidates can apply to one scheme and must be available for its full duration.
Law students can apply from their penultimate year, while non-law students can apply from their final year. Graduates and candidates studying or having completed the PGDL or SQE are also eligible.
In your written answers, explain why the firm’s work interests you through a specific client issue or sector. For example, consider how a business protects valuable technology while licensing it to others, or how privacy regulation affects a digital service. Connect your interest to your own experience and demonstrate what you contributed, learned or improved.
Bird & Bird: quick answers
How much does Bird & Bird pay trainees?
Bird & Bird pays first-year trainees £50,000, rising to £55,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Bird & Bird earn £102,000.
When is the Bird & Bird vacation scheme deadline?
Bird & Bird runs more than one vacation scheme round in the 2026/27 cycle: the summer scheme closes on 11 Dec and the spring scheme closes on 11 Dec. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Bird & Bird take on?
Bird & Bird takes on around 18 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Bird & Bird use in its applications?
The second stage is a Capptivate assessment. The current recruitment pages do not publish its question types, duration or scoring criteria. Read the invitation and practice guidance carefully before beginning. Complete any supplied examples and check the technical requirements. Give yourself a quiet environment and follow the instructions for each task, particularly where different questions require different approaches. Older recruitment materials refer to Watson Glaser testing, but the current published sequence names Capptivate.
What grades do you need to apply to Bird & Bird?
To apply to Bird & Bird you will generally need a 2:1 degree. At A-level, Bird & Bird asks for AAB. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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