Bird & Bird

Overview

Bird & Bird is an international, sector-focused law firm with a particularly strong reputation in Technology & Communications and Intellectual Property. The firm markets itself as global and collaborative, specialising in high-growth and regulated sectors (tech, life sciences, fintech, media and telecoms) and delivering cross-border work from a network of offices across Europe, Asia-Pacific and beyond. Bird & Bird distinguishes itself through an emphasis on legaltech and client-facing technology products, integrated multidisciplinary teams (client solutions/consultancy arms) and sector-specific newsletters, events and tools that support regulatory and commercial work.

• Headquarters: London, 12 New Fetter Ln
• Trainees: 18
• Offices: 33

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Technology & Digital
• Intellectual Property
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Real Estate
• Tax
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Retail & Consumer
• Hospitality & Leisure
• Media & Entertainment
• Fraud & Investigations
• White Collar Crime
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• ESG & Sustainability
• Transport & Logistics

Geographic Focus: The firm has a strong European footprint (multiple offices across the UK, Benelux, Nordics, Germany, France, Central & Eastern Europe) combined with Asia-Pacific and Middle East presence. It focuses on cross-border work for clients in regulated and tech-driven industries, delivering transactions and disputes that require coordinated multi-jurisdictional teams. The firm has particular strength in Nordic markets (rankings noted), deep IP and TMT capability across Europe and growing activity in APJ

Training Contract

Two-year training contract delivering two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). Trainees complete four seats of six months each across the firm's departments. Each seat is supervised by an associate or partner and trainees follow a tailored Learning & Development curriculum with regular feedback. The firm provides a one-week induction and a bespoke SQE+ programme prior to the training contract, and assigns a Trainee Buddy from offer to qualification.

• Starting Salary: £50,000
• NQ Salary: £102,000
• Trainee Intake: 18
• Qualification Rate: 89%
• Academic Requirements: AAB at A-Level and a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). The firm accepts non-law graduates (PGDL/SQE routes) and operates a Contextual Recruitment System to consider applicants' achievements in context.
• Application Deadline: TBC

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Commercial Contracts
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Finance & Financial Regulation
• Intellectual Property
• Real Estate
• Tax

Sponsorship

PGDL / GDL support: £10,000 maintenance grant and all fees covered for the PGDL (as published). SQE support: £15,000 maintenance grant and all SQE study fees covered (as published).

SQE Support

Bird & Bird runs a bespoke SQE+ training programme in partnership with The University of Law. The firm covers SQE training fees and provides study support as part of its SQE/SQE+ offering.

International Opportunities

The firm offers client secondments and occasional cross-office collaboration; however external trainee data indicates a 0% chance of a formal secondment abroad for most trainees. International project work and cross-border team involvement are common in deal work and may present informal opportunities.

Client Secondments

Client secondments are offered as part of trainee development; industry data indicates c.47% chance of a client secondment for trainees (percentage taken from published trainee data).

Mentorship

Each trainee is assigned a dedicated seat supervisor (associate or partner) and a Trainee Buddy to support the transition from offer to qualification. The Early Careers team and Learning & Development run cohort activities, induction and regular skills workshops.

Apply on the Bird & Bird website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Bird & Bird Looks For

Key Competencies

• Curiosity
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Strong communication and client skills
• Attention to detail
• Resilience and adaptability
• Sector interest (technology, life sciences, media/TMT)
• Academic attainment (AAB at A-level; 2:1 degree) where applicable

Evidence Signals

• Relevant commercial internships or vacation scheme experience
• Pro bono or volunteering
• STEM background for STEM Open Day applicants
• Interest or experience in tech/TMT/IP/ESG
• Mooting or advocacy experience for litigation/dispute roles
• International experience or multi-jurisdictional projects

Benefits & Wellbeing

• First year trainee salary: £50,000
• Second year trainee salary: £55,000
• Newly qualified salary: £102,000
• PGDL/PGDL maintenance grant: £10,000 (and fees covered)
• SQE maintenance grant: £15,000 (and SQE study fees covered)
• 25 days paid holiday
• Up to 20% remote working for trainees (agile/hybrid working)
• 5% pension contribution
• Group income protection
• Group life assurance
• Group critical illness cover
• Private medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Gym membership
• Will-writing
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Computer loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Travel insurance
• Give-as-you-earn charity account
• Paid parental leave (including 26 weeks paid parental leave in some jurisdictions)
• Paid leave for fertility treatments and paid family/domestic violence leave
• Flexible benefits package and wellbeing support (EAP, counselling, health assessments, flu vaccinations, ergonomic checks)

Wellbeing

Employee Assistance Programme (counselling), health assessments, ergonomic checks, flu vaccinations, wellbeing events, mental health education and counselling services; local wellbeing initiatives across offices.

Awards & Recognition

• Chambers Germany IP Awards 2026: Intellectual Property Firm of the Year
• Lexology European Awards 2026: Law Firm of the Year: Intellectual Property
• Managing IP EMEA Awards 2026: Global Firm of the Year
• Women in Business Law Awards 2026: Career Development – Global Firm; Women in Business Law – International Firm
• The Lawyer Awards 2026: Delivery Model Innovation
• Managing IP EMEA Awards (multiple years): Europe Trademark/Patent Firm of the Year (various markets)
• IFLR1000 Nordic rankings 2023 (Nordic offices recognised)
• Legal 500: multiple Tier 1 practice rankings (TMT, Data Protection, IP, Fintech, etc.)
• The Times Best Law Firms: Best for Intellectual Property

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Signatory to national pro bono targets (supporting pro bono delivery); active local D&I committees and targeted programmes to improve social mobility and gender diversity; contextual recruitment policies used in graduate and trainee recruitment.

• Our Good Life values
• Global D&I Committee
• Women in Leadership and Law (WILL) programme
• Legal Diversity & Inclusion Alliance (LDIA)
• Ladies@Bird network
• Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) / Contextual Recruitment
• Global Pro Bono programmes
• Local D&I committees in multiple offices

Pro Bono

The firm supports pro bono and social justice work globally; fee earners are supported to undertake c.35 hours of pro bono work per year and the firm is a signatory to national pro bono targets.

Innovation

Bird & Bird promotes an ecosystem-led approach to legaltech and client solutions, building proprietary tools (ESG Navigator, SanctionsList), offering bespoke client training and deploying forensic technology and eDiscovery capability in-house. The firm integrates legaltech into client delivery and internal training; trainee feedback grades give the firm high marks for legal tech adoption, and innovation is a stated strategic priority with dedicated client solutions teams.

• ESG Navigator (regulatory tool and app)
• ESG Regulatory Roundup (horizon scanning service)
• SanctionsList App
• Matter Management Tools & Templates (client innovation)
• twoBirds Bespoke Client Training
• Forensic Services in-house team with forensic technology and eDiscovery capability
• TwoBirds TV (video insights) and sector-specific newsletters
• Bird & Bird Academy and bespoke SQE+ training
• OXYGY (consultancy arm)

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm's sector focus in applications (Technology & Communications, IP and Life Sciences) and link your commercial examples to a specific recent deal or insight (for example cross-border tech M&A or ESG/AI regulatory work).
• Highlight practical tech or data experience — Bird & Bird scores highly for legal tech and often promotes tools such as the ESG Navigator and forensic technology; candidates with demonstrable tech curiosity or digital projects will stand out.
• If applying for the apprentice or STEM routes, emphasise STEM-relevant projects and why you want a non-traditional route into law; the firm runs a Solicitor Apprenticeship and a STEM Open Day.
• Use evidence of collaboration and client-facing experience (client secondments and cross-border teamwork are common) and mention any relevant newsletters/events (Connected, TwoBirds TV) to show sector engagement.
• Mention the firm's SQE+ partnership with The University of Law and financial support (PGDL and SQE grants) when explaining why you’re committed to qualifying with Bird & Bird.