Fieldfisher

Overview

Fieldfisher is an international full-service law firm with a strong UK presence (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast) and an established European and global network including a legal technology hub (Fieldfisher X) in Berlin and a footprint in Silicon Valley. The firm positions itself around structured early-career development, strengths-based recruitment and funded qualification routes (including apprenticeship and SQE routes). Fieldfisher is highly ranked across a broad set of practice areas and is known for combining commercial work with regulatory, technology and media expertise, offering client and international secondments and a firm-wide emphasis on practical experience for junior lawyers.

• Headquarters: London
• Trainees: 23
• Offices: 28

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Intellectual Property
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Technology & Digital
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Public Law
• Real Estate
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Media & Entertainment
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Employment
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Commercial Contracts
• Corporate & M&A

Geographic Focus: Strong UK base across London, Manchester, Birmingham and Belfast with a pan-European network (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain) and global links (Silicon Valley, China, Switzerland). The firm pursues cross-border commercial, technology and regulatory work and runs dedicated international secondments (including Fieldfisher X in Berlin focused on legal technology and AI).

Training Contract

Fieldfisher offers a two-year Training Contract comprising four six-month seats across different practice areas (seat rotations), with tailored departmental inductions, seminars and a Fieldfisher Professional Skills Course running across the two-year period. The Vacation Scheme is the sole route into a Training Contract and offers a two-week placement in April; successful scheme candidates progress to a partner interview and offers to start in September 2029 (per described recruitment timetable). Apprenticeship route: a six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship that places apprentices in one home department for Years 1-4 and into four six-month seats during Years 5-6 alongside SQE studies.

• Starting Salary: Trainee starting salary: London £51,000; Birmingham £34,000; Manchester £34,000
• NQ Salary: Newly qualified salary: London £102,000; Birmingham £67,000; Manchester £67,000 (specialist NQ Personal Injury & Medical Negligence: London £73,000; Birmingham & Manchester £46,500)
• Trainee Intake: 23
• Qualification Rate: 85%
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree requirement: 2:1. Minimum A-level requirement (where stated by supplementary sources): ABB. For the Solicitor Apprenticeship: BBB at A Level (or equivalent) and Grade 4/C or above in GCSE English Language and Mathematics; apprenticeship applicants must be under 21 on programme start date due to funding rules.
• Application Deadline: 2026-11-06

Seat Options

• Intellectual Property
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Technology & Digital
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Real Estate
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Media & Entertainment
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Data Protection & Privacy

Sponsorship

GDL: £8,000. SQE (1 and 2): £8,000. SQE 2: £1,150. The firm covers PGDL/GDL and SQE fees and provides maintenance grants for future trainees.

SQE Support

Fieldfisher funds SQE preparation and assessments: the firm funds SQE1 and SQE2 assessments and associated preparation courses and provides maintenance grants to support study time. The firm also funds the PGDL where required.

International Opportunities

International opportunities include Fieldfisher X in Berlin and other overseas secondments; LegalCheek data indicates chances of secondment abroad approximately 21%. The Berlin placement emphasises legal technology and AI experience.

Client Secondments

Client secondments include placements with organisations such as the Public Law Project, JD plc and Paramount; LegalCheek data indicates around a 21% chance of client secondment.

Mentorship

Structured supervision with dedicated supervisors, trainee buddies (a trainee buddy before joining), Apprentice Buddy Scheme, Trainee Committee and Trainee Social Committee. Regular reviews, Early Careers check-ins and cohort-based development are provided.

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Fieldfisher Looks For

Key Competencies

• Curiosity
• Commercial curiosity
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Communication skills
• Resilience
• Motivation and commitment
• Accountability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Client centricity
• Authenticity/strengths-based traits

Evidence Signals

• Work experience on commercial or regulatory matters
• Examples from studies, volunteering or extracurricular activities demonstrating teamwork and communication
• Pro bono or community work
• Commercial awareness and interest in technology or media for relevant practice areas
• Demonstrable learning agility and curiosity rather than rote preparation

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Apprentice starting salary: London £27,500; Birmingham £24,500; Manchester £24,500; Belfast £24,500
• Trainee starting salary: London £51,000; Birmingham £34,000; Manchester £34,000
• Trainee second year salary: London £55,000; Birmingham £37,000; Manchester £37,000
• Newly Qualified Salary: London £102,000; Birmingham £67,000; Manchester £67,000 (NQ Personal Injury & Medical Negligence: London £73,000; Birmingham & Manchester £46,500)
• GDL/PGDL grant: £8,000
• SQE grant: £8,000 (SQE1 and SQE2 funding)
• SQE2 additional grant: £1,150
• Fees for PGDL/GDL and SQE assessments and associated prep courses covered
• Maintenance grants for future trainees (amounts as above)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Private GP Services
• Health Cash Plan
• Dental Insurance
• Income Protection
• Life Assurance and Spouse/Partner Life Assurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Will Writing
• Employee Discounts Platform
• Pension scheme with 4% matched contribution by default, match up to 7% if increased
• Mortgage Advice
• Interest Free Season Ticket Loan
• Emergency Childcare
• Tax Free Childcare
• Employee Health Assessments
• Financial Guidance and Coaching
• Fertility and Family Health support
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Reimbursement of travel costs up to £100 for assessment centres/interviews

Wellbeing

Comprehensive health and wellbeing offering including private medical and GP services, health cash plan, dental, mental health and wellbeing communities, fertility and family health support, employee health assessments, financial guidance, and employee discounts. The firm also supports reasonable adjustments and Access to Work during recruitment and ongoing employment.

Awards & Recognition

• Legal 500: Total ranked practice areas: 84; Tier 1 practice areas count: 9 (multiple Tier 1 listings across TMT, IP, Data Protection, Public Sector, Clinical Negligence, Commercial Litigation and more)
• Chambers: Ranked departments count: 58 (multiple departmental rankings)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Fieldfisher encourages applications from candidates with mitigating circumstances, offers reasonable adjustments at all recruitment stages (examples include larger print, coloured paper, office tours, additional time, assistive technologies, use of a scribe, quiet rooms), and provides Access to Work support where applicable.

• Jewish Network
• Muslim Network
• Pride Network
• Discover Disability
• Family and Carers Network
• Women@Work
• RISE
• Apprentice and Solicitor Apprentice Network Committee
• Trainee Committee
• Trainee and Apprentice Social Committee

Pro Bono

Pro bono is encouraged and expected for apprentices and trainees, with opportunities across Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution, Tech & Data, Regulatory and cross-practice matters; placements and secondments include organisations such as the Public Law Project.

Innovation

Fieldfisher invests in legal technology and innovation, operating a dedicated legal tech hub (Fieldfisher X in Berlin) to develop AI and technology capability. The firm applies data-driven and neuroscience-led techniques to recruitment (Neurosight assessment) and integrates technology experience into international secondments and trainee development.

• Fieldfisher X (Berlin legal tech & AI hub)
• Neurosight strengths-based online assessment (neuroscience-led recruitment tool)
• Fieldfisher Professional Skills Course (in-house training complementing on-the-job learning)

Quick Application Angles

• Showcase strengths-based evidence: use specific examples that demonstrate what energises you and how you learn or perform, aligning with Fieldfisher's strengths-led assessments and Neurosight approach.
• Reference the firm's legal tech focus and Fieldfisher X in Berlin if you have relevant technology, AI or digital experience — it aligns with the firm's international innovation placements.
• Highlight teamwork and approachability examples: trainee feedback scores indicate very strong peer support and partner approachability, so emphasise collaborative, coachable behaviours and examples of learning from feedback.
• If applying via apprenticeship or trainee routes, mention your awareness of Fieldfisher’s funded qualification support (PGDL/SQE funding and maintenance grants) and explain how funded study and practical experience will enable your development.
• When preparing for assessment centre exercises, focus on clear written communication, attention to detail and client-centric reasoning — these are specifically assessed in the firm’s written and group tasks.