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Baker McKenzie
A global law firm offering London trainees broad commercial experience, with particular strengths in international transactions, employment and technology.
About Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie is a global commercial law firm whose London office is its largest. Its practice combines international transactions with advice on the operational, regulatory and contentious issues affecting multinational businesses. London teams advise on corporate acquisitions, finance, tax, employment, technology, intellectual property and disputes, often coordinating lawyers across several jurisdictions.
The breadth of the practice is a distinctive feature of the training opportunity. Trainees can explore transactional work alongside specialist advisory and contentious departments, developing an understanding of how different legal issues connect within a business. An acquisition, for example, can involve corporate negotiations alongside competition approvals, tax structuring, employee arrangements and technology contracts. The international network also creates opportunities to work with colleagues and clients across different markets.
The two-year training contract comprises four six-month seats, including transactional work and contentious experience. Trainees begin with a week-long induction and receive departmental training during their rotations. Supervisors oversee their work, while a Trainee Partner provides additional oversight. Feedback includes an informal review midway through each seat and a formal review at its conclusion.
Trainees can apply for international or client secondments lasting between three and six months. These placements offer experience of another office or an organisation’s in-house legal team, with availability depending on business needs.
The qualification route uses SQE preparation through BARBRI. Maintenance grants are £16,000 for law graduates and £17,000 for non-law graduates. Non-law graduates complete a funded foundation course rather than a funded PGDL.
The spring and summer vacation schemes each last three weeks and provide experience in two seats, with a supervisor and buddy in each. Participants undertake live work, attend training and meet lawyers across the firm. Vacation scheme candidates are considered for training contracts before direct applicants.
Practice areas & rankings
Baker McKenzie has 44 ranked departments in Chambers UK 2027. Its Band 1 rankings include Employment: Employer and Information Technology & Outsourcing in London, together with Commercial Contracts UK-wide. Its broader recognition covers corporate transactions, finance, tax, intellectual property, competition, disputes and regulatory work.
The firm won International Law Firm of the Year at the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards 2026, recognising its private wealth practice. London partner Ashley Crossley also received the Outstanding Individual of the Year award.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Baker McKenzie is ranked Band 1 for Employment: Employer in London in Chambers UK 2027. The practice advises employers on disputes, investigations, workforce restructuring and employment issues arising from transactions. Its expertise includes discrimination, restrictive covenants, equal pay and industrial relations. International workforce projects are a particular feature, requiring coordination across employment regimes and an understanding of the client’s wider business objectives.
The firm is ranked Band 1 for Information Technology & Outsourcing in London in Chambers UK 2027. It advises customers and suppliers on technology procurement, outsourcing and digital transformation, alongside disputes arising from these arrangements. Clients range from established multinational businesses to developing technology companies. The work connects legal drafting with practical questions about service delivery, operational dependence and the allocation of commercial risk.
Baker McKenzie is ranked Band 1 for Commercial Contracts UK-wide in Chambers UK 2027. The team advises on agreements central to clients’ operations, including supply chain and distribution arrangements. It has particular experience in technology, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications. Matters can involve coordinating agreements across several markets and helping businesses manage long-term relationships with suppliers, distributors and service providers.
The firm is ranked Band 3 for Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above in London in Chambers UK 2027. Its practice handles international acquisitions and disposals, drawing on the firm’s tax, merger control and post-acquisition capabilities. Sector experience includes technology, industrial businesses, consumer goods and healthcare. A recent work highlight is advising Carlsberg on its £3.3 billion acquisition of Britvic.
Awards
Law Firm Leader of the YearLaw.com Leadership, Influence & Inclusivity in Law Awards 2025
Recognised alongside a win for Wellbeing & Inclusivity in Practice at the same awards.
Wellbeing & Inclusivity in PracticeLaw.com Leadership, Influence & Inclusivity in Law Awards 2025
Awarded for the firm’s work on wellbeing and inclusion in legal practice.
Top 20 Most Innovative Global Law Firms of the Last 20 YearsFinancial Times 2025
Named by the Financial Times in its retrospective of the most innovative global law firms over two decades.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Candidates complete an online application covering academic results, work experience, extracurricular activities and written questions. Applications for the 2027 spring scheme close on 4 December 2026, while summer scheme applications close on 1 January 2027. Direct training contract applications open on 1 February and close on 2 April 2027. Candidates cannot apply for both a vacation scheme and a direct training contract in the same recruitment year.
Explain why the combination of international work and broad London practice interests you. Connect that interest to a particular commercial issue or practice area, then support your suitability with examples of responsibility, teamwork and problem-solving. Show what you contributed and how your actions affected the outcome.
Baker McKenzie: quick answers
How much does Baker McKenzie pay trainees?
Baker McKenzie pays first-year trainees £56,000, rising to £61,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Baker McKenzie earn £150,000.
When are the Baker McKenzie application deadlines?
Baker McKenzie has more than one deadline in the 2026/27 cycle: the spring scheme closes on 4 Dec, the summer scheme closes on 1 Jan and the training contract closes on 2 Apr. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Baker McKenzie take on?
Baker McKenzie takes on around 40 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Baker McKenzie use in its applications?
The online assessment includes cognitive reasoning and situational judgement testing. Practise interpreting information accurately and drawing conclusions supported by the material provided. For situational judgement questions, consider the client’s interests alongside teamwork, professional responsibility and when to seek guidance. Follow the instructions issued with the assessment, as detailed timings and the test provider are not confirmed publicly.
What grades do you need to apply to Baker McKenzie?
To apply to Baker McKenzie you will generally need a 2:1+ degree. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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