Firm Profiles
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
A Silver Circle Firm
A Silver Circle Firm
Year 1 Trainee
£50,000
Year 2 Trainee
£55,000
Newly Qualified
£115,000
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (BCLP) is a global law firm formed in 2018 through the merger of UK-based Berwin Leighton Paisner and US-based Bryan Cave. With approximately 1,200 lawyers across 31 offices worldwide, BCLP offers comprehensive legal services in areas such as real estate, financial services, litigation, and corporate transactions. The firm is known for its commitment to innovation and providing tailored solutions to a diverse client base.
TC Number
±35
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
31
BCLP recruits around 35 trainees annually, divided across two intakes. The firm offers a structured training contract comprising four six-month seats, allowing trainees to experience a variety of practice areas.
Trainees are encouraged to undertake secondments, with opportunities available both with clients and in international offices, including locations such as Abu Dhabi and Paris. These placements provide valuable insights into different legal markets and help build lasting professional relationships.
Rankings in Chambers
34
Category
Silver Circle
In 2024, BCLP won the American Legal Technology Award for its self-service contract platform developed with IWG, recognising its focus on innovation. The firm was also shortlisted as Energy/Infrastructure Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards for its work on energy transition and infrastructure projects.
In Chambers UK 2025, BCLP secured 34 ranked practice areas and 74 individual listings, retaining Band 1 status in five key areas including Real Estate, Planning, and Rail Finance, and saw promotions in Competition Law and Banking Litigation.
The Application Process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
A-Levels Requirements
N/A
Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
2:!
Application Writing
BCLP’s application consists of several open-ended questions, each with a 500-word limit. Candidates should focus on 2–3 clear points per response, using specific examples to demonstrate motivation, commercial awareness, and suitability for a legal career. Well-structured, concise answers are essential. Applicants are encouraged to proofread carefully and seek feedback. BCLP values authenticity, so responses should reflect genuine experiences and a clear understanding of the firm’s culture and practice areas.
Assessment Centre
BCLP’s assessment centre includes three components: a case study and presentation, a group negotiation exercise, and a final interview.
For the case study, candidates are given a commercial brief to analyse and prepare a presentation, followed by a Q&A with assessors.
The group exercise involves a negotiation task where candidates work in pairs to represent a client, assessing teamwork and communication skills.
The final stage is a strengths-based interview with two partners, focused on evaluating how well the candidate aligns with the firm’s values and expectations of the trainee role.
Interview Stage
BCLP’s first-stage interview is a live video call with two associates, lasting approximately 30 to 40 minutes. The interview focuses on seven strengths-based questions, assessing areas such as career motivation, commercial awareness, and key competencies relevant to a legal career. Applicants can expect questions like "Why BCLP?", "Why commercial law?", and scenario-based inquiries such as "Tell me about a time you worked in a team." The interview concludes with an opportunity for candidates to ask their own questions.
Application Writing
Psychometric Testing
BCLP’s application consists of several open-ended questions, each with a 500-word limit. Candidates should focus on 2–3 clear points per response, using specific examples to demonstrate motivation, commercial awareness, and suitability for a legal career. Well-structured, concise answers are essential. Applicants are encouraged to proofread carefully and seek feedback. BCLP values authenticity, so responses should reflect genuine experiences and a clear understanding of the firm’s culture and practice areas.
BCLP’s psychometric test is an untimed online assessment made up of scenario-based questions. It is designed to assess key strengths such as situational judgment, critical thinking, and verbal reasoning. The scenarios reflect situations a trainee might face at the firm, helping BCLP understand how candidates approach real-life challenges. While the test has no time limit, applicants should set aside around 45 minutes to complete it. No specific preparation is needed, but thinking carefully about each situation and understanding the firm’s values will help guide strong responses.
Psychometric Testing
BCLP’s psychometric test is an untimed online assessment made up of scenario-based questions. It is designed to assess key strengths such as situational judgment, critical thinking, and verbal reasoning. The scenarios reflect situations a trainee might face at the firm, helping BCLP understand how candidates approach real-life challenges. While the test has no time limit, applicants should set aside around 45 minutes to complete it. No specific preparation is needed, but thinking carefully about each situation and understanding the firm’s values will help guide strong responses.
Interview Stage
BCLP’s first-stage interview is a live video call with two associates, lasting approximately 30 to 40 minutes. The interview focuses on seven strengths-based questions, assessing areas such as career motivation, commercial awareness, and key competencies relevant to a legal career. Applicants can expect questions like "Why BCLP?", "Why commercial law?", and scenario-based inquiries such as "Tell me about a time you worked in a team." The interview concludes with an opportunity for candidates to ask their own questions.
Assessment Centre
BCLP’s assessment centre includes three components: a case study and presentation, a group negotiation exercise, and a final interview.
For the case study, candidates are given a commercial brief to analyse and prepare a presentation, followed by a Q&A with assessors.
The group exercise involves a negotiation task where candidates work in pairs to represent a client, assessing teamwork and communication skills.
The final stage is a strengths-based interview with two partners, focused on evaluating how well the candidate aligns with the firm’s values and expectations of the trainee role.
Firm Profiles
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
A Silver Circle Firm
Year 1
Trainee
£50,000
Year 2
Trainee
£55,000
Newly
Qualified
£115,000
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (BCLP) is a global law firm formed in 2018 through the merger of UK-based Berwin Leighton Paisner and US-based Bryan Cave. With approximately 1,200 lawyers across 31 offices worldwide, BCLP offers comprehensive legal services in areas such as real estate, financial services, litigation, and corporate transactions. The firm is known for its commitment to innovation and providing tailored solutions to a diverse client base.
TC Number
±35
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
31
BCLP recruits around 35 trainees annually, divided across two intakes. The firm offers a structured training contract comprising four six-month seats, allowing trainees to experience a variety of practice areas.
Trainees are encouraged to undertake secondments, with opportunities available both with clients and in international offices, including locations such as Abu Dhabi and Paris. These placements provide valuable insights into different legal markets and help build lasting professional relationships.
Rankings in Chambers
34
Awards
Category
Silver Circle
In 2024, BCLP won the American Legal Technology Award for its self-service contract platform developed with IWG, recognising its focus on innovation. The firm was also shortlisted as Energy/Infrastructure Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards for its work on energy transition and infrastructure projects.
In Chambers UK 2025, BCLP secured 34 ranked practice areas and 74 individual listings, retaining Band 1 status in five key areas including Real Estate, Planning, and Rail Finance, and saw promotions in Competition Law and Banking Litigation.
The Vacation Scheme Application Process
Application Writing
BCLP’s application consists of several open-ended questions, each with a 500-word limit. Candidates should focus on 2–3 clear points per response, using specific examples to demonstrate motivation, commercial awareness, and suitability for a legal career. Well-structured, concise answers are essential. Applicants are encouraged to proofread carefully and seek feedback. BCLP values authenticity, so responses should reflect genuine experiences and a clear understanding of the firm’s culture and practice areas.
Psychometric Testing
BCLP’s psychometric test is an untimed online assessment made up of scenario-based questions. It is designed to assess key strengths such as situational judgment, critical thinking, and verbal reasoning. The scenarios reflect situations a trainee might face at the firm, helping BCLP understand how candidates approach real-life challenges. While the test has no time limit, applicants should set aside around 45 minutes to complete it. No specific preparation is needed, but thinking carefully about each situation and understanding the firm’s values will help guide strong responses.
Interview Stage
BCLP’s first-stage interview is a live video call with two associates, lasting approximately 30 to 40 minutes. The interview focuses on seven strengths-based questions, assessing areas such as career motivation, commercial awareness, and key competencies relevant to a legal career. Applicants can expect questions like "Why BCLP?", "Why commercial law?", and scenario-based inquiries such as "Tell me about a time you worked in a team." The interview concludes with an opportunity for candidates to ask their own questions.
Assessment Centre
BCLP’s assessment centre includes three components: a case study and presentation, a group negotiation exercise, and a final interview.
For the case study, candidates are given a commercial brief to analyse and prepare a presentation, followed by a Q&A with assessors.
The group exercise involves a negotiation task where candidates work in pairs to represent a client, assessing teamwork and communication skills.
The final stage is a strengths-based interview with two partners, focused on evaluating how well the candidate aligns with the firm’s values and expectations of the trainee role.
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
N/A
A-Levels Requirements
Degree Requirements
2:!