Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
A global law firm known for real estate, planning, and finance
About Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) is an international law firm with 32 offices worldwide, formed in 2018 through the merger of UK firm Berwin Leighton Paisner and US firm Bryan Cave. In 2024, the firm completed a formal transition to operating under the single brand BCLP. The firm operates across real estate, financial services, corporate and M&A, litigation, and energy, with particular strength in real estate, the team being comprised of nearly 750 real estate sector lawyers, making it one of the largest dedicated real estate legal practices in the world.
BBCLP's training contract is built around four six-month seat rotations across core departments including real estate, financial services, and litigation. The firm encourages all trainees to undertake a secondment, with opportunities available on-site with clients or in international offices.
BCLP funds all fees associated with both the PGDL and SQE, provides a maintenance grant of £20,300 per annum for both the PGDL and SQE years, and offers a maintenance loan of up to £5,000. The firm uses two SQE preparation providers, BPP University and BARBRI, and allows future trainees to request a preferred provider based on their circumstances.
Practice areas & rankings
In the 2026 edition of Chambers UK, BCLP received 36 practice area rankings and 76 individual lawyer recognitions, an increase from 34 practice areas in 2025, and improved to a Band 1 ranking for Commercial Contracts.
BCLP received the Race Equality and LGBT+ Initiative of the Year awards at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2025, and won two 2025 Professional Services Management Excellence Awards for developing FLARE, its Fast Lease Assisted Reporting tool utilising AI to generate first drafts of lease reports.
Real estate
BCLP's defining practice and the area it is most associated with globally. A global team of nearly 750 real estate sector lawyers advising on acquisitions, disposals, development, financing, and leasing for institutional investors, developers, and occupiers. Consistently ranked Band 1 by Chambers UK for real estate transactions above £150 million. For trainees specifically, the real estate seat is one of the most active and substantive seats available at any City firm.
Planning
A leading planning practice ranked Band 1 by Chambers UK. Chambers UK clients describe the BCLP planning team as "hugely professional and personable" and note the team's ability to remain calm under intense pressure. The practice handles major development consents, infrastructure projects, and planning disputes.
Finance and asset finance
A strong finance practice spanning banking, acquisition finance, and rail and transport asset finance. The rail finance team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers UK, with clients noting their "comprehensive in-depth knowledge of contracts, speed of delivery and quality of legal documentation."
Commercial contracts
Promoted to Band 1 in Chambers UK 2026. Clients note BCLP's "unique knowledge of the challenges we face" and highlight the team's "diversification of knowledge and experience" in handling complex and sensitive negotiations.
Litigation and dispute resolution
A truly integrated global service handling complex disputes in domestic courts, specialist tribunals, and international arbitration. Banking litigation upgraded to Band 2 in Chambers UK 2025 following a run of significant mandates
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
The online application form asks questions regarding career motivation, why you have the skills to be a good solicitor, why you wish to work at BCLP, and questions that demonstrate commercial awareness and robustness. The application is open to students and graduates from any university and any discipline — BCLP's current trainee population studied at 37 different universities. Each written answer should be structured clearly around two to three specific points, supported by concrete examples. The motivation question requires a genuine answer about why BCLP specifically. Among other things, this could include either the firm's real estate practice, its transatlantic network, or its investment in legal technology (particularly AI tools like FLARE and its Orbital Copilot integration).
How to answer why youBryan Cave Leighton Paisner: quick answers
How much does Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner pay trainees?
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner pays first-year trainees £53,000, rising to £58,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner earn £125,000.
When is the Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner vacation scheme deadline?
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner's vacation scheme applications close on 4 Jan for the 2026/27 cycle. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner take on?
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner takes on around ±20 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner use in its applications?
CLP's online test is bespoke to the firm and based on the key skills and strengths that make a successful trainee solicitor at BCLP. It is a strengths-based assessment containing scenario-based questions testing situational judgment, critical reasoning, and verbal reasoning. The test is not timed but candidates are advised to set aside 45 minutes. BCLP advises there is no need to prepare for it specifically, and suggests reflecting carefully on each question and considering the stakeholders involved in the various scenarios.
What grades do you need to apply to Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner?
To apply to Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner 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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