Firm Profiles
Bird & BIrd
Bird & BIrd
An international law firm known for technology, IP, and life science
An international law firm known for technology, IP, and life science
Year 1 Trainee
£48,500
Year 2 Trainee
£52,000
Newly Qualified
£102,000
About the firm
About the firm
TC Number
±18
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
32
Bird & Bird is an international law firm founded in London, known for working with clients at the forefront of their sectors, particularly in technology, intellectual property, life sciences, aviation, and sports. In 2025/26, the firm expanded into Greater Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) and Japan (Tokyo). Global revenue is on track toward CEO Christian Bartsch's target of €1 billion by 2029, with the most recent PEP at €831,000 (£717,000).
The firm has built a distinctive identity as tech driven. It was one of the first law firms to establish its own website in 1995, and consistently ahead of the curve on technology-focused legal work. In 2025, the firm raised NQ salaries to £102,000 in London and introduced a partnership with collaborative AI tool Legora.
Training contracts are available in London and recruit exclusively through the vacation scheme. Up to 18 training contracts are available per year, recruited from up to 40 vacation scheme places across the Spring and Summer schemes. Trainees choose from eight departments: Banking & Finance, Corporate, Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, and Tax. International and client secondments are available.
The firm funds SQE preparation via University of Law through a bespoke SQE+ programme designed in collaboration with Bird & Bird's own lawyers and early careers team. PGDL fees are covered in full with a £10,000 maintenance grant; SQE fees are covered in full with a £15,000 maintenance grant.
Practice areas and rankings
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
28
Category
International
Bird & Bird is consistently recognised by Chambers UK across technology, media and telecoms, IP, and life sciences — its three core practice areas globally. In 2025, the firm promoted 17 to partner and raised NQ pay to £102,000. The firm runs an Early Bird Scholarship programme and a STEM Solicitor Open Day, reflecting its commitment to recruiting candidates with science and technology backgrounds.
Top practice areas:
Technology, media and telecoms (TMT)
Bird & Bird's flagship practice and the area it is most associated with globally. The firm advises on technology transactions, data protection, digital regulation, AI governance, and TMT disputes. Clients include some of the world's best-known technology platforms, media companies, and telecommunications providers.
Intellectual property
One of the largest and most respected IP teams in Europe. Advises on patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secrets across technology, life sciences, fashion, and media. The firm has acted in landmark IP disputes and advisory matters globally.
Life sciences
A major life sciences practice advising pharmaceutical and biotech companies, medical device manufacturers, and healthcare providers on transactions, regulatory matters, IP, and disputes. Consistently ranked by Chambers UK.
Aviation
A leading aviation practice advising airlines, lessors, airports, and manufacturers on aircraft financing, leasing, regulatory, and dispute matters. One of the firm's most distinctive specialisms.
Sports
A recognised sports law practice with experience advising national and international sporting federations, clubs, and brands on governance, commercial, regulatory, and disputes matters.
The application process
Written application
The online application form includes personal details, education, work experience, and competency and firm-specific questions. The firm uses a Contextual Recruitment System to understand each candidate's achievements in context. Rolling recruitment means candidates who apply early are reviewed earlier and there is no advantage to waiting until the deadline. Applications are open to both law and non-law graduates. The firm requires all future trainees to have either completed a law degree or the PGDL before commencing the SQE. Bird & Bird also runs a STEM Solicitor Open Day specifically for candidates from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics backgrounds — reflecting the overlap between the firm's practice areas and scientific expertise.
Psychometric Testing
Candidates who progress are invited to complete the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test. The test has five sections: assessment of inferences, recognition of assumptions, deduction, interpretation, and evaluation of arguments. It is untimed — candidates have up to seven days to complete it, and there is no time pressure on individual questions. The firm provides a free practice test link via The Nest (its employability hub).
Interview Stage
Candidates who pass the Watson Glaser complete a pre-recorded video interview. Candidates have one minute of thinking time and two minutes to record each answer. The interview covers a range of competency-based and firm-specific questions. Candidates have seven days to complete it. The firm recommends preparing a bank of situations and experiences to draw on so that thinking time can be used to structure answers rather than identifying examples. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is recommended for structuring answers. Candidates should use dynamic, active language — collaborated, organised, designed, liaised, created — rather than passive descriptions. Eye contact with the camera, varied vocal tone, and avoiding reading from notes are all noted as important by the firm.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre for vacation scheme applicants is virtual and consists of an interview and a written assessment. Candidates should respond promptly to booking emails, dress professionally, and arrive on time — factoring in technical difficulties for virtual sessions. The firm recommends practising written communication and proofreading skills beforehand using Bird & Bird's Virtual Experience Programme.
The interview will cover competency and motivational questions — candidates should again draw on their bank of examples and ensure answers are structured, clear, and concise. Candidates are encouraged to ask their own questions during the interview.
The application process
Written application
The online application form includes personal details, education, work experience, and competency and firm-specific questions. The firm uses a Contextual Recruitment System to understand each candidate's achievements in context. Rolling recruitment means candidates who apply early are reviewed earlier and there is no advantage to waiting until the deadline. Applications are open to both law and non-law graduates. The firm requires all future trainees to have either completed a law degree or the PGDL before commencing the SQE. Bird & Bird also runs a STEM Solicitor Open Day specifically for candidates from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics backgrounds — reflecting the overlap between the firm's practice areas and scientific expertise.
Psychometric Testing
Candidates who progress are invited to complete the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test. The test has five sections: assessment of inferences, recognition of assumptions, deduction, interpretation, and evaluation of arguments. It is untimed — candidates have up to seven days to complete it, and there is no time pressure on individual questions. The firm provides a free practice test link via The Nest (its employability hub).
Interview Stage
Candidates who pass the Watson Glaser complete a pre-recorded video interview. Candidates have one minute of thinking time and two minutes to record each answer. The interview covers a range of competency-based and firm-specific questions. Candidates have seven days to complete it. The firm recommends preparing a bank of situations and experiences to draw on so that thinking time can be used to structure answers rather than identifying examples. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is recommended for structuring answers. Candidates should use dynamic, active language — collaborated, organised, designed, liaised, created — rather than passive descriptions. Eye contact with the camera, varied vocal tone, and avoiding reading from notes are all noted as important by the firm.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre for vacation scheme applicants is virtual and consists of an interview and a written assessment. Candidates should respond promptly to booking emails, dress professionally, and arrive on time — factoring in technical difficulties for virtual sessions. The firm recommends practising written communication and proofreading skills beforehand using Bird & Bird's Virtual Experience Programme.
The interview will cover competency and motivational questions — candidates should again draw on their bank of examples and ensure answers are structured, clear, and concise. Candidates are encouraged to ask their own questions during the interview.
Firm history
Firm History
Ready to Apply?
Ready to apply?
The Future Trainee Academy covers the full application, including written applications, online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres.
For situational judgment and reasoning practice, the Watson Glaser Practice Hub gives you unlimited free timed tests with worked explanations.
Firm Profiles
Bird & BIrd
An international law firm known for technology, IP, and life science
Year 1
Trainee
£48,500
Year 2
Trainee
£52,000
Newly
Qualified
£102,000
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
28
Category
International
Bird & Bird is consistently recognised by Chambers UK across technology, media and telecoms, IP, and life sciences — its three core practice areas globally. In 2025, the firm promoted 17 to partner and raised NQ pay to £102,000. The firm runs an Early Bird Scholarship programme and a STEM Solicitor Open Day, reflecting its commitment to recruiting candidates with science and technology backgrounds.
Top practice areas:
Technology, media and telecoms (TMT)
Bird & Bird's flagship practice and the area it is most associated with globally. The firm advises on technology transactions, data protection, digital regulation, AI governance, and TMT disputes. Clients include some of the world's best-known technology platforms, media companies, and telecommunications providers.
Intellectual property
One of the largest and most respected IP teams in Europe. Advises on patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secrets across technology, life sciences, fashion, and media. The firm has acted in landmark IP disputes and advisory matters globally.
Life sciences
A major life sciences practice advising pharmaceutical and biotech companies, medical device manufacturers, and healthcare providers on transactions, regulatory matters, IP, and disputes. Consistently ranked by Chambers UK.
Aviation
A leading aviation practice advising airlines, lessors, airports, and manufacturers on aircraft financing, leasing, regulatory, and dispute matters. One of the firm's most distinctive specialisms.
Sports
A recognised sports law practice with experience advising national and international sporting federations, clubs, and brands on governance, commercial, regulatory, and disputes matters.
About the firm
TC Number
±18
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
32
Bird & Bird is an international law firm founded in London, known for working with clients at the forefront of their sectors, particularly in technology, intellectual property, life sciences, aviation, and sports. In 2025/26, the firm expanded into Greater Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) and Japan (Tokyo). Global revenue is on track toward CEO Christian Bartsch's target of €1 billion by 2029, with the most recent PEP at €831,000 (£717,000).
The firm has built a distinctive identity as tech driven. It was one of the first law firms to establish its own website in 1995, and consistently ahead of the curve on technology-focused legal work. In 2025, the firm raised NQ salaries to £102,000 in London and introduced a partnership with collaborative AI tool Legora.
Training contracts are available in London and recruit exclusively through the vacation scheme. Up to 18 training contracts are available per year, recruited from up to 40 vacation scheme places across the Spring and Summer schemes. Trainees choose from eight departments: Banking & Finance, Corporate, Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, and Tax. International and client secondments are available.
The firm funds SQE preparation via University of Law through a bespoke SQE+ programme designed in collaboration with Bird & Bird's own lawyers and early careers team. PGDL fees are covered in full with a £10,000 maintenance grant; SQE fees are covered in full with a £15,000 maintenance grant.
The application process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
AAB
A-Levels Reqs.
Degree Reqs.
2:1
Written application
The online application form includes personal details, education, work experience, and competency and firm-specific questions. The firm uses a Contextual Recruitment System to understand each candidate's achievements in context. Rolling recruitment means candidates who apply early are reviewed earlier and there is no advantage to waiting until the deadline. Applications are open to both law and non-law graduates. The firm requires all future trainees to have either completed a law degree or the PGDL before commencing the SQE. Bird & Bird also runs a STEM Solicitor Open Day specifically for candidates from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics backgrounds — reflecting the overlap between the firm's practice areas and scientific expertise.
Psychometric Testing
Candidates who progress are invited to complete the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test. The test has five sections: assessment of inferences, recognition of assumptions, deduction, interpretation, and evaluation of arguments. It is untimed — candidates have up to seven days to complete it, and there is no time pressure on individual questions. The firm provides a free practice test link via The Nest (its employability hub).
Interview Stage
Candidates who pass the Watson Glaser complete a pre-recorded video interview. Candidates have one minute of thinking time and two minutes to record each answer. The interview covers a range of competency-based and firm-specific questions. Candidates have seven days to complete it. The firm recommends preparing a bank of situations and experiences to draw on so that thinking time can be used to structure answers rather than identifying examples. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is recommended for structuring answers. Candidates should use dynamic, active language — collaborated, organised, designed, liaised, created — rather than passive descriptions. Eye contact with the camera, varied vocal tone, and avoiding reading from notes are all noted as important by the firm.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre for vacation scheme applicants is virtual and consists of an interview and a written assessment. Candidates should respond promptly to booking emails, dress professionally, and arrive on time — factoring in technical difficulties for virtual sessions. The firm recommends practising written communication and proofreading skills beforehand using Bird & Bird's Virtual Experience Programme.
The interview will cover competency and motivational questions — candidates should again draw on their bank of examples and ensure answers are structured, clear, and concise. Candidates are encouraged to ask their own questions during the interview.
Firm History
Ready to apply?
The Future Trainee Academy covers the full application, including written applications, online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres.
For situational judgment and reasoning practice, the Watson Glaser Practice Hub gives you unlimited free timed tests with worked explanations.