Burges Salmon

Next deadline

Legal Apprenticeship 2027 · 9 Nov 2026

(13 days)

In their own words

At Burges Salmon, we combine market-leading legal expertise with a collaborative, responsible and human approach, empowering our people to do their best work while delivering lasting impact for clients and communities.

Snapshot

Firm type

National

UK offices

Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London

International offices

1 office including Dublin

Training contract places

Vacation scheme places

First-year salary

Bristol: £51,500, Edinburgh: £44,250

Second-year salary

Bristol: £53,500, Edinburgh: £46,500

Newly qualified salary

Bristol: £78,000, Edinburgh: £74,000

Trainee retention

95%

SQE support

Full SQE and PGDL funding, and a maintenance grant

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

Recruitment route

Both Vacation Scheme and direct Training Contract

Rolling recruitment?

Seat structure

6 four-month seats

Can trainees repeat a seat?

Yes

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, preferences are considered

Trainee salary basis

Reviewed annually

Non-law applicants

Actively welcomed

Career-changer applicants

Actively welcomed

Remote working

Standard hybrid working policy

Minimum academic requirements

On track for, or achieved, a 2:1 in any degree

% Female trainees

60%

% Female partners

26%

% BAME trainees

% BAME partners

Retrospective SQE or PGDL funding

Considered on a case-by-case basis

Apprentice Year 1 Paralegal salary (Bristol only)

£26,000

Apprentice Year 2 Paralegal salary (Bristol only)

£28,000

Apprentice Year 1 Solicitor salary (Bristol only)

£31,000

Apprentice Year 2 Solicitor salary (Bristol only)

£35,000

Apprentice Year 3 Solicitor salary (Bristol only)

£51,500

Apprentice Year 4 Solicitor salary (Bristol only)

£53,500

Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Are you looking to try more than four seats in your training contract?

Are you looking to gain deep sector specific knowledge and ownership from day one?

Next deadline

Legal Apprenticeship 2027

9 Nov 2026

(13 days)

View job

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

We offer a distinctive six-seat training programme, giving you broader exposure than the traditional four-seat model.

What this could mean for you

Trainees rank every available seat from one to ten and generally will return to the department they are looking to qualify into for their final seat.

Our people are trusted early, encouraged to take ownership and supported to grow.

What this could mean for you

Trainees consistently report being given early responsibility, with some trainees even running smaller matters. Training here, you will be handed real work early, and get to experience a breadth of practices across the six seats you sit.

You won't find a restrictive hierarchy at Burges Salmon... sharing a room with a supervisor who will support your growth and development.

What this could mean for you

Sharing a room with your supervisor will allow you to ask questions and learn directly from someone in each of your seats, helping you develop quickly alongside the early responsibility.

A firm with sector-specific knowledge

What this could mean for you

Trainees at Burges Salmon are supported to build deep sector knowledge that goes beyond the seat they are sitting in. Because trainees are trusted with high-quality, meaningful work from an early stage, they are encouraged to learn about the wider sectors our clients operate in, rather than focusing only on the task immediately in front of them. Through exposure to areas such as the Built Environment team, defence work, the Disputes practice and financial services, trainees can develop a broader understanding of the firm’s work in a supportive environment, with the guidance and trust they need to grow beyond their immediate remit.

Practice area strengths

Real estate

This is the largest department in the firm, and trainees sit as generalists within the team, rather than working in smaller subgroups. Clients include the Greater London Authority, who they advised on the development of Albert Island.

Dispute resolution

This is the second largest department at Burges Salmon. It is split into subgroups including real estate disputes, IP litigation, general commercial and private client, but trainees take work from across the team.

Banking and finance

This practice is split into four subgroups, real estate finance, corporate finance, project finance, and restructuring and insolvency, with trainees assigned to one under a specialist supervisor.

All practice areas

Real estateDispute resolutionBanking and financeCommercialConstructionCorporate / M&ACorporateEmploymentEnvironmentalESGIntellectual propertyMedia and entertainmentPensionsPrivate clientProcurementRestructuring and insolvencyTax

Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Are you looking to try more than four seats in your training contract?
Are you looking to gain deep sector specific knowledge and ownership from day one?

This firm may suit candidates who…

Want to make an impact alongside their training, with volunteering days being offered to staff, with a reported 52% uptake.
Are unsure of which practice areas they would enjoy from the outside, and would like to sit more than the traditional four seats.
Are adaptable and able to pick up concepts quickly in the four-month-long seats.

Things to consider

Trainees are expected to be in office as much as possible.

What trainees do

Corporate/M&A

What it involves:

Supporting corporate transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, from initial due diligence through to completion. Matters can involve businesses, individual clients and international groups.

Example trainee tasks:

Reviewing transaction documents, conducting due diligence, preparing due diligence reports, drafting board minutes and ancillary documents, managing completion checklists and coordinating document execution.

Who trainees work with:

Supervisors, associates, partners, clients, counterparties and specialist advisers involved in transactions.

Early responsibility:

Trainees may take ownership of document lists, due diligence tasks and completion deliverables, with opportunities to liaise directly with clients and other advisers.

Support and supervision:

Supervisors provide guidance on transaction processes, drafting and managing deadlines, with work reviewed by more experienced lawyers.

A first month might involve:

Becoming familiar with active transactions, reviewing documents, assisting with due diligence, preparing initial drafts and learning how transaction checklists are managed.

Dispute Resolution

What it involves:

Supporting contentious matters, including commercial disputes and court proceedings. Work involves investigating legal issues, reviewing evidence and helping lawyers progress cases through different stages of a dispute.

Example trainee tasks:

Conducting legal research, reviewing disclosed documents, preparing court correspondence, drafting legal documents, organising bundles, instructing counsel and preparing client updates.

Who trainees work with:

Supervisors, associates, partners, clients, counsel, court staff and colleagues across specialist teams.

Early responsibility:

Trainees may draft correspondence, undertake substantive research, attend client meetings and help coordinate hearings or other procedural steps.

Support and supervision:

Senior lawyers provide guidance on legal research, drafting and case progression, with opportunities to discuss ongoing matters and receive feedback.

A first month might involve:

Reviewing active disputes, researching procedural rules, preparing initial correspondence, attending team or client meetings and assisting with document review.

Construction & Engineering

What it involves:

Supporting construction and engineering matters, including contract drafting, project documentation and disputes. The work can involve both contentious and non-contentious issues, depending on the team and current matters.

Example trainee tasks:

Drafting and reviewing contracts, preparing deeds of variation and appointments, proofreading documents, conducting legal research, assisting with due diligence and maintaining project trackers.

Who trainees work with:

Supervisors, associates, partners, clients and colleagues working on different aspects of construction projects and disputes.

Early responsibility:

Trainees may prepare first drafts for senior review, update documents following client feedback, manage document trackers and attend client calls.

Support and supervision:

Supervisors review drafting and provide guidance on project documentation, with opportunities to ask questions and learn through ongoing matters.

A first month might involve:

Reviewing project documents, preparing initial drafts, undertaking research, attending client calls and learning how workstreams and deadlines are tracked.

Work-life reality

Work-life balance varies by team, seat and transaction cycle. This section is designed to help you understand the pattern, not reduce the experience to a score.

Predictability

Working hours are generally manageable, although predictability varies between practice areas and according to client deadlines. Some seats have more consistent routines, while others experience fluctuations in workload.

Busy periods

Workloads can increase around transaction completions, court deadlines and other time-sensitive matters. The frequency and intensity of busy periods vary depending on the seat and current workload.

Late finishes

Late finishes are generally infrequent, although trainees may occasionally work beyond their usual hours during particularly busy periods or when approaching significant deadlines.

Weekend work

Weekend work is uncommon, with trainees generally completing their work during the working week. Urgent matters or significant deadlines may occasionally require additional availability.

Seat variation

Burges Salmon's six-seat training structure provides exposure to different practice areas, with working patterns, responsibilities and levels of client contact varying between departments.

Support

Includes mental health first aiders, on-site GP, private healthcare, occupational health and a named people team contact for each trainee.

Flexibility

Burges Salmon operates a hybrid-working model, allowing trainees to combine office and remote working. Arrangements can vary depending on team requirements and the nature of the work.

Holiday allowance

25 days

Office attendance

Trainees are generally expected to attend the office three days per week, although some teams may require additional attendance depending on business needs.

Culture & support

Supervision style

Trainees receive guidance from dedicated supervisors and wider teams, with opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback on their work. Formal mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews support development, although day-to-day supervision and the level of responsibility can vary between departments.

Relationship with partners

Trainees have opportunities to work directly with partners and senior lawyers, including discussing live matters, asking questions and contributing to team discussions. The firm encourages interaction across different levels of seniority, although the extent of partner contact depends on the team and nature of the work.

Office plan

Burges Salmon's open-plan offices encourage interaction between trainees, associates and partners. The Bristol and Edinburgh offices provide shared working environments, allowing trainees to approach colleagues across different levels of seniority and seek guidance informally throughout the working day.