Burges Salmon

Next deadline

Bristol Winter Vacation Scheme 202 · 26 Oct 2026

(19 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, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff

International offices

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

Yes, full SQE1 and SQE2 funding

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

Recruitment route

Direct training contract and vacation scheme

Rolling recruitment?

Seat structure

6 four-month long seats

Can trainees repeat a seat?

Yes

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, they are taken into account, but not guaranteed

Trainee salaries review

Annually

Non-law applicants

Actively encouraged

Career-changer applicants

Actively encouraged

Remote working

Standard hybrid only

Minimum academic requirements

2:1 at University

Wellbeing support

Mental health first aiders, on-site GP, private healthcare, occupational health, a named people team contact for each trainee

Minimum holiday

25 days

Additional leave

discretionary leave, volunteering days

% female trainees

60%

% female partners

26%

% BAME trainees

% BAME partners

SQE1 and SQE2 funding

Yes, full funding

SQE1 and SQE2 maintenance grant

Yes

PGDL funding

Yes, full funding

Retrospective 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

Bristol Winter Vacation Scheme 202

26 Oct 2026

(19 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