Baker McKenzie

Next deadline

Baker Ethnicity Open Day · 26 Oct 2026

(9 days)

Apply now

In their own words

Combining local knowledge with global expertise across borders.

Snapshot

Firm type

International

UK offices

London

International offices

More than 70 offices worldwide, including Amsterdam, Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, New York, Paris, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna and Washington DC.

Training contract places

Vacation scheme places

First-year salary

£56,000

Second-year salary

£61,000

Newly qualified salary

£150,000

Trainee retention

Not disclosed

SQE support

Full SQE and maintenance grant

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Yes

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

Not disclosed

Recruitment route

Vacation scheme and direct training contract

Rolling recruitment?

Seat structure

4 six-month seats

Can trainees repeat a seat?

Yes

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, preferences are taken into consideration

Trainee salary basis

Reviewed annually

Non-law applicants

Actively welcomed

Career-changer applicants

Actively welcomed

Remote working

Standard hybrid working

Holiday allowance

25 days

Minimum academic requirements

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

Typical start time

9:00am

Typical finish time

Between 6:30pm and 8:00pm

Wellbeing support

Mental Health First Aiders; onsite GP and psychologists; Employee Assistance Programme; Private Medical Insurance; subsidised gym; annual wellbeing fund; discounts on wellbeing-related activities

SQE1 and SQE2 maintenance grant

Yes

PGDL funding

Non-law future trainees do not need to complete the PGDL, so there is no PGDL funding

Retrospective SQE or PGDL funding

None

Diversity networks and partnerships

BakerWomen, BakerEthnicity, BakerPride+Allies, BakerOpportunity, BakerDisability and BakerWellbeing; partnerships and commitments include the Black British Business Awards, Race at Work Charter, Mindful Business Charter, Valuable 500 and Disability Confident.

% female trainees

61.8%

% BAME trainees

43%

% LGBTQ+ trainees

19%

% state school educated trainees

11%

% first-generation university trainees

15%

% female partners

35%

% BAME partners

10%

% LGBTQ+ partners

Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Would you value working on cross-border matters and collaborating with colleagues and clients across Baker McKenzie’s global network?

Would a hybrid working pattern where trainees typically spend three days per week in the office suit you?

Would you enjoy rotating through different practice areas while having the opportunity to express preferences and shape the direction of your training?

Would you value the opportunity to apply for an international or client secondment during your training?

Would you prefer having the choice between applying through a Vacation Scheme or directly for a Training Contract?

Next deadline

Baker Ethnicity Open Day

26 Oct 2026

(9 days)

View job

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

Truly global firm

What this could mean for you

Baker McKenzie operates through an extensive international network, with cross-border work forming a significant part of practices including corporate, employment, tax, finance and disputes. Trainees can also apply for international secondments across a range of global offices. You could build international experience through cross-border matters and collaboration with colleagues across jurisdictions, with opportunities to apply for an overseas secondment during your training.

Learn from experts in their field

What this could mean for you

The breadth of the London practice gives trainees opportunities to work alongside lawyers with recognised expertise across areas including employment, technology, corporate/M&A, tax and finance. Structured technical and professional development complements learning within each seat. You could develop your legal and commercial skills alongside experienced lawyers across a broad range of practice areas before deciding where you want to specialise.

Fast paced complex work with the support to succeed

What this could mean for you

Trainees can gain hands-on experience on complex commercial matters while developing through structured training and support. The firm combines opportunities for increasing responsibility with learning from experienced lawyers across its practice groups. You could take on increasingly substantive work as your experience develops, while receiving structured training and support throughout your Training Contract.

All practice areas

Full serviceBankingCorporateDispute resolutionEmploymentEU competitionInternational tradeIntellectual propertyReal estateTaxTechnologyWealth management

Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Would you value working on cross-border matters and collaborating with colleagues and clients across Baker McKenzie’s global network?
Would a hybrid working pattern where trainees typically spend three days per week in the office suit you?
Would you enjoy rotating through different practice areas while having the opportunity to express preferences and shape the direction of your training?
Would you value the opportunity to apply for an international or client secondment during your training?
Would you prefer having the choice between applying through a Vacation Scheme or directly for a Training Contract?

This firm may suit candidates who…

Want international exposure and opportunities to work with colleagues and clients across multiple jurisdictions.
Want broad commercial training across a large full-service practice before deciding where to specialise.
Are interested in complex, cross-border work and learning from lawyers with recognised expertise across different practice areas.
Value structured training and support alongside opportunities to take on increasing responsibility.
Would value having a choice between applying through a Vacation Scheme or directly for a Training Contract.

Things to consider

International and client secondments are available on a competitive basis, so opportunities will vary.
Trainees complete four six-month seats, with preferences taken into account and the possibility of repeating a seat.
The firm states a typical finish time of between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, although working hours will vary by seat and workload.
Trainees typically spend three days per week in the office as part of the firm's hybrid-working model.
Candidates cannot apply for both the Vacation Scheme and direct Training Contract route within the same recruitment year.

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.

Late finishes

Working hours can vary depending on workload, with a typical finish time between 6:30pm and 8:00pm.

Seat variation

Trainees complete four six-month seats across the firm's practice areas. They can express seat preferences, which are taken into account, and may be able to repeat a seat.

Flexibility

Hybrid working is available, with trainees typically spending three days per week in the office and the remainder working remotely.

Office attendance

Trainees are expected to spend three days per week in the office.

Culture & support

Supervision style

Trainees receive support and guidance within their individual seats, alongside structured technical and professional development throughout the Training Contract.

Application process

Online application form.

What happens

Questions about your academic record, extra-curricular activities, any work experience and questions about your interest in the firm.

Online assessment

(40 minutes)

What happens

This is provided by Amberjack and is untimed. This assessment will consist of a number of situational judgement questions, along with some applied verbal intellect items.

Video interview

(30 minutes)

What happens

You will respond to pre-recorded questions. This interview is competency-based and will assess your knowledge and understanding of the firm.

Assessment centre

(1 day)

What happens

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