Summer Vacation Scheme 2025

Explore your potential with our work experience opportunity at our London office and decide whether we're the right firm for you.

To become a trainee solicitor at Bird & Bird, you can apply to a vacation scheme, as all vacation scheme participants are assessed for a training contract commencing in 2027 or earlier. If you can start a training contract in 2025 or 2026, you can apply directly for a training contract.

A vacation scheme with us is much more than just work experience. It's an opportunity to discover your potential and kick-start your career in law, taking you straight to the heart of our global firm. Alongside working in a department, you'll be provided with training, skill sessions, and the opportunities to meet a breadth of people from across the firm. You'll also have the chance to network and socialise with colleagues through our socials and events, immersing yourself in our friendly, vibrant culture.

Summer Vacation Scheme (two weeks) – Monday 16 June to Friday 27 June 2025

Applying to us

You should have, or expect to have, AAB at A-Level and 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). We understand that you may not have received the grade you hoped for due to extenuating or mitigating circumstances. Please detail any relevant information in your application for us to take into consideration. We also use a Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) to enable us to recruit people from different backgrounds and help us understand your achievements in the context in which they were gained.

You should be able to start a training contract in September 2027 or sooner. At the time of submitting your application, you must:

• be in your penultimate year, final year, or have completed a law degree.

• or be in your final year or have completed a non-law degree.

• or be studying or have completed the PgDL.

• or be studying or have completed SQE1 and/or SQE2.

Please note that you must be able to attend the entire Summer Vacation Scheme to be eligible for this opportunity. To apply to our September 2027 cohort, you must apply to a vacation scheme - there is no direct application for this cohort.

Stage 1 - Online application form

Stage 2 - Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking test

Stage 3 - Pre-recorded video interview

Stage 4 - Virtual assessment centre

Go to our employability hub, The Nest, to develop your legal skills and commercial awareness, learn about the recruitment process and what we look for in successful candidates, and general advice on navigating your career in law.