An international law firm focused on technology and other sectors, with a London training contract, apprenticeship and vacation schemes.
Bird & Bird is an international law firm that takes a sector-focused approach and applies the law commercially. That means its lawyers learn an industry, such as technology, life sciences or energy, and advise companies in it on contracts, disputes, protecting ideas (intellectual property), personal data rules and deals. Its early careers page says it has 31 offices across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Wikipedia lists more than 1,600 lawyers and 34 offices, so the numbers differ by source.
Wikipedia says Bird & Bird was founded in London in 1846, by William Frederick Wratislaw Bird and James Moore, and that its history goes back to the 1830s. London is still the global headquarters. From 2000 it grew by opening or merging into offices across Europe, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy, plus Helsinki and Shanghai in 2008, Denmark in 2013, Australia in 2014 and a San Francisco office in 2018. The London office at 12 New Fetter Lane is described on the firm's UK page as having 270 lawyers, about 30 per cent of whom hold a second or third qualification in science or a technical subject (undated). That UK page named London as the only UK office.
We did not find a formal mission statement. The firm's early careers page describes a sense of connection and collaboration and stresses inclusion and social mobility, sustainability, pro bono work and community support. Its vacation scheme tagline is 'A world of possible'. These are the firm's own words.
Its sectors include automotive, aviation and defence, energy and utilities, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, retail and consumer, media, entertainment and sport, and technology and communications. Wikipedia says Legal 500 2026 gave it top-tier rankings in artificial intelligence, patents, IT and telecoms and data protection, and Chambers Europe 2026 gave Band 1 rankings in data protection, intellectual property and TMT (technology, media and telecoms).
The firm runs several early routes. The Early Bird Scholarship in London supports young people with skills and mentoring, and the Flying Start Programme is a two-day online programme for first-year law and penultimate-year non-law students. There are also a virtual experience programme, open days and an employability hub called The Nest. The solicitor apprenticeship (for the 2026 intake) was in London, with up to four places, a September 2026 start, a Level 7 qualification and a 'competitive' salary. Apprentices attend the University of Law one day a week to earn a law degree (LLB) and complete the SQE, and need 5 GCSEs including English and Maths and AAB at A level. The summer vacation scheme 2027 is two weeks, 14 to 25 June 2027, in London with some virtual days, up to 15 places, and applications from 5 October to 11 December 2026. It asks for AAB and being on track for a 2:1, and does not publish pay. All participants are assessed for a training contract. The older training contract page (as at 2024) listed two years in four six-month seats at £47,000 and £52,000. Check the firm site for current pay.
Website: www.twobirds.com
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