We hope that any questions you may have will be answered below. However, if you can't find the information you require, then please contact the graduate recruitment team at
graduate@bdb-law.co.uk
Please click on the links below to be taken to the relevant section:
1. Who is eligible for the Summer Placement Programme?
2. When are Summer Placements available and for how long
3. How many placements are available?
4. How do I apply for a Summer Placement?
5. What should I expect during my time on the Programme?
6. Do I get paid for my placement with the firm?
8. How many Training Contracts are available?
9. How do I apply for a Training Contract?
10. What is the firm looking for in a trainee?
11. How will I spend my training contract?
13. Do you offer course fees for law school or maintenance grants?
14. How much do trainees get paid?
15. How much do Newly Qualified solicitors get paid?
16. How many trainees did you retain over the last two years?
17. What social activities do you have going on at Bircham Dyson Bell?
18. What is the atmosphere and culture of the firm?
19. When do I need to apply for a Training Contract?
20. When do I need to apply for the Summer Placement Programme?
21. How do I submit an application for a Summer Placement Programme or Training Contract?
22. Do you consider candidates before the published closing dates?
23. Who should I address my covering letter to?
24. What are your academic requirements?
25. Do you offer sponsorship to foreign students?
26. What if I have a criminal record?
27. Can I update my final results once I have submitted my application?
28. I’m doing a four year joint-honours law degree. In what year do I apply?
30. When are assessments held and what is the selection process?
31. Can I postpone my interview if I’m away on the date offered to me
1. Who is eligible for the Summer Placement Programme?
We accept applications from final year non-law students, penultimate and final year law students or those who have completed their studies. We also accept applications from those studying the GDL or LPC.
2. When are Summer Placements available and for how long?
We have placements available in July. You will spend two weeks with us, gaining valuable experience with two of our legal departments.
3. How many placements are available?
Approximately 20 placements are available each year.
4. How do I apply for a Summer Placement?
Please click here to be taken to the Application pages FAQ's.
5. What should I expect during my time on the Programme?
We feel it is important you get practical experience so you can start to understand life as a solicitor. In each department you will be allocated a supervisor, one of our partners or senior solicitors, and also a buddy, one of our current trainees or newly qualified solicitors. They will allocate work and provide the support and guidance you need during your week in that department. This work will include a research exercise reflecting a task that trainees are commonly asked to carry out. A variety of organised activities, including a networking event and a trainee social event, will allow you to meet a range of trainees, solicitors and partners across the firm, to ask questions and listen to their experiences first hand. Also, we hope during your time with us you will make friends and we encourage those on the programme to arrange informal activities to build relationships and network further.
6. Do I get paid for my placement with the firm?
Yes. This is paid at £150 a week (gross).
7. Do you hold open days?
We do not currently hold open days, but this is something we are considering for the future.
8. How many Training Contracts are available?
The firm employs a total of fourteen trainees, with seven training contracts available each year.
9. How do I apply for a Training Contract?
Please click here to be taken to the Application Process page.
10. What is the firm looking for in a trainee?
We are looking for well-rounded candidates with high professional standards, who can demonstrate business acumen, drive to deliver quality results, enthusiasm, initiative, teamwork and effective communication skills. We recruit people whom we hope will have a successful future with the firm after qualifying. We are equally happy to recruit trainees with law or non-law degrees, but you should have achieved a 2:1 in your degree. If you received a lower degree grade due to mitigating circumstances, you should explain these in your application. We are interested in recent graduates as well as candidates who have had experience in other areas and may be coming to law as a second career.
11. How will I spend my training contract?
Over your two year training contract with us you will spend six months in four of the following practice areas: Charities; Corporate; Commercial; Employment; Litigation; Government and Infrastructure; Private Wealth and Real Estate. One or more trainees are usually seconded to one of our clients for six months as well. You will be allocated your first seat, but we encourage you to express a preference for your remaining seats. Although it is not guaranteed we will try to accommodate your preferences.
As a trainee you will work closely with a partner or senior associate, so that you can be involved in your supervisor's work and hear how matters are handled on a day-to-day basis. We provide training which offers you the opportunity to take responsibility, run your own files and meet clients, secure in the knowledge that your work is carefully supervised. There is always someone to answer your questions and provide guidance and support.
12. Do you have a preference as to where I study the GDL and LPC? Do you ask trainees to study particular LPC electives?
We ask our future trainees to attend a BPP law school (Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Liverpool, Manchester). If there are personal reasons as to why you need to study elsewhere, we will consider your request.
We have agreed a menu of LPC electives with BPP law school that our trainees can select. If you are successful in obtaining a training contract with us we provide further guidance before you make your final elective choices.
13. Do you offer course fees for law school or maintenance grants?
We pay the course fees for successful training contract applicants who are yet to study the LPC and GDL.
14. How much do trainees get paid?
Currently our first year trainees start on £31,500 per annum. Salaries of trainees are reviewed every year.
15. How much do Newly Qualified solicitors get paid?
The salary for our newly qualified solicitors who started in September 2011 was £51,000. Salaries are then reviewed on an annual basis based on individual performance and the external market.
16. How many trainees did you retain over the last two years?
Of the seven trainees who qualified in 2010, four (57%) were retained, and of the seven trainees who qualified in 2011, three (43%) were retained. As a firm we have a positive history of retaining our trainees in our various practice departments.
17. What social activities do you have going on at Bircham Dyson Bell?
There is an active social committee comprising of representatives from across the firm. A variety of activities go on throughout the firm and are available for trainees to get involved in. We have softball, netball and cricket teams as well as a tennis tournament and rowing regatta. There is an annual firm quiz, summer event and we hold a Christmas Carol Concert as well as a separate Christmas event. Informally departments go out socially and on a Friday night the pub next door is usually frequented by the firm’s employees!
18. What is the atmosphere and culture of the firm?
The firm has a friendly and hardworking atmosphere. We pride ourselves on our integrity and high professional standards. We recognise that providing a good quality service to our clients is the result of a team effort to which members of the firm at all levels make an essential contribution.
19. When do I need to apply for a Training Contract?
The training contract deadline is 31 July. Any application received after this date will not be considered. Please click here to be taken to the Application pages FAQ's.
20. When do I need to apply for the Summer Placement Programme?
The deadline for the Summer Placement Programme is 31 January. Any application received after this date will not be considered.
21. How do I submit an application for a Summer Placement Programme or Training Contract?
Your application needs to be made online and the form can be accessed through this "apply now" link. You are asked to register and then set out your personal details, education, employment history and achievements. In addition, you need to answer a number of competency and career motivation questions to demonstrate your suitability for a summer placement and/or training contract with us.
It is the same application form for both summer placement and training contracts and you can apply for a summer placement and training contract together in one application, or a training contract only. We only accept applications that are completed on our online application form.
22. Do you consider candidates before the published closing dates?
We do not review applications on a rolling basis. Once the closing date for applications has passed we start our pre-screening exercises and then selection will begin. The date of an individual's application is not taken into consideration as long as it has been received prior to the closing date.
23. Who should I address my covering letter to?
Address any correspondence to Nick Evans, Training Principal, or the HRD Department.
24. What are our academic requirements?
The academic requirements for all candidates are as follows.
| Qualification | Requirements |
|---|---|
| GCSE (or equivalent) | We require Grade A – C in English Language and Maths. |
| A-Level (or equivalent) | Our UCAS points requirement is 22 points or 280. This is based on your top three grades, excluding general studies. |
| Degree (any discipline) | We require a minimum of a 2:1 (or equivalent) |
If you do not meet these requirements and still wish to apply, you need to complete the mitigating circumstances section in our online application. Please be advised that your course tutor may be asked to back up your mitigating circumstances.
Applications that do not meet our minimum requirements will only be considered if mitigating circumstances are included.
25. Do you offer sponsorship to foreign students?
We do not provide sponsorship to foreign students and as part of your application you need to confirm that you are eligible to work in the UK without any restrictions. This applies for training contracts and our summer placements.
26. What if I have a criminal record?
We ask all applicants to declare if they have a criminal conviction as part of their application. If you have a criminal record you need to contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority to discuss your particular situation. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from being a solicitor in England and Wales.
27. Can I update my final results once I have submitted my application?
Once you have submitted your online application you can make the following updates only to your application:
- contact details
- final grades/results
- include any additional work experience
No other parts of your application form can be updated. If you are invited to an interview, you will be asked to submit an updated CV in early August.
Please note that the Bircham Dyson Bell Recruitment Team do not have access to make changes to your application.
28. I’m doing a four year joint-honours law degree. In what year do I apply?
You would need to apply in your penultimate year. As you are studying law as part of your degree you should not need to complete the GDL. Please check with your course tutor to find out the exact requirements to qualify as a solicitor for your particular degree course. As long as you are eligible to start a training contract in the year we are advertising you can apply.
29. I have a degree from outside the UK and I am studying a law conversion course at a UK university. In what year do I apply?
If you have a non-UK degree and you are completing a law conversion course at a UK university you should not need to complete the GDL. Please check with your course tutor to find out the exact requirements to qualify as a solicitor for your particular course. As long as you are eligible to start a training contract in the year we are advertising you can apply.
30. When are assessments held and what is the selection process?
As part of our pre-screening process for both summer placements and training contracts you will be asked to complete an online situational judgment test. You will be advised by email if you are required to complete this.
Summer Placement Programme
Offers are usually made in March/April. You will be informed by email in February if you are required to complete our situational judgment test. You are not required to attend any interviews or assessments for a placement with us.
If you are successful in securing a summer placement with us you will be assessed by your two supervisors who will recommend whether you should be considered for a training contract with us.
Training Contracts
The assessment process is conducted August through to early September. You will be informed by email early August if you are required to complete our online situational judgment test. The assessment centre dates are published by the end of June each year. Currently two rounds of assessments are held – the first towards the end of August and the second in early September.
The graduate assessment panel consists of a number of partners and senior associates from our practice departments and HR. The firm uses various assessment tools including panel interviews, written exercises and a group exercise. You will also have the opportunity to meet some of our current trainees so you can hear first hand about their experience with us.
Offers are made early September.
31. Can I postpone my interview if I’m away on the date offered to me?
The timeframe for conducting assessments is very tight. If you are not available on the first date offered to you there is limited flexibility depending on availability of other candidates. Most law firms interview for training contracts in August/September so we recommend you schedule your other commitments and holidays outside of these times if at all possible.
32. I applied last year and I am unable to re-apply this year as the system recognises my email address. What should I do?
In order to apply again you will need to use a different email address as you can only have one application per email address on the system.
If you wish to register again using the same email address that you used in your first application, you will need to change the email address in your first application. You can do this by logging in and updating your contact details so that the email address is something different. You will then be able to register and complete a new application using the original email address.
If you have any further questions then please contact the graduate recruitment team on graduate@bdb-law.co.uk