Frequently asked questions

• A London Vacation Scheme in conjunction with a London Training Contract. 2nd and 3rd year law (or 3rd and 4th year law students on a four-year degree), 3rd year non-law students (or final year non-law students on a four-year degree) or graduates and postgraduates from any discipline;
• A Direct Training Contract. If you apply for a Vacation Scheme and are not successful, you cannot reapply for a Direct Training Contract in the same recruitment cycle (September 2024 – May 2025). 2nd and 3rd year law (or 3rd or 4th year law students on a four-year degree), 3rd year non-law students (or final year non-law students on a four-year degree) or graduates and postgraduates from any discipline;
• Open Day (October 2025). Graduates, postgraduates or candidates at any stage of a university degree. You can apply for an Open Day in conjunction with any of our other opportunities; and
• A Career Kick-Start Work Experience Programme only, year 12 students.

• Manchester Training Contract. 2nd year law (or 3rd year law students on a four-year degree), 3rd year non-law students (or final year non-law students on a four-year degree) or graduates and postgraduates from any discipline. Please note, you cannot apply for a Vacation Scheme or Training Contract in London in conjunction with this opportunity.

Salary: First Year Starting Salary, London: £50,000

Trainees work on challenging projects from the outset and are given a high level of responsibility. Trainees rotate through four, six-month seats in different parts of the business and are encouraged to gain contentious and non-contentious experience during their two-year training contract. We encourage all our trainees to undertake a secondment; we have a range of secondment opportunities including on-site with clients or internationally to one of our overseas offices.

Our Trainees benefit from receiving in-depth department training at the beginning and during each seat, which will give them the legal know-how to succeed in their department. Trainees can expect to receive 232 hours of training by the time you are a qualified lawyer.

Key duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Client Contact – speaking with clients face to face and on the telephone, finding out their needs and establishing how to help
• Legal Research – researching relevant areas of law, proposing courses of action, putting forward ideas to supervisors
• Legal Excellence – drafting letters, contracts and other legal documents
• Client and Supervisor Support – supporting the supervisor when acting on behalf of clients on negotiations

Qualifications and skills

We welcome applications from students and graduates of any discipline and from any university. We no longer have a minimum requirement for grades. Please note, to be eligible to apply for a training contract you must be in at least your penultimate year of a law degree or final year of a non-law degree.

We are also looking for you to demonstrate that you have the skills and behaviours which would expect from our trainees:

• Hardworking and well-rounded individuals
• Willingness to learn and be curious
• Ability to demonstrate commercial awareness
• Creative with problem solving
• Ability to see the wider context of the work that we do for our clients
• Intellectual ability
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Relationship building and strong interpersonal skills
• Commitment to a career in law
• Resilience
• Research and analytical skills
• Someone who takes ownership of self-development
• Teamwork and collaboration skills
• Time management and organisation skills

When and how to apply

Applications for vacancies in September 2026, March 2027 & September 2027 will need to be made via our online application form. The closing date for applications is 31 May 2025.

The process for training contract and vacation scheme applications is the same. We ask that you submit an online application form (please go to our Apply section to access this form). During the application form you will be asked to answer questions regarding your career motivation, why you have the skills to be a good solicitor, why you wish to work here and questions that demonstrate your commercial awareness and robustness.

We will then& ask you to complete our online test. This test is bespoke to BCLP and based on the key skills and strengths that make a successful trainee solicitor at BCLP. The test is a strengths-based assessment and will contain several scenario-based questions, testing candidate’s situational judgement and critical reasoning, as well as verbal reasoning. It is not timed but we suggest setting aside 45 minutes to complete it. There is no need to prepare for the test, as this is bespoke to BCLP and largely scenario based but we would suggest reflecting on the questions and taking your time to consider your responses and the stakeholders involved in the various scenarios.

Consider taking a practice test.

If you are successful at this stage, we will then invite you for a first stage interview with two Associates.

The final stage of the process is an assessment centre. The assessment will typically run from 09.30 until 15:00 and will include a case study and presentation exercise followed by a final stage interview. You will be assessed by two Partners.

If you are applying for a training contract in Manchester, you are not eligible to apply for a vacation scheme in London. The application process for the Manchester Training Contract is the same as above.

We have developed modules on our Forage platform that you can utilise ahead of the assessment process to practice interviewing, as well as building your personal brand ahead of an assessment.

This interview will last around 30 to 40 minutes and shall evaluate your career motivation, as well as answering seven strengths-based interview questions.

You will be given a candidate brief explaining the task on which you will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to assimilate the information given to you and create a 15-minute presentation. The brief will consist of all the necessary information you will need to create the presentation. After the presentation, there will be a Q&A session with the assessors on your presentation. Finally, you will have a 45-minute final strengths-based interview.

If you are successful at the assessment centre and are applying for a vacation scheme, we will then offer you a place. If you are applying for the Direct Training Contract, we will offer you a Training Contract.

• London 2026/27 - 20
• Manchester 2026/27 - TBC

Yes, we no longer have a minimum requirement. We are proud to be using the Rare Contextual Recruitment System for this recruitment year. This system has enabled us to embed social mobility measures and educational data into our recruitment process. This means we will better understand your achievements, particularly if you narrowly fall short of the stated criteria.

No, we welcome applications from graduates of any discipline and from any university. Our current trainee population studied at 42 different universities.

If your vacation scheme application is unsuccessful we will not reconsider you for a training contract in the same year; however this does not restrict you from reapplying the following recruitment season. The recruitment season opens in September.

BCLP are proud to offer feedback on your application form, we will send you an email response with the main reasons we have not invited you to the next stage. Due to the number of applications we receive, we cannot give any further detail other than this email. If you are unsuccessful during the application process and wish to reapply you can do so in the next recruitment season.

Please email us requesting feedback. We will send you feedback over email. Please note that this can take up to 3 months in busy periods.

This is a question we are asked frequently in the team and ultimately it must be a decision you make for yourself. Usually candidates that apply for the direct route have obtained legal work experience or completed a vacation scheme with another firm. We also understand that not everybody can take 1-2 weeks off or perhaps you have been working in the industry already. We would always recommend applying for a vacation scheme if you can/haven't got much work experience on your C.V as it is a two-way interview and a chance for you to decide whether this is the place you would like to start your career.

We do not have a limit on how many times a candidate can apply to us. Candidates who have been rejected at assessment centre for a vacation scheme are not eligible to apply for a direct training contract in the same recruitment year. If you are to apply multiple times, we would expect that you reflect on your previous application and ways in which you can improve going forward. In addition, we would want to see that you have progressed since your previous application, this may include work experience, further study and performance at assessment centre. Please note, if you have attended more than two assessment centres with us, you are not able to apply for a third time.

If you are already qualified in another country you may be able to take the QLTS in order to be able to practice in the UK. Please refer to the Solicitors Regulation Authority's website to find out more.

We have opted to take the approach of offering SQE1 and SQE2 prep courses for our future trainees, as well as an Essentials for Practice course (BPP only), which will be modules specifically relating to the work that we carry out. The programme will take 12 months to complete full-time and 24 months to complete part-time.

From September 2023, we will be using two providers for our SQE 1 & 2 prep courses, BPP University and BARBRI. Students will have the option to request a preferred provider based on their circumstances. The Firm will factor in the individual's prior legal experience, as well as personal circumstances in this decision. All courses will commence with a September start date.

Students who choose to study with BPP will be expected to enrol on the September course and complete the full-time course in 12 months at one of their UK locations, or online. Students who choose to study with Barbri will have the option to complete the course on a part-time basis over 24 months in an online format.

For those studying at BPP only, The Essentials for Practice is the final component of our SQE prep courses. The course has been designed in line with our Knowledge Development Lawyers here at the firm and will cover material that is relevant to the work that we carry out. The modules will consist of the following:

1. Debt Finance;
2. Private Acquisitions;
3. Commercial Dispute Resolution; and
4. Advanced Commercial Property.

All our future trainees will follow the same courses.

Not at all, plenty of candidates apply for training contracts having already completed the SQE. If you have already completed your SQE before you apply, we will not ask for you to complete the tailored SQE.

We request that our future trainees complete the PGDL course at any BPP branch. If you have completed it elsewhere, this will not affect your application.

BCLP meets all fees associated with both the PGDL and SQE if you have not started or completed your studies when being offered and accepting a training contract. We will also pay course fees retrospectively as well for the SQE only.

We offer a maintenance grant of £20,300 per annum for both the PGDL and SQE years and a maintenance loan of up to £5000. Those who study in regional locations or online will receive £18,300 per annum.

All future trainees are allocated a trainee “buddy” who along with the Talent Development team is available to answer any queries you may have before starting your training contract. You will also be invited to any firmwide events, trainee committee socials and asked if you would like to join one of our many societies or sports teams. You will be updated on any news and developments at the firm via email.

We assess each request on an individual basis. Please contact the Legal Recruitment team to discuss.

First year trainees have a salary of £50,000 increasing to £55,000 in their second year. Upon qualification the salary increases to £115,000. In Manchester your starting salary is £33,000 increasing to £37,000 in your second year.

The induction programme is held during the week before you start your first seat; you will be trained in using the firm’s IT systems and library resources, develop your understanding of the firm, the different practice areas, support services and the trainee role through a variety of presentations and workshops.

During each seat you will attend trainee-specific technical training sessions designed and led by our own know-how and fee-earning lawyers. In addition, you will be receiving further Training from our Learning and Development team, who have created a bespoke Training programme for our Trainees to ensure that they are fully equipped to become a successful lawyer upon qualification.

Throughout the period leading up to the start of your training contract and throughout your two-year training the Talent Development Team are always on hand to assist in any way. In addition, you will receive day-to-day support from your supervisor, who you will most likely share an office with. Furthermore, all trainees are allocated a Partner mentor who will help advise you to settle into the firm, advise you on your seat choices and guide you through the qualification process.

Halfway into each seat we encourage you to meet with your Partner Mentor to discuss your training contract to date and going forward. This conversation will prepare you for our one-on-one meeting with a member of the firm's Talent Development team where you discuss your seat preferences, and which seats might be best suited to help you reach your career ambitions. We always ask for trainee seat preferences, and we endeavour to meet these; on average 85% of our trainees will receive their first or second preference each seat.

We also offer secondment opportunities to our Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Dubai and Paris offices. There may be occasions during your time in the London office where you may get the chance to travel internationally to meet or work with our clients. In addition, we regularly send trainees to our clients on secondments within the UK.

Our international business has doubled in the last five years and as a result foreign languages are highly sought after.

Our London Career Kick Start work experience programme provides Year 12 students from disadvantaged backgrounds with an insight into a career in law.

You will need to complete an online application form and provide a contact that is happy to act as a reference for you from your school. We are looking for candidates that can clearly articulate their motivation for pursuing a career in law and can provide examples of the skills you need to be successful in this field.

Applications close on 21 March 2025. 

Candidates that are invited onto the programme will have two weeks to accept.

We are committed to making all stages of our recruitment process accessible to candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions. If you consider yourself to have a disability or a long-term health condition, please feel able to be open about this at any point during the recruitment process and our graduate recruitment team will work with you to establish the most suitable adjustments at each stage of the recruitment process. Please contact Isabel Elsey, Legal Recruitment Manager on Isabel.Elsey@bclplaw.com to have a confidential conversation.

Our online application form includes a section which allows you to advise us of any extenuating circumstances that are relevant for us to consider when reviewing your application form. We also use Rare Contextual Recruitment System when screening applications to increase greater diversity of backgrounds at entry level.

We encourage all future and current Trainees to disclose if you have a disability, any caring responsibilities, mental health problems or long-term health conditions to the Graduate Recruitment team prior to you joining us. We want to make sure we can support you during your two years before joining and ensure we work with you to put the correct adjustments in place so that when you arrive you are equipped with everything you need to perform to the best of your ability.

If you inform us that you require any adjustments, or support with a personal circumstance, we will ensure that you have a point of contact to meet with throughout your Training Contract and prior to joining the firm.

During your time at BCLP we also have a disability ally programme in place where you can meet with other Trainees or more senior members of staff to discuss your experiences over an informal coffee. Please do get in touch if you would like us to set this up for you.

Please contact our Emerging Talent team, on +44(0)20 3400 1000 or Emerging.Talent@bclplaw.com. When contacting us please provide details of the format you require.

Please contact our Legal Recruitment team, on +44(0)20 3400 1000 or Legal.Recruitment@bclplaw.com. When contacting us please provide details of the format you require.