What are the minimum academic requirements?
You need to have obtained 340 UCAS points (or equivalent) taken from your highest three A-Levels excluding General Studies. You must also be on course to achieve a 2:1 or a 1st in your degree.
As a law student, when should I apply?
After completing the second year of your degree, preferably when you've received your second year examination results. The closing date for receipt of applications is 31 July.
As a non-law student, when should I apply?
During the final year of your degree. Applications will be accepted from November onwards and the closing date for receipt of applications is 18 February.
If I have already graduated when should I apply?
The Law Society's Recruitment Code of Practice does not apply to graduate students. However, we prefer to consider graduates at the relevant time i.e. law graduates to apply by 31 July and non-law graduates to apply by 18 February.
How should I make my application?
To be considered for a London Summer Placement, International Summer Placement or Training Contract you will need to complete an online application form.
When do you conduct interviews?
Non-law: late February/March.
Law: Late August/September.
What does the interview involve?
You'll have one interview with two partners. This will include a short discussion based on the facts of a typical client problem. Following your interview, you will meet with one of our associates, who will discuss some of your previous achievements. You will be able to meet with a trainee who will show you around and answer any further questions you may have.
If I applied last year for a training contract and wasn't considered, is it worth applying again?
Yes. We don't operate a policy of automatically rejecting applications from people who've applied previously.
How many trainees do you recruit each year?
Thirty eight. We aim to have an equal number starting in September and March.
Which year are you currently looking to recruit for?
September 2012 and March 2013.
Will I be eligible to receive financial assistance?
Yes, if you receive and accept an offer of a training contract from us.
What's your financial assistance package?
We will pay course fees together with a sum towards living expenses for both the Common Professional Examination/ Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course (LPC). We currently provide £6,000 for the CPE and £8,000 for the LPC but these figures are reviewed annually.
In addition, once you start your training contract with us, you'll receive a one off bonus of £3,000 (reviewed annually) to help with any student debts or costs associated with settling into your new job in London.
Do I need to undertake the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at a specific institution?
Baker & McKenzie has appointed the College of Law exclusively to deliver the LPC to our future trainee solicitors. Known as the Baker & McKenzie LPC+, the course is delivered from the College of Law's new centre in Moorgate. Our future trainees benefit greatly from this collaboration with the College. It helps to provide you with the chance to understand more about the culture of the Firm and to develop relationships with future colleagues whilst providing a common training platform of the highest quality.
How much will I be paid?
The starting salary for trainees who joined the Firm in September 2009 was £37,500. This will rise to £40,000 in their second year. We aim to ensure our salaries are competitive with other leading commercial law firms in London.
What percentage of trainees do you retain upon qualification?
We seek to retain all trainees who meet our threshold criteria.
Do you recruit trainees from outside the EU who require work permits?
Yes, if they can offer us some skill or attribute that we don't already have within the Firm and can't obtain elsewhere in the EU. They will also need to demonstrate their commitment to working in the UK beyond the length of their training contract.
Can I take a year off before/after the LPC or before joining the Firm?
Provided you give us as much advance warning as possible, we encourage time out between university and joining Baker & McKenzie, London. This can be for travel, further study or work experience.
When do you run open days?
During Christmas, Easter and summer vacations.
Who is eligible to apply for an open day?
Any student who has completed the first year of their undergraduate degree. Generally, we prefer:
- final year non-law students to apply for the Christmas open days
- penultimate year law and non-law students to apply for the Easter and summer open days.
How do I apply for an open day?
If you would like to attend an open day, please send your CV and a covering letter to our Graduate Recruitment & Development team: multiplyingyourpotential@bakernet.com
When are the closing dates for open days?
You need to apply by:
- 25 November for our Christmas open days
- 31 January for our Easter and summer open days.
Can I apply for an open day as well as an International Summer Placement and/or London Summer Placement?
Yes, however you will need to fill in the online application form to apply for the summer placement schemes.
Who is eligible to apply for a London Summer Placement?
Law and non-law students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study or in their second year of a four year course. Students studying in foreign jurisdictions who are undertaking an ERASMUS, or similar scheme in the UK for just one year, are not eligible to apply for a London placement but should apply to the office in their 'home' jurisdiction.
When is the closing date for London Summer Placements and how should I apply?
31 January. We will make offers as we go along, so we recommend you apply early. Click here to apply online.
When do London Summer Placements interviews take place?
January/February.
What are the London Summer Placements dates for 2009?
1st Intake: 22 June - 10 July 2009
2nd Intake: 13 July - 31 July 2009
3rd Intake: 3 August - 21 August 2009
How much will I be paid on the London Summer Placement?
£270 per week (reviewed annually).
Is the London Summer Placements structured into different departments?
Yes. We structure each placement into two seats and ask students to choose departments, subject to availability.
What is an International Summer Placement?
It is an eight to twelve week placement divided between London and one of our overseas offices such as Sydney, Hong Kong, Chicago, Toronto or Singapore.
How many International Summer Placements are available?
There are 20 available worldwide. The London office is allocated three to five of these each year.
Who is eligible for an International Summer Placement?
Students who've completed two years of a UK law degree. Non-law students and those undertaking the CPE/GDL are not eligible to apply. Students studying in foreign jurisdictions who are undertaking an ERASMUS, or similar scheme in the UK for just one year, are also not eligible to apply in London but should apply to the office in their 'home' jurisdiction.
When is the closing date for International Summer Placements and how should I apply?
31 January. Click here to apply online.
When do International Summer Placement interviews take place?
January/February.
