Baker McKenzie LLP |

Bring your wide-ranging talents and far-reaching ambitions to Baker McKenzie. In return, we’ll help you lay the foundations for a successful career as a commercial lawyer and give you the chance to get involved in some of the most fascinating and complex international, cross-practice work.

In the current climate, that’s never been more important. It also enables us to go above and beyond for our clients, collaborating across borders, markets and industries.

Working at Baker McKenzie means being challenged. It means being supported. Yes, we're a big firm, but we're not so big that we fail to recognise the importance of fresh, new talent.

As a Trainee Solicitor, graduates will liaise directly with clients on high-profile cases. They’ll sit in on important meetings, and prepare agreements, deeds and other legal documents. They’ll also get the chance to apply for a six-month secondment at one of Baker McKenzie’s international offices. Past trainees have spent time in San Francisco, Singapore, Washington, Brussels, Dubai, New York and Tokyo. They’ve worked with big-name debt funds and large banks on deals which make the six o’clock news.

Our Practice Areas

Our expertise in commercial law spans the following ten practice areas. Often, however, we work together in cross-practice, multi-jurisdictional teams:

• Antitrust & Competition
• Banking & Finance
• Corporate (M&A, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Energy & infrastructure)
• Dispute Resolution
• Employment & Compensation
• International Commercial & Trade
• IP & Technology
• Real Estate
• Tax

Doing things the right way

As a firm, we’re serious about making a positive difference. Not just to our clients, but the communities we’re part of and the wider world too. Bring a head full of bright ideas and a clear sense of purpose, and in return we’ll give you the chance to do the same.

Charity support

The Firm is committed to giving back to the community through charitable giving and volunteering opportunities. There are plenty of opportunities to take part and everyone across the office is encouraged to get involved and we offer two volunteering days per year.

In London, the Firm's office charity is the London's Air Ambulance. This partnership runs until 2026.

Pro bono work

Pro bono work is a fundamental part of life at Baker McKenzie. From providing commercial support to charities, through to human rights research and advocacy, it gives our lawyers a chance to help those who may not otherwise have access to justice. Our key pro bono clients include Amnesty International, Save the Children and the UNHCR

Sustainability

At Baker McKenzie, we believe that the best way for an organisation to engage meaningfully on sustainability-related issues begins by exemplifying best practice in its own operations. That's why we apply the same rigor to advancing our own sustainability strategy as we do to advising our clients, holding ourselves to the same high standards as we recommend to them. Find out more in our latest annual sustainability report here: https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/newsroom/2024/07/annual-sustainability-report-2024

Whether you’re still at university and you’re weighing up your career options or you’ve already graduated and know you want to be a commercial lawyer, there’s a programme at Baker McKenzie that’s right for you.

• Open Days

  Our Open Days are designed to make us accessible to everyone, and to provide you with the tailored information that’s most relevant to you. Take a look at the various Open Days we run throughout the year to find out which one you’re most interested in.

• First Year Insight Scheme

  Developed specifically for first-year university students, this two-day programme enables you to experience first-hand the kind of work that we do and how a global law firm operates.

• Spring Vacation Scheme

Want to know what it’s like to work for a global law firm before you commit to joining? If you're in the final year of a law or a non-law degree, our three-week Spring Vacation Scheme will give you the chance to do just that. You can also apply if you’ve already graduated.

• Summer Vacation Scheme

  If you're in the final or penultimate year of your degree (or in the second year of a four-year course), our three-week Summer Vacation Scheme will give you a fantastic insight into the reality of a commercial lawyer's role and what life at a global law firm is all about. Again, you can also apply if you've already graduated.

• Training Contracts

  Our two-year Training Contracts turn ambitious law and non-law graduates into the well-rounded commercial lawyers that make our Firm stand out from the crowd. With the very best technical and skills training, delivered by our own lawyers, you’ll benefit from the latest advice and experience in a Baker McKenzie context.

The final step to becoming a lawyer
Experience four key practice areas over the course of two years and enjoy all the support you need to qualify as a Solicitor.

What our Training Contract involves
A Training Contract gives you the chance to experience four of our key practice areas for six months each.

Our rotation policy ensures you experience different areas of law, including contentious law and, because corporate work is at the heart of our Firm, you’ll also complete a transactional seat.

The programme begins with a two-week induction, but you’ll be exposed to live work and make a real contribution right from the start. Throughout your Training Contract, you’ll be able to call on the personal and professional support of both our Graduate Recruitment & Development and Leadership & Learning teams.

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)
From September 2021, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will introduce a new route to qualification, which will transition the current qualification route of a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Professional Skills Course (PSC) to SQE 1 and SQE 2 exams and two years of Qualifying Work Experience.

There will be a transition period up to December 2032, when the current route to qualification will be completely phased out. Many firms in the sector are currently reviewing how this impacts the recruitment of their trainees so keep an eye out for updates.

What you’ll be doing

During each seat, you’ll get department-specific training and be assigned a supervisor who’ll mentor you and provide you with your daily workload which, while it will vary from department to department, will almost certainly include:

• Researching for client pitches or projects
• Liaising directly with clients
• Writing articles and blog posts
• Sitting-in on client meetings
• Preparing agreements, deeds, contracts and other legal documents

Every department has a Trainee Partner who will oversee your progress and ensure you are continually developing the appropriate skills and experience.

Midway through each seat, there’ll be an informal review of your progress and development. At the end of each seat, a more formal evaluation will see a Trainee Partner feedback on your progress. As you grow in experience, you’ll take on more and more responsibility.

Secondments
All Trainee Solicitors have the opportunity to apply for a three-to-six month secondment at one of our international offices, or with one of our clients’ in-house legal teams.

Qualification
At the start of your final seat, there will be a briefing session with the Graduate Recruitment & Development team, which will outline the qualification process. This is followed by a one-to-one meeting with the Training Principal, who will discuss your preferences and provide guidance.

What do you need to succeed?

Each year, we recruit 40 talented and ambitious Trainees. Individuals who we believe will make the well-rounded lawyers who will help our firm continue to stand out from the rest.

We use a contextualised recruitment system to ensure we employ people from a variety of backgrounds. The system enables us to understand your achievements in the context in which they were gained. So if you demonstrate real potential but fall slightly short of our criteria, you’ll still be considered. We’ll also take into account any mitigating circumstances relating to a disability or long-term health condition.

When it comes to inclusion, diversity and equity, the Firm invests in a number of employee networks committed to mental health, LGBT+ rights, cultural diversity, social mobility and more. And when it comes to culture, Baker McKenzie promotes a positive working environment where creativity is encouraged and different points of view are heard.

Think inclusive. Think Baker McKenzie

When you join Baker McKenzie, we want you to bring your whole self to the Firm – to draw on your experiences, voice your opinions and share your ideas. To support and encourage that, we’ve created a culture of respect and collaboration, that’s designed to bring out the best in every individual. Find out more in our latest ID&E report here: https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/resources/inclusion-diversity-and-equity-annual-report-2024

Reflecting our attitude to inclusion, diversity and equity, we are not neutral. As part of our commitment to championing equality, we have a number of networks, which you will be encouraged to join.

• BakerEthnicity champions al​l efforts in supporting change for positive impact - creating an environment for all of us to thrive in, and recognising the richness of diverse heritage, culture, ethnicity, backgrounds and the experiences of all our people. ​

• BakerPride: is committed to creating and maintaining a supportive and inclusive working environment where individuals of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression can succeed profession​ally and flourish.

• BakerOpportunity: focuses on social mobility and ensures that social diversity is being discussed with the same importance as other diversity characteristics.

• BakerWellbeing: focuses on improving the wellbeing of everyone at the Firm, fostering a culture that is open and supportive of mental health, healthy lifestyles, and celebrates disabilities and inclusivity.

• BakerWomen: is committed to creating equal gender representation and opportu​nity at all levels of the Firm. It is committed to ensuring gender equality remains a key ​business issue, and one that everyone in the Firm champions.