Everything you need to know

about your training contract

1
Contents 4 Get to know us
5 What we offer
5 What we are looking for
6 Meet our trainees
7 What can you apply for?
7 Insight events
8 Application process
9 Let’s get to know each other
10 Department structure
12 Secondments
15 Quality clients
16 Our values
18 Responsible business
20 Fair and inclusive
22 Our culture
24 A day in the life of a trainee
26 A partner’s perspective
28 Find out more online

2
Top quality work
High profile clients
Inspiring colleagues
Cutting edge training
Ready to dive in?
Finding a training contract that’s right for
you is a critical step in your legal career.
At Burges Salmon, you don’t have Join our award winning training
to choose between top quality programme and you’ll enjoy
work and quality of life, high profile exposure to our high profile client
clients or first-class training – you list as you gain quality experience
can have it all. across a broad range of practices.

Based in Bristol and Edinburgh, two Ready to #BeMoreSalmon? Dive in

of the top places to live and work and you’ll go further than you ever
in the UK, we’re an independent thought possible.
law firm with an enviable range of
national and international clients.

#BeMoreSalmon

3
Get to know us
Burges Salmon by numbers...

3 450+ 3
we operate lawyers we are headquarted in
in all three UK Bristol with an office in
jurisdictions Edinburgh and a client
meeting space in London.

900+ 106 £119m

employees partners annual fee income

to April 2022

36% 96% 41%

of partners average trainee of the firm used at
trained at retention over the least one of their
the firm last five years volunteering days
in in 2021/22

4
What we offer
l Exposure to high-profile clients l Our responsible business
from FirstGroup to The John Lewis agenda is driven by our people.
Partnership. There are lots of opportunities
l A six-seat training programme to be involved with community,
across a variety of areas from wellbeing, environment as well as
Banking and Real Estate to Dispute diversity and inclusion.
Resolution and Private Client. l A friendly, collaborative culture
l A brilliant reward package balancing early responsibility with
including a firm-wide bonus an open door policy.
scheme, private health insurance, l We will support any future
subsidised sports and social clubs trainees who are due to join
and a group personal pension us in 2024 and beyond in the
plan with a matching contribution completion of the Post Graduate
from the firm. Diploma in Law (PGDL) and the
l Secondment opportunities SQE Plus preparation course with
to clients and firms within our the University of Law.
Preferred Firm Network.

What we are looking for

What all of our people have in common is an enthusiasm for the law
and a drive to deliver top quality work for our clients.

You’ll also need:

A 2:1 degree in any discipline Good judgement

To be a great team player Excellent communication skills

Drive and resilience

Strong analytical skills

5
Meet our trainees
Hear what some of our trainee solicitors
say about working at Burges Salmon.

Carly Phillips-Jones
Burges Salmon has a culture of
support and respect towards its
trainees. You are encouraged to
follow your interests, whether
that means exploring niche areas
of the law, or getting involved in
a new charity initiative, you will
always find support within the
firm.

David Morris
The environment and the culture
is very welcoming and inclusive.
As someone who is just starting
their training contract at a new
law firm, that’s exactly what I
was looking for.

Kayla Urbanski
There’s been an opportunity to
dive into all different aspects
of work – I think that goes
to show the amount of work
that’s on offer, and if you put
your hand up then you will
get such great opportunities
to develop your expertise.

To read more, visit our trainee blog page - click here

6
What can you apply for?
Law students Other students
As a law student you can apply 50% of our trainee intakes studied
for a vacation scheme and training another subject at undergraduate
contract during your penultimate level. In which case, you can apply for
or final year. This means you will a place on our vacation scheme or
have time to complete the final for a training contract from your final
year of your degree and the SQE year. This will give you the chance
before you start with us. to complete the PGDL and the SQE
before you start with us.

Graduates/Career changes
Once you have graduated you can apply for a vacation scheme or training
contract at any time.

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)

is the new route to qualification and Insight events
consists of a series of exams that
We run a number of events aimed at
were introduced in from September
anyone interested in a career in law.
2021. These will replace the need
From your first year at university, you
to complete the GDL and LPC. Our
can apply to attend a presentation
2024 trainee intake will be our first
evening, open day, or one of our
intake of trainees to qualify through
‘Food for thought’ networking and
the new route to qualification. All
information sessions. You can find
trainees joining us in September
out more information and apply
2024 and beyond will need to take
here.
the SQE. Anyone joining us before
this point will continue with the
existing route.

7
Application process

Online application form

Assessment day
consisting of a group exercise, a
written exercise, a Watson Glaser
psychometric test and a short
interview with a lawyer. You will
also attend a networking lunch
with current trainees and get the
opportunity to learn more about the
firm from one of our recruitment
partners.

Vacation scheme (one or

two week scheme)

Training contract
interview
with a partner and member of the
People team. Direct training contract
applicants will be invited back for an
interview if successful following the
assessment day.

To find out more about the application process click here

8
Let’s get to know each other
A vacation scheme is a great way for you to
experience life at Burges Salmon. It’s also an
excellent opportunity for us to get to know
you and help shape your career. So jump in.

Every year we run a winter scheme we decide that we’re right for each
(one week), spring scheme (one other, you’ll be offered a training
week) and two summer schemes contract to start two years later.
(two weeks each), which are open to
During your vacation scheme, you’ll
anyone who is eligible to apply for a
gain a real insight into our award-
training contract – regardless of your
winning law firm as you:
degree discipline.
• Get involved in real work
We recruit between 60-70% of our
trainees from the vacation scheme. • Have the chance to go to client
You will be offered a training contract meetings
interview on your final day and if • Attend skills sessions and
presentations run by qualified
lawyers and trainees
• Attend social events with our
trainees and have the opportunity
to sign up for sports events

Winter vacation scheme

Spring/summer vacation scheme

9
Department structure
Our six seat system offers you more choice

Most law firms will give you a four You’ll spend time in six of the
seat rotation. But here, that’s just a following departments:
drop in the ocean.
Corporate and Financial
Start your career in law with Burges Institutions (CFI)
Salmon, and you’ll explore six
• Banking & Finance
seat rotations. This means more
exposure to different types of law, • Corporate
more opportunities to build valuable • Funds & Financial Regulation
working relationships, deeper
expertise and sector knowledge, • Commercial
and more opportunities to make an • Employment
impact when you qualify.
• Pensions

Disputes, Planning and

Construction (DPC)
• Dispute Resolution
• Construction and Engineering
• Planning and Compulsory
Purchase

Tax, Trusts and Family (TTF)

• Private Client and Tax
• Family

Projects
Real Estate
Innovation team

10
“The six seat rotation works really well;
it is a unique opportunity to gain
experience in more departments,
which gives you a wider breadth of
knowledge overall. It also enables you
to meet more people across the firm,
which ties in with Burges Salmon’s
collegiate culture”
Current trainee

11
Secondments
We believe in nurturing talent, which is one
of the reasons we offer secondments.

We also believe that commercial

awareness, adaptability and people
skills are what set a great lawyer
apart from a good one.

As well as giving trainees and lawyers

a three dimensional view of the
profession at large, secondments
are an invaluable opportunity to
learn more about our clients. Recent
secondments have included working
with EDF Energy, Amazon and The
John Lewis Partnership.

Secondments also extend to working

with our Preferred Firm Network, a
non-exclusive group of like-minded
leading independent firms around
the world, involving a mix of cultural
and legal education, which benefits
your overall career as a lawyer.

12
 A day in the life of a trainee on
secondment

Beatrice Petrescu - first year trainee

on secondment at EDF Energy
Nuclear Generation Limited

6:30am: I get ready for the day, working on exciting nuclear energy
making sure to not forget both my work.
Burges Salmon and my EDF laptops
9:00am: Today is Tuesday, a day
- I really need to invest in a bigger
most of the legal team is in the
work bag!
office. I chat to my supervisor and
7:20am: I put my morning coffee in grab a cookie from the generously-
a keepcup and start walking towards stocked snack drawer. I then check
Bristol Temple Meads to catch my my emails and take a look at my
7:42 train to Gloucester. I board the to-do list for the day. I get started
train with minutes to spare, smiling with the first task of the day: tidying
at the other commuters. On the train, up board minutes from a meeting I
I turn on my favourite podcast and attended the previous week.
enjoy my coffee.
11am: I finalise the board minutes
8:30am: I arrive in Gloucester and and send them to my supervisor, and
make my way to the taxi waiting then it is time for the weekly meeting
outside the train station. I check my with the legal team. We all make our
work phone and put my EDF pass way to the meeting room and go
around my neck, getting ready for around the room discussing current
the work day. ongoing work and wider business
updates.
8:45 am: I get dropped off at EDF's
offices in Barnwood, reciprocate the 11:30am: Back at my desk, I action
warm greeting from the reception a few other tasks on my list, respond
and security staff, and walk to my to emails and arrange calls to discuss
desk in the legal team's designated projects I am working on. An exciting
area. The office is open-plan so I matter I have been involved with,
pass a lot of different teams already drafting a data-sharing contract

13
between EDF and a few universities, relate to. After getting these signed, I
is nearing completion, and I spend make my way to my desk and get the
some time checking it is in order leases scanned and saved into EDF's
before organising the DocuSign. system.
1:00pm: As it is a sunny day I 3:45pm: I join my supervisor for a
suggest lunching in the courtyard, coffee and we talk about an exciting
so a few of us head downstairs and new project I will be helping him
grab cheesy baked potatoes from on, to write an advice note for EDF's
the cafeteria, and talk about our Nuclear Decommissioning team.
weekend plans.
4:00pm: At my desk with a warm
2:00pm: Once back at my desk, I oat flat white, I start reading relevant
dial into a call with EDF's Technical legislation to prepare my advice for
Director to discuss an NDA I am the note. I conduct a bit of research
currently drafting for him. We discuss on PLC, and when I am stuck on a
the draft and his comments, and I specific issue, I ask my supervisor for
create an action plan to amend the some clarity and assistance - he is
NDA and send him the final version luckily more than happy to help!
later that week.
5:00 pm: I spend some time
2:30pm: After the call, I start getting updating my fresh unity entries for
documents printed and signposted the past week, and check my Burges
for a 3pm meeting with an EDF Salmon emails and teams inbox.
director to get two leases signed. The
5:15pm: I create my to-do list for
leases relate to land at one of EDF's
tomorrow, shut down my laptops
nuclear stations, and I have been
and pack my bag. I say goodbye to
communicating with EDF's estate
my supervisor and the rest of the
agents to get these executed and
team, and go to my taxi waiting
sent to the counterparties.
outside the office. I make my way
3:00pm: I walk to the director's to my train, and start texting my
office, which is only a few metres flatmates about our evening plans,
away from mine, and engage in content in the knowledge I won't
small talk before talking him through be receiving any work-related emails
the documents and what they each until the morning.

14
Quality clients
We have an impressive list of national
and international clients.

• The
John Lewis • Costain Group,
Partnership, • TheCrown Commercial
• The
Financial Services Service,
Compensation Scheme, • BabcockInternational
• FirstGroup, Group and
• HSBC Bank plc, • National Highways.
• Virgin,

Clients of Burges Salmon LLP praise

the firm’s lawyers for being proactive,
commercially-minded and committed to
delivering the best possible outcome for
their business.
Legal 500

With Burges Salmon you get a gold-

plated, Rolls Royce service - you can’t beat
it. Nothing is left unturned, everyone
there knows about the case and you get
a very good service. They’re a real joy to
work with.
Chambers 2022
15
Our values
We work hard to ensure that Burges Salmon is
a great place to work and our values are at the
heart of everything we do.

Commitment

Collaboration Quality

Burges Salmon

Ambition Fairness

Respect

16
17
Responsible business
Responsible business and doing the right thing is
what we’re all about. Everyone who works here
is encouraged to get involved. We see this as our
values in action. We are a member of Business in
The Community and signatory to the UN Global
Compact.
Community Wellbeing
We give back to the community in The wellbeing of our people is a
a variety of ways with volunteering, priority. BWell is our internal network
fundraising, pro bono legal advice, for wellbeing. We have a number of
making donations and enabling mental health first aiders and provide
community visitors to use our medical care and employee assistance
meeting rooms. Many of our people should you need it. We have a social
are also trustees of various charities network with regular events. There
and with schools. Our internal are a number of sports groups too.
community network is BEngaged We run wellbeing events covering a
who help to communicate the many range of topics from mindfulness to
opportunities that there are to be financial management.
involved. We have individual and
Environment
team volunteering with everyone
having two days for volunteering. We We are taking progressive action
have connections with many different for the environment and climate.
charities aligned with our responsible We are working towards reducing
business priorities. The flagship of our our total carbon emissions by 50%
community work is our multi-award by 2030 from a 2019 base-year.
winning ‘Working with Schools’ We are members of the Chancery
programme focused on inclusion and Lane Project, the Legal Sustainability
social mobility. Alliance and the Net Zero Lawyers
Alliance. Our internal network for the

18
environment is BSustainable. We hold across race, gender, disability, sexual
an annual green week in addition orientation as well as social mobility.
to on-going activities including We have four key internal networks
volunteering with environmentally- known as BCultured, BBalanced,
related charities. We encourage BEnabled and BProud. We have
sustainable travel and provide a cycle- diversity and inclusion events across
to-work scheme. We have an active the year including for Black History
Bike User Group too. Month, International Women’s Day
and PRIDE. We make work-place
Diversity and Inclusion
adjustments to enable those living
Diversity and inclusion is a strategic with disability.
priority. We focus on inclusion

41% of the firm used at least one

volunteering day in 2020/21

Our responsible business report is available on our website.

19
Fair and inclusive
Be valued. Be inspired. Be yourself.
#BeMoreSalmon
Our people, who come from all kinds of
backgrounds, are our greatest asset. And
we’re committed to nurturing, inspiring and
encouraging them every step of the way.

It’s great to be part of a firm

that prioritises D&I. With the
launch of BCultured there’s much
more engagement with BAME
employees and opportunities
to contribute towards the
firm’s strategic aims
BCultured (ethnic diversity network) member

With a range of people-led networks Not only are we a Disability

that promote diversity and inclusion Confident employer and supporter
across the firm, we pride ourselves of CIPD’s Flex From 1st Campaign,
on fostering a culture that welcomes we’re also proud to be one of the
everyone and celebrates different Top 75 UK employers for social
perspectives and backgrounds. After mobility and were listed in a Times
all, we know it’s what makes us Top 50 Employer for Women in 2022
stronger. too.

20
21
Our culture
We’re a leading independent UK law firm
with a unique model and culture

Our collaborative approach to how through our active sports and

we do business is totally refreshing. social clubs. Football, hockey and
It’s what attracts some of the best running groups meet on a regular
legal minds in the industry and it’s basis and Pilates, yoga and circuits
why our people love working here. classes are available at the office.
Our social club also organises other
We are headquartered in Bristol,
events such as wine tasting and
have an office in Edinburgh and
weekend trips away, which are great
a client meeting space in London.
opportunities to meet colleagues
All of our trainee solicitors are
from across the business.
based in Bristol, which is key
to shaping and maintaining a We’re proud to have been awarded
supportive and collaborative with Platinum ‘We invest in people’
training environment and culture. accreditation by Investors in People
for 2021-2024, a testimony to the
We don’t do hierarchy. Everyone’s
collective efforts made across the
contribution is valued and we mean
firm to ensure it’s a place where
it when we say our doors are open.
all our people can flourish. We are
Throughout your training contract,
proud of this highly prestigious
you will be an integral part of the
accolade with only 2% of companies
team, working alongside lawyers
assessed through Investors in People
who are experts in their field and
awarded the Platinum standard.
with a supervisor who will support
your growth and development. So make the jump with both feet
and #BeMoreSalmon.
And it’s not all work at Burges
Salmon. You can build your network

22
23
A day in the life of a trainee
All of our trainees are based in our Bristol HQ.
Located in the heart of the Temple Quay area, you’ll
find us in the business hub of the city, less than five
minutes walk from Temple Meads station.
Jess King - first year trainee at Burges Salmon LLP
a porridge drizzled in honey, which
I take up to my desk to eat whilst I
look at my to do list for the day.
9 am: I start the day by drafting
a licence to sub-let for one of the
capacity tasks I picked up from
the previous day. The allocation
of trainee work can be delegated
through supervisors or sometimes
6:15am: I dash to the gym to in the form of a capacity emails.
squeeze in a workout before work. This is sent out to all of the trainees
It’s surprising how much this sets and apprentices within the team
me up for the day. If you hadn’t of and whoever is interested and/or
guessed already, I am very much an best placed, will pick up the task.
early bird! This provides a great opportunity
to explore other areas of the
8:15 am: I leave home and stroll
department, pick up work that sparks
through Harbourside with my flat
your interest and work for varying fee
mate Amelia – another first year
earners.
trainee! We have a beautiful sunny
walk in along the river towards the 10 am: I have a Teams catch up with
office and often meet fellow trainees my supervisors. In Real Estate, all
along the way. trainees/apprentices are allocated
two supervisors that specialise in two
8:45 am: We arrive at the office
different areas of the department,
and I grab some breakfast from our
for example, my supervisors are in
onsite canteen, ‘Glassworks’. Usually

24
Energy and Agriculture. This enables lunchtime for a general catch up – it’s
us to have a broad exposure to varied a very sociable group.
work streams over our four-month
2pm: Once back at my desk, I review
seat. These informal catch ups are
and reply to a couple of emails
really useful to see what work my
before sitting down to review a
supervisors have on at the moment,
Certificate of Title. The other side
discuss my capacity and have a
have sent over a draft version of a
general catch up. We caught up on
large document which summarises a
the Food Festival that we all attended
property. I have been asked to review
over the weekend – a must do when
this and compare the data and
in Bristol!
information with a ‘Valuation Report’
10:30 am: I then take a look at a prepared by a property agent, and
refinancing matter I am assisting with the Official Land Registry Titles. A big
in reviewing some CPSE replies which task to get stuck into and test out my
we had received from the other side. knowledge and attention for detail.
This matter is providing me with
3:30pm: Having rotated seats
fee earner responsibility in running
only two weeks ago, I was kindly
my own file under the assistance
taken down for coffee by one of
and support of a director. This is an
the solicitors in the team to check
excellent opportunity to broaden my
in on how I am settling in, discuss
skills and personal development in
any interests I have and how they
managing my own matters ahead of
can support this. Burges Salmon are
qualification next year. I caught up
very much a people law firm which
with the director to discuss the next
provide the best mix of advice,
steps and any risks we should flag to
training and support.
our client.
4pm: I continue to review the
12:30 pm: I then head over to
Certificate of Title, updating the fee
another law firm to get a statutory
earner on my progress and anything
declaration signed on behalf of our
that should be addressed to the
client. This is a common trainee task
client.
in Real Estate.
5:30 pm: I have a quick chat with my
1pm: I head down with some of
supervisor and create my ‘to do list’
the trainees in my department
for tomorrow before heading home
to ‘Glassworks’ to make the all-
around 6.
important lunch choice decision.
All of the trainees tend to meet at

25
A partner’s perspective
37% of our partners trained at the firm and are
now experts in their field. Commercial partner
Helen Scott-Lawler shares her story.

I joined Burges Salmon as a trainee As a trainee, I sat in four departments

25 years ago, and have been at the in six four month seats (as we
firm ever since. I did a law degree at continue to do): Disputes, Real
Merton College, Oxford and I wanted Estate, Tax, Trust and Family and
to have a very high-quality training Corporate (which incorporated
contract outside London. our Commercial practice) and then
revisited Disputes and Commercial.
Burges Salmon fulfilled that
objective, but also turned out to I qualified into Commercial in the
provide something else – a culture midst of Rail Privatisation (I have
of collaboration, which helped me already dated myself, so don’t be
to feel part of the firm from the very too shocked by that), and was at
start. That culture is core to the firm, the heart of the firm’s involvement
and is just as palpable today. in that project during my training

26
contract and on qualification. I am far from alone as a home-grown
We were one of very few firms to partner: about a third of our partners
have that experience, and we have did their training contracts at the
had a market leading Rail practice firm, 25% of whom are women.
since that time. Indeed, both our senior partner and
managing partner trained at the firm.
I also got to try some other aspects
of commercial work, including IP and Burges Salmon has always taken the
commercial contracts. I became a view that trainees are the future of
partner in 2001 in that practice area, the firm: my 25 years here is one
and since then have spent time in our of many examples of that. And the
management team, both on our Board reason so many trainees choose to
and as a Head of Department. But stay and spend their careers here. It’s
there is still time to be involved in some the combination of quality of work
of our wider activities too: One of my and clients with the strong culture of
favourite examples was participating in collaboration and shared values.
an internal dance competition to raise
money for charity.

27
 Ready to make the leap?
Find out more information about
our programme, get application
advice and much more.

www.burges-salmon.com/careers

@BurgesSalmonTS

burgessalmon

28
www.burges-salmon.com
One Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0ZX T +44 (0)117 939 2000 F +44 (0)117 902 4400
Atria One, 144 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EX T +44 (0)131 314 2112 F +44 (0)131 777 2604
6 New Street Square, London EC4A 3BF T +44 (0)20 7685 1200 F +44 (0)20 7980 4966
Burges Salmon LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (LLP number OC307212), and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. It is also regulated by
the Law Society of Scotland. Its registered office is at One Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0ZX. A list of the members may be inspected at its registered office. Further information about Burges Salmon entities,
including details of their regulators, is set out on the Burges Salmon website at www.burges-salmon.com. © Burges Salmon LLP 2022. All rights reserved. Extracts may be reproduced with our prior
consent, provided that the source is acknowledged. Your details are processed and kept securely in accordance with our Privacy Policy which you can read on our website. To help us keep our database
up to date, please let us know if your contact details change or if you do not want to receive any further marketing material by contacting [email protected].

29