Baker McKenzie - True Picture

Firm profile

 

With more than 70 offices globally and a team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 lawyers, Baker McKenzie is one of the world’s largest law firms. We work with our colleagues across the firm’s global network to serve clients and meet their evolving needs, providing tailored advice underpinned by deep practice and sector expertise and enhanced by first-rate market knowledge. Trainee solicitors are a vital part of our network, exposed to the international scope of the firm from the moment they start, with possible overseas secondment opportunities. Recent secondees have spent time in Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, New York, Sydney and Melbourne.

Main areas of work

 

Our London office provides our clients with solutions to complex and often cross-border situations through a network of lawyers and offices that are locally embedded and globally integrated. We advise on some of the most significant and largest cross-border transactions, complex disputes and investigations, and international advisory matters in the UK and global markets.

With more than 500 lawyers, our London office is the largest in our Firm and a major city practice in its own right, providing domestic and cross-border legal advice in Banking & Finance, M&A, Tax, Competition, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Technology and Intellectual Property to a number of leading multinational corporations and financial institutions on complex matters.

Through connected thinking and integrated legal solutions, our London team works with colleagues across the globe to help clients achieve their objectives, while mitigating risk.

Training opportunities

The two-year training contract comprises four six-month seats which include a corporate and a contentious seat, usually within our highly regarded dispute resolution department. We also offer the possibility of a secondment abroad or with a client. During each seat you will have formal and informal reviews to discuss your progress and regular meetings to explore subsequent seat preferences. Your training contract commences with a highly interactive and practical induction programme which focuses on key skills including practical problem solving, presenting and the application of information technology. The firm’s training programmes include important components of management and other business skills, as well as seminars and workshops on key legal topics for each practice area. There is a Trainee Solicitor Liaison Committee which acts as a forum for any new ideas or concerns which may occur during the training contract.

Vacation scheme

Our vacation schemes offer the ideal opportunity to experience what it’s like to work for a city-based, global law firm. Each vacation scheme gives you the chance to experience two of our key practice areas. Training is provided throughout to familiarise you with some of our typical transactions and to help you develop key skills. We place great emphasis on involving you in ‘live’ work.

• Spring Vacation Scheme: 31 March – 17 April 2025
• Summer Vacation Schemes: 16 June – 4 July 2025

Other benefits

Bonus scheme, gym membership/subsidy, life assurance, pension scheme with company contributions, private healthcare/dental, GP services, season ticket loan, subsidised restaurant vouchers, cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers.

Open days and first-year opportunities

Open days: We have tailored our Open Days to you by focusing on the different things that matter to you. We are holding four Open Days where you can hear about Baker McKenzie more generally. But we also have Open Days for black future lawyers and allies, Open Days for LGBT+ and allies, Open Days focusing on women in law, plus many others that will give you a taste of our culture as well as our diverse community.

First Year Insight Schemes:

We offer fifteen places to spend two days in the firm on 29th and 30th April 2025. There will be a number of skills sessions and each student will spend a day in a department of their choice. Applications open in October.