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15 Fetter Lane London EC4A 1JP 
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The lowdown (in their own words...)Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'Excellent reputation as a leader in IP, good hours, international offices, good salary'; 'a lifestyle firm with a market-leading sports department'; 'good reputation, rapidly expanding, generally a nice place to be'; 'the style and approach of the firm - more dynamic and yet friendly'; 'excellent vacation scheme' How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'Work/life balance far better. Although there are late nights, they are not nearly as bad as colleagues at other firms'; 'my friends are all envious'; 'more relaxed, people more approachable'; 'work quality here seems far above average. Training seems very complete and professional' Best thing about the firm? 'High-quality training/work with an excellent work/life balance'; 'its innovative and friendly culture'; 'intelligent people'; 'everyone is so friendly throughout the firm'; 'should be less damaged by the credit crunch than other firms'; 'reputation and work ethic'; 'work with big clients on interesting matters'; 'training and learning opportunities' Worst thing about the firm? 'Split across several buildings'; 'a tendency to take itself seriously'; 'lack of free gym membership'; 'the offices are a little old and cramped'; 'no bonuses for trainees'; 'there aren't enough showers!'; 'too much competition for secondments' Best moment? 'When complex advice to a client that I've drafted is sent out virtually untouched by my supervisor'; 'working in a vibrant team'; 'a secondment to Germany'; 'going to watch our firm in the Privy Council'; 'trainee weekend away!'; 'scoring the winning goal in the annual international football tournament'; 'being personally thanked by a client for all my hard work' Worst moment? 'Being made to feel guilty for a mistake which was not mine'; 'doing mindless data entry work for about a week'; 'being given a massive disclosure exercise to do on my own'; 'the quiet periods when there is little work'; 'a seat with a supervisor who clearly didn't want (and now doesn't have) a trainee' The firmBird & Bird offers unparalleled expertise across the media, IP, IT, telecoms, biotech and sports fields and has a practice described by clients as 'incredibly well-structured and commercially focused'. The firm has also been enjoying rapid expansion recently - merging with Lane & Partners in 2008, as well as launching simultaneously in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. General commercial and litigation work has been impressive too. The star performersTop-ranking departments according to The Legal 500*Brand management; IP (contentious, non-contentious and patent litigation); IT and telecoms; Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology; Public sector; Sport. The dealsAdvising EADS Astrium on the acquisition of Surrey Satellite Technology; advising Airwave Solutions on its deal to provide radio services to the London Organising Committee for Olympic and Paralympic Games; acted for flagship client Nokia in defending a patent infringement claim by InterDigital; advised Yahoo! on the launch of Yahoo! Connected TV in ten European jurisdictions. The clientsBT; Codemasters; Football Association; Lastminute.com; LTA; O2; Retroscreen Virology; Southpeak Games; T-Mobile; Take-Two Interactive. The money(from Legal Business magazine) Turnover in 2008: £143.7m (+24% from 2007) Profits per equity partner: £462,000 (+1%) Highly commended Law firm of the year for its huge growth in recent years. The Lex 100 verdictTrainees at Bird & Bird remain very happy with their 'innovative and friendly firm'. Once again, they praise the quality of work, the excellent client base, the ever-expanding international scope and the open culture. Many candidates choose to come here in preference to City/Magic Circle firms for the special mix of high-quality work, lots of responsibility and a fantastic reputation in its specialist areas of IP, IT, media, sports law and life sciences. That is not to say other departments don't also excel. Trainees are anxious to point out the firm's strength in depth. They compare their experiences very favourably with peers at other firms, with one commenting, 'they are kicking themselves - I am truly on to a good thing'. Bird & Bird also has a well-deserved reputation for giving trainees and staff a good work/life balance and many trainees comment positively on this - 'I have really good hours compared to other firms'. No surprise then that the firm is a Lex 100 Winner for work/life balance in our survey. It is also a winner in the 'confident of being kept on' category, which is very telling in the current climate and shows that trainees have a good level of confidence in their firm ('should be less damaged by the credit crunch than others', hopes one optimistic trainee). They are also happy with the 'open-door policy which actually means what it says'. There are not many complaints from these largely contented trainees, but they would prefer to 'be in one building instead of split between three'. They would also like more opportunities for international secondments, as currently 'there are not enough and the competition is fierce'. A gym membership would be a nice bonus for some of them too. In most other areas though, Bird & Bird appears to provide excellent, hands-on training with interesting, often high-profile, work, and a good work/life balance in an open, friendly environment. A day in the life of..... Tessa Finlayson trainee, Bird & Bird 8.00am: I cycle to work, which helps to make me alert for the day ahead.9.00am: Once at my desk, I set my phone message for the day, check my calendar for any meetings or seminars that I may be attending and check any emails that may have come in overnight that need my urgent attention. My supervisor has forwarded me the documents that we discussed yesterday before I left. We are working on a large procurement with an approximate value of £230m.9.10am: Once I am sure that there is nothing requiring my immediate attention, I meet with one of the other trainees while making a cup of tea in the kitchen to discuss a charity skydive I am helping to organise.9.15: I settle at my desk and update my 'to do' list and prioritise my tasks for the day. I am due to attend a meeting later in the week with the client who is running the procurement, along with my supervisor. The client has sent through some questions on which we will be advising in the meeting, so I start my research on the legal issues involved.11.30: I receive an email from one of the partners in the department asking me to look into a growing area of concern and developing area of law that may affect certain clients. I have been asked to prepare a pack to go to our major clients that is designed to act as a practical tool for them in their contract negotiations.1.00pm: All the trainees try and get together at lunchtimes to have a chat in the Bird Table (our canteen). After a bite to eat, a few of us venture out to grab an ice-cream for a stroll around Lincolns' Inn Fields before heading back to the office.2.00pm: I return to my research for my client meeting. My research has highlighted a tricky legal point. With my supervisor at a client meeting, I go to talk through the issues with someone else to get a fresh perspective. The newly qualified solicitor I speak to agrees with me, as does his colleague, who has recently agreed to do an article on the issue for an external publication, so I agree to help him with the preparation of that over the coming weeks.2.30pm: I return to my office to write up my findings and outline our advice to the client ahead of our meeting. My supervisor and I agree to discuss this first thing tomorrow morning.4.00pm: The head of the department pops into my office to see if I can help him with a client matter. He has been asked by one of our well-known IT clients to evaluate a set of distribution agreements. He asks that I read each agreement and summarise the major terms and agreement structure for him. He needs to select a working team most appropriate to the relevant issues to this contract.6.45pm: After having read the relevant agreements, I present my findings to the head of the department and return to my desk to check whether anything else needs to be completed before I go home for the night.7.00pm: Happy that I have done all necessary work for the day, I join the ladies' football team for our scheduled league match in Kennington. We're not amazing, in fact we have never won a match when I have played, but we go down working hard and having a laugh! About the firm Address: 15 Fetter Lane London EC4A 1JP Telephone: 020 7415 6000 Fax: 020 7415 6111 Email:
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Senior partner: David Kerr, CEO
Total partners: 213
Other fee-earners: 492 assistant lawyers
Total trainees :35 in London
Other offices: Beijing, Bratislava, Brussels, Budapest, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, The Hague, Helsinki, Hong Kong, London, Lyon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rome, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Warsaw. Who we are: Bird & Bird is an international commercial law firm that operates on the basis of an in-depth understanding of key industry sectors. What we do: Our sector focus includes aviation and aerospace, financial services, communications, electronics, energy, IT, life sciences, media and sport. We are proud to be working with some of the world's most innovative and technologically advanced companies. What we are looking for: We recognise that our lawyers are our most important asset and that is why we recruit strong graduates capable of developing expert legal skills and commercial acumen. Our trainee solicitors are outgoing, articulate team players willing to work hard when called upon and genuinely interested in progressing their careers. We aim to recruit candidates who have a long-term interest in Bird & Bird and the sectors and areas of legal practice we focus on. What you will do: Our trainees take on responsibility from day one and enjoy varied and challenging work for industry-shaping clients. If you become a trainee with us, you will be given the chance to excel. The firm is still personal enough for our trainees to make their mark in our friendly, stimulating workplace. Perks: Bonus scheme, gym membership/subsidy, life insurance, pension scheme, private healthcare, season ticket loan, subsidised restaurant. Sponsorship: Sponsorship through GDL and LPC and a maintenance grant of £5,500 per study year. Application processApply to: Lynne Walters, head of graduate and trainee management. How to apply: Online application via our website www.twobirds.com or www.cvmail.com.au. When to Apply: By 31 July 2010 for training contracts in 2012. What is involved: All applications are reviewed and successful applicants are invited to one of our assessment days. Candidates who successfully evidence particular competencies are then invited back to a formal interview, normally arranged at the beginning of September. Facts and figuresTrainee places available for 2012 16 Applications received pa 1,000 Percentage interviewed 10% SalaryFirst year £35,000 Second year £37,000 Newly qualified £55,000 Placement schemesSummer: June and July 2010 (apply by 31 January 2010). |
