Bird & Bird brings training contract deadline forward
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Bird & Bird has brought its training contract applications deadline forward by two months as competition to become a trainee solicitor continues to intensify.
Bird & Bird has brought its training contract applications deadline forward by two months as competition to become a trainee solicitor continues to intensify.
The law firm has been forced to bring its cut-off date forward to 29 May after it announced a “substantially increased” number of applications from would-be lawyers vying for a coveted training contract.
A spokesperson for the firm said: “Bird & Bird has decided that the deadline date for applications this year will be brought forward to 29th May. We have received a substantially increased number of applications this year and have made this decision in order to process them efficiently and fairly.”
Meanwhile, the firm is not planning to defer the start dates of those candidates who already hold firm training contract offers. It also claimed that its summer vacation schemes will go ahead as normal.
The news comes after Slaughter and May closed its training contract applications last month to non-law students earlier than usual after receiving a significantly higher volume of applications (see story).
Meanwhile, Eversheds and Field Fisher Waterhouse have both cancelled all their summer vacation schemes and closed their graduate recruitment programme until 2010 after asking their trainees to defer their start dates.
Similarly, Shoosmiths is also not accepting any applications for training contracts starting in September 2011 though it has confirmed that it is not planning to make any changes to its summer vacation scheme.
Under Solicitors Regulation Authority rules law firms are not permitted to offer penultimate year law students training contracts until 1 September.
But do you know what working as a lawyer actually involves? And are you sure of the steps you have to take to qualify as a solicitor or barrister?
Readers' comments (3)
Anonymous | 27-Apr-2009 10:42 am
I am outraged by this last minute change from Bird & Bird. I am a GDL student and have set aside a few months so that I can concentrate on applications and now I won't have as much time as I thought to work on my application to the firm! It's already hard enough to get a training contract as it is without putting in last minute applications.
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Rorschach | 29-Apr-2009 10:42 am
Not everyone has the time to spare to complete application forms in a hurry, most firms only keep their recruitment windows open for a few months which is quite inconsiderate to those who aren't students and so don't have as much free time.
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Kyle Owens | 24-May-2009 2:23 am
Dear me you two, please stop whinging...
At the end of the day Bird & Bird don't have to be "considerate" to all their potential applicants.
If you think that law firms should work around your timetables then I suggest you look into other professions.
Otherwise man it up - or you'll never get a job! :D
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