Burges Salmon has announced it will roll out sector-specific training contracts in 2029, creating two dedicated pathways, one for energy and another for the built environment, while keeping its existing general programme intact. The pilot will offer only two places, one in each specialism, alongside the firm’s standard six-seat rotation system. Trainees on these new tracks will still receive broad legal exposure but will work under supervisors who specialise in their chosen industry.
This development supports the firm’s 2026–31 strategy, which emphasises building deeper sector knowledge to meet client demands in evolving markets. Ross Fairley, a senior partner, noted that modern clients need lawyers who understand not just legal structures but also the commercial and technological trends driving their industries. Alice Bretherton, the firm’s chief people officer, stressed that the specialist routes allow candidates to pursue their professional interests while preserving the firm’s core training structure.
Applications for these new programmes will open on 30 October, running alongside the firm’s regular trainee recruitment drive. Selection will follow the existing process. The change reflects a wider industry shift prompted by the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which has loosened requirements on training content. Rival firms such as BCLP, Milbank, Gowling WLG, and Simpson Thacher have already introduced comparable initiatives in fields including financial services, real estate, and private equity.
Read Also: Hogan Lovells partners with two AI firms
Burges Salmon currently awards 30 training contracts each year, with starting salaries of £51,500 in Bristol and £44,250 in Edinburgh. After qualification, salaries rise to £78,000 in Bristol and £74,000 in Edinburgh. Both locations also host vacation schemes and training contracts, reinforcing their role in trainee development.
The introduction of these specialist pathways addresses a growing trend among law firms to align training with emerging practice areas, easing the traditional requirement to cover all disciplines. While this may reduce the burden on trainees with defined career paths, the limited availability, just two spots per sector, could intensify competition. The firm’s move suggests a broader industry transition toward targeted expertise, even as it retains its full foundational training.
The new contracts will first apply to the 2029 intake, representing Burges Salmon’s latest effort to draw talent through focused professional opportunities.
