BCLP

About the firm

Whilst individually, the two acronyms ‘BC’ and ’LP’ are usually associated with things that are fundamentally old fashioned (sorry vinyl record nerds), the law firm that utilises the same four letters could hardly be branded with the same label. BCLP sits quite comfortably up in the rafters of international commercial law. The firm is a specialist in all things real estate, but a BCLP training contract can offer trainees a fantastic leg up into a wide variety of areas of commercial law. Alongside its real estate prowess, the firm holds top-tier Chambers UK rankings in planning, asset finance and commercial contracts. As one trainee quite rightly observed, “the firm is very good at real estate, but when you’re here you have a really good chance of doing lots of different things.”

“…the firm is very good at real estate, but when you’re here you have a really good chance of doing lots of different things.”

Back in 2018, BCLP rose from the ashes of the merger between UK firm Berwin Leighton Paisner and US firm Bryan Cave (a transatlantic merger that took place long before it was in vogue). Reflecting on this nearly decade-old change, the firm’s training principal Payam Yoseflavi tells us “I think that the firm was ahead of its time in terms of doing a transatlantic merger. Obviously, everyone is jumping on that bandwagon now and realising that you need to have a strong North American presence in order to survive as a global law firm.”

The firm has 32 offices internationally, including three UK offices; London, Manchester and Southampton respectively, but only the firm’s Manchester and London offices are home to trainees. Whilst the firm does recruit a good number of trainees from its vacation schemes, direct applications to the firm’s training contract are still possible.

Why trainees joined the firm

Real estate focus

Almost all of our interviewees argued that the firm’s reputation for its work in real estate was something that preceded it and helped pique their interest. Given that over the last two years, BCLP has advised on real estate projects with a combined value of over $75 billion globally, it’s hardly surprising.

Great training

Another draw for trainees was the fact that the firm is “very well regarded for its training. It’s something that hasn’t fallen short either. The training is fantastic, really comprehensive and regular.”

UK office connectivity

The firm’s network of UK offices was a real bonus, as they often operate collaboratively. The firm’s real estate team for example, frequently converse with BCLP’s real estate post completion team in Manchester. Trainees and experienced lawyers alike frequently make visits between offices and often attend cross office socials. The firm’s Manchester trainees are also able to undertake secondments in London.

Trainee satisfaction rankings

Training contract structure

Seat allocation

When joining the firm, trainees are provided with an extensive information booklet on each seat, outlining typical trainee work and past examples trainees have been involved in. Trainees choose their next seat towards the end of each rotation. Although no seats are formally compulsory—including disputes or real estate—we were told that “it’s pretty rare to go through your training contract and not sit in a real estate seat… it’s a big part of what the firm does.”

Client secondments

There are a “good variety” of client secondments available to trainees at BCLP, and they’re often with some big names. Whilst secondment availability varies (as it does at most firms) a secondment is usually attached to a practice group. Trainees can cut their teeth on a secondment at Goldman Sachs, Heathrow airport, or Barclays. On the subject of client secondments, one trainee told us that they thought the value of doing a client secondment is “understated,” arguing that “learning how clients work is a really important part of developing as a lawyer.”

Seat Experiences

Trainee life

Culture and environment

Data from our annual trainee survey

The most frequent and consistently attended event in the BCLP social calendar is an open bar on the last Thursday of every month. Impromptu pub trips are also commonplace and organised socials such as team padel or softball, a summer party, and a BBQ also take place throughout the year. These are hardly just the reserve of trainees from the London office; we heard that socials often bring together lawyers from the firm’s Southampton and Manchester offices and allow lawyers of all seniorities to mingle. As one trainee reported: “Recently I was at an event, and I was socialising with people of all sorts of levels.”

BCLP’s offices are laid out in an open-plan style, with floor plans designed so that different teams sit together on different floors. Interviewees said that BCLP’s office planning helped to encourage collaboration, and no doubt saved the need for unnecessary Microsoft Teams messages: “It’s easy to pop over to someone’s desk and ask them a question” one trainee told us, pointing out that “it’s easy to get a read of whether someone is busy.”

When taking a break at the BCLP office, trainees can spend time in a large, subsidised cafeteria which was said to offer “really nice, varied food.” In the summer, trainees can also choose to sit outside in the courtyard.

Working patterns

Data from our annual trainee survey

Trainees are expected to be in the office four days a week. Whilst trainees told us the firm is a little flexible on this figure in practice, they all agreed that BCLP prefers its trainees to come in as much as possible. Explaining the firm’s stance on office presence, Yoseflavi tells us that “like in anything in life, when you're trying to learn something, you need to be in the environment where you can see how other people who are doing the thing that you're trying to learn how to do are operating. Equally, the people that are supervising you can have a look at you and see how you're performing.” After all, “In the same way that if you were learning how to play tennis, it doesn't work to go and play tennis on your own in the park and then only see the coach once a week.”

As is so often the case, the hours in some seats are more steady than in others, but one interviewee told us that they “regularly make plans during the week, anddo actually feel I can stick to them.” Generally, a quiet shift at BCLP would be deemed to be starting at 9 and ending at 6.30pm. A busy day may consist of starting at the same time but ending closer to 9pm. “I’ve only finished very late twice so far. It’s very rare that I feel the need to be in the office late” another trainee added.

Pay

Data provided by firm and our annual trainee survey

BCLP’s trainee and NQ salaries have recently increased. Trainees thought that the new salary on offer at BCLP was fair, and on par with the market rate. One trainee argued that “for the hours I work, the salary is perfect.” The verdict of another trainee was that “you don’t have to sell your soul whilst working here.”

Supervision and training

Data from our annual trainee survey

A week before starting their first seat, BCLP trainees are subject to an induction programme, which gets them up to speed with IT and other essential resources. Every time trainees rotate teams, an introduction to the seat is also provided, supplemented by practice group-specific training and trainee- specific development sessions (which can cover things such as drafting and communication training). “It covers literally every single element of – for example, real estate finance – that you need to know,” one trainee told us. Links to different training sessions and online resources are also provided to trainees should they want a refresher.

“It covers literally every single element of – for example, real estate finance – that you need to know…”

Those we spoke to estimated that they had a formal discussion with their supervisor once every two weeks. The meetings provide a space for trainees to check in and for a supervisor to make sure that the workload a trainee is juggling is manageable. As Yoseflavi explains, “it’s a feedback-heavy, hands-on approach to supervision and development, but my sense is that it yields good results. Judging by the fact that so many other firms keep trying to poach our trainees, it would suggest that we're doing something right!”

Pro bono & CSR

BCLP is partnered with a number of legal clinics local to its offices. Trainees can sign up to a rota to volunteer every three months. “I’ve come across some really interesting stuff that I wouldn’t have otherwise,” one source commented, “it’s raw but interesting work.” The firm also frequently fundraises for charities by holding fun social events, such as beat the board (a competitive quiz) and sponsored hikes. This year, BCLP’s charity of the year was Refuge. Day to day, colleagues were also seen to take a great interest in supporting charities with GofundMe campaigns and charity events in the kitchen.

Other opportunities include:

• Rewilding projects

• Fundraising for a number of charities

Inclusion

Trainees were quick to highlight the inclusion initiatives at the firm, including Enable, Family & Carers, Gender, LGBTQ+, Race and Ethnicity, Social Inclusion, WellBeing, and Interfaith. These groups are open to all, and were said to ensure that there are “plenty of inclusion-related events going on throughout the year.” Trainees added that the firm has a good track record of promoting and publicising the events that were held too.

When it came to the firm’s efforts to create an environment for positive mental wellbeing, one trainee reported that their supervisor had been “fantastic in a pastoral sense, they regularly check in. Once or twice, when I’ve been logged on late, I’ve had my supervisor message me and ask if everything is okay.” The firm also has a number of signposted ‘mental health champions’, who are a first port of call for anyone who may be struggling.

Qualification

The large majority of trainees that we spoke to were set on staying at BCLP for the long run. “My long-term goal would definitely be to stay at the firm” remarked one trainee. Whilst in their fourth seat, trainees looking to stay undertake an interview with the different teams they would like to qualify into. This, along with feedback received in prior seats, will determine whether trainees will be offered an NQ position. As one trainee summarised: “Qualification is never going to be a chill period of your life,” even so, trainees here felt that they could always turn to grad rec if they were unsure about the process: “They are always there to support you and you don’t feel alone in the process.”

BCLPerfect choice…

Trainees loved the “funky and exciting” renovation of BCLP’s London office. Perhaps BCLP stands for Bright, Cool, Lovely Paint?