Birketts

About the firm

There was always that one kid at school who was seemingly both an elite-level sportsperson and capable of better grades than everyone else. The general consensus, of course, was always that it wasn’t remotely fair on the rest of us. Enter Birketts. For many, Birketts occupies a sweet spot in the legal market. One trainee described it as a "well-regarded, respected national firm" offering "London-quality work with a regional-quality lifestyle" – think ‘big name’ without the intense culture sometimes associated with the life of a city lawyer.

"London-quality work with a regional-quality lifestyle…"

There’s something of an emphasis on training at the firm too, and the balance between the firm's scale and, thus, the accessibility of training cropped up repeatedly in our conversations with trainees – one trainee shared that in their vacation scheme at Birketts, “everyone in the teams knew who the trainees were, which was what I wanted.”

Birketts (with its HQ in Ipswich) has a mighty reputation in East Anglia and the South East, but has expanded into new markets and offices in recent years. The firm’s offices in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich each take on a similar number of trainees, with London, Sevenoaks and Bristol taking on slightly smaller cohorts.

In East Anglia, the firm bags top-tier rankings in Chambers UK across agriculture & rural affairs, banking & finance, construction, corporate/M&A, employment, family/matrimonial, information technology, litigation, planning & environment, real estate, real estate litigation, and restructuring/insolvency.

Why trainees joined the firm

Regional market location

For those with existing ties to the region, the opportunity to build a legal career without moving further afield was a major draw: “I was looking at regional firms because I live in East Anglia and I didn’t want to uproot my life.”

Reputation

There’s no getting past it: the ‘Birketts’ name carries weight. This extends beyond its East Anglian roots too. As one trainee put it: “The firm has a good reputation and it is growing at quite some pace.”

Friendly culture

The firm's culture made a strong impression from the outset. Several trainees pointed to Birketts’ vac scheme as setting the tone early: “The vac scheme showed me that it was what I wanted,” one explained. “I really want to stay at the firm. I’ve really enjoyed my TC. I like the team, the work, and the life I have here.”

Trainee satisfaction rankings

Training contract structure

Seat allocation

Trainees are assigned their first seat at random, which is “quite nice because you don’t have to think too much about it and a lot of people’s minds changed during their first seats.” For the remaining seats, “the list comes out just before the halfway mark through each seat, with the jobs and locations, and you fill out your preferences from one to three or one to five.”

As one trainee put it: “I’ve never had a bad experience. The Early Careers team is pretty good at making sure that if you didn’t get something high up on your list, they’ll try and prioritise you at the next rotation.”

Seat Experiences

Trainee life

Culture and environment

Data from our annual trainee survey

At Birketts, trainees consistently highlighted the firm's people-focused culture. As one source put it, "They care about you as a person, not just the work you're producing – and I've seen that across all of my seats. That's one of the best things about working here." The firm's friendly reputation was a recurring theme.

One trainee admitted they had initially taken claims about the culture "with a pinch of salt," only to discover that "everyone actually is really nice." Others described the atmosphere as family-like, supportive and approachable. "It's got a really good camaraderie," one trainee told us, while another remarked that "it feels like a small firm even though we are actually quite big now."

"…it feels like a small firm even though we are actually quite big now."

The sense of community appears to extend across the firm's offices too. Whether based in Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich or London, trainees spoke positively about their relationships with colleagues and the connections between locations. As one source explained, "I'll always see someone I know."

Outside of work, there is no shortage of opportunities to socialise. Trainees mentioned regular pub trips, team socials and larger firm-wide events, including punting, race days, escape rooms, treasure hunts, Christmas parties and the annual summer party. "You don't join a team and it's all work and no play," one trainee reflected. "There's a bit of fun in there as well."

Working patterns

Data from our annual trainee survey

Officially, trainees are expected to be in the office five days a week, although sources told us that sensible flexibility is available where needed, whether for appointments, travel disruption or other personal commitments. Working hours varied between departments. Planning and litigation seats were generally described as predictable, with several trainees reporting schedules close to 9am to 5.30pm. We heard that transactional teams, including banking and corporate, tended to be busier: "Banking was more like 9–7 most days," one trainee explained, although they stressed that exceptionally late nights were relatively uncommon. As one trainee succinctly put it: "It's not crazy."

Pay

Salary talk came with a little nuance, as trainees recognised that Birketts is not aiming to match the salaries offered by the highest-paying London firms, but most felt the package sat comfortably alongside the firm's culture, training opportunities and work-life balance. Some noted that while living costs in Cambridge are high, pay remains relatively consistent across the firm's non-London offices.

That said, compensation did little to dampen overall satisfaction with the firm. Several trainees told us they could see themselves building long-term careers at Birketts. As one source put it: "I really want to stay at the firm. I've really enjoyed my training contract."

Supervision and training

Data from our annual trainee survey

“All my supervisors have been really present and I’ve seen them most days a week,” one trainee began. Formal support comes in the form of mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews, but trainees reported receiving plenty of informal guidance too.

As one source explained, “in one of my seats I had regular, formal, scheduled catch-ups, whereas in another it has been more informal feedback as and when, but I’ve found them all very approachable and supportive.” While supervisors are usually partners, trainees noted that they also receive support from “whoever you’re working for.”

Training begins with four days of onboarding at Birketts' Ipswich head office, covering everything from IT systems to the practicalities of life at the firm. Once in their seat, trainees receive department-specific training to help them get up to speed.

Beyond this, trainees attend quarterly sessions focused on skills such as drafting and legal writing. One source felt there was “quite a lot” of training on offer, highlighting the firm's online learning platform, Learn, alongside regular workshops for junior lawyers. Through the Future Lawyers programme, trainees can attend monthly sessions on topics including communication, presentation skills and resilience, delivered by both the Learning & Development team and external speakers.

Inclusion

Trainees spoke positively about the firm's inclusion efforts and the visibility of its employee networks. Groups highlighted by interviewees included Be Proud, Embrace and the firm's neurodiversity network, Different Minds. Sources described these groups as active and increasingly visible within the firm.

Recent initiatives mentioned by trainees included World Culture Day, potluck lunches, Eid celebrations and a variety of educational events. "The effort is definitely there," one trainee told us. Another added that the firm actively supports employees who want to establish new networks and initiatives.

Pro bono & CSR

Pro bono opportunities at Birketts appear to be plentiful, and participation is largely driven by individual interest. As one trainee put it, "it's there if you want to do it." Trainees are able to sign up for matters that interest them, speak directly with clients, and fit pro bono work around their existing workload. One source appreciated the flexibility, noting that trainees can "dip in and out as and when you want." Encouragingly, pro bono involvement doesn't seem limited to junior lawyers either, with one trainee observing that "everyone up to partners does pro bono."

Beyond legal volunteering, the firm is active in fundraising and community engagement. Each office supports a Charity of the Year, with activities ranging from bake sales to sponsored walks and runs organised by a dedicated charities committee. According to trainees, these initiatives are well supported and provide another way to get involved outside of fee-earning work.

Other opportunities include:

• Suffolk Law Centre

• Norfolk and Norwich Law Society legal advice clinics

Qualification

Trainees described Birketts' qualification process as clear and well organised. NQ vacancies are circulated by the Early Careers team, with trainees submitting an application form and supporting statement before interviewing for their chosen role. One source noted that interviews are required for all applicants "to ensure fairness across the board." The Early Careers team provides regular check-ins throughout the process, keeping trainees updated on timelines, requirements and next steps. While trainees can express interest in departments informally before applications open, qualification ultimately follows a structured application and interview process.

Birketts knows best…

Birketts' allocated first-seat system seems to have a habit of changing trainees’ minds. One trainee told us that while they “never would’ve picked banking & finance, it was a good thing because I got to try something new!” Maybe sometimes the best seat choices are the ones you don't make yourself!