Bristows

Bristow-tal Recall: As a market leader in IP and tech law, Bristows offers a focused route into some of the most innovative and fast-moving sectors in the world… no memory implant required!

Bristows training contract review 2026

About the firm

It’s 2084, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is battling memory thieves in space, desperate to protect his real memories from being swapped with synthetic fakes. It’s a shame really, because the film would’ve ended well before the two-hour mark if Bristows’ top-tier IP team had been on the case.

“It’s such an exciting area of law, and I knew Bristows were top of the pile.”

Bristows has had IP and tech law in its DNA from the start, having drawn up patent agreements for the first practical electrical telegraph. That deep-rooted focus continues to attract future lawyers. As one trainee put it, “I applied because of the IP focus. It’s such an exciting area of law, and I knew Bristows were top of the pile.”

This is reflected in the firm’s top Chambers UK rankings in practices like IP, patent litigation and IT and outsourcing in London, and life sciences and data protection UK-wide. Given the firm’s IP and tech focus, a number of the firm’s trainees and lawyers come from STEM backgrounds. As one source added: “I wanted a career that conjoined science with law. Patent law always made sense in that way.”

Training Contract Structure

Bristows’ incoming trainees are invited to a meeting with the current cohort to get a feel for life in each department. Trainees give a short presentation on the kind of work and support available, followed by a relaxed social event that gives newcomers the chance to ask questions more informally. Those we spoke to said it helped them a lot when deciding on preferences.

Before starting their first seat, the new cohort ranks their choices, with the option to include a secondment if desired. Unlike many firms in our guide, Bristows allocates seats for the entire year up front. It’s something that trainees felt gives them a huge advantage when it comes to planning ahead.

As one put it: “They’re very accommodating and the range of seats is great. I got all the departments I asked for.” Most seats run for six months, although brands, design and copyright, corporate and real estate are sometimes offered as three-month stints. Patent litigation is the only compulsory seat, and trainees must also complete either corporate or real estate.

Trainees told us that client secondments are almost guaranteed if you request one in your preferences and it aligns with business needs. Bristows’ secondees spend three months with major players across tech, life sciences, biotech and pharma. Sources described it as a valuable chance to explore non-contentious work while building relationships with leaders in the industry.

Seat Experiences

Trainee Life

“…they couldn’t compete with Bristows’ quality of work, specialised areas and friendly culture.”

Bristows’ trainees told us that the firm’s healthy work/life balance was one of the biggest draws when applying and remains a major reason why they want to stay. While some acknowledged that the £48,000 salary for first-year trainees might be less competitive than the biggest firms, they felt the trade-off was worth it. As one trainee put it: “It’s easy to lose perspective of salaries in law. I could move to a better paying firm if I wanted to, but they couldn’t compete with Bristows’ quality of work, specialised areas and friendly culture.”

When you picture life at a top law firm, it’s easy to assume a strict formality, with clear lines drawn between juniors and senior staff. But according to the current cohort, that couldn’t be further from the reality at Bristows. Trainees said they connect with partners on a personal as well as professional level, and that there’s a strong sense of mutual respect across the firm: “I have a laugh with everyone. Every member of staff from IT to HR knows every trainee by face and name, which I find really impressive.” We heard that there’s no sense of competition between trainees either, just genuine friendships and regular pub trips as a cohort - when the workload allows, of course!

“If you want to be a specialist and learn as much as possible, then Bristows is the perfect place.”

Trainees were quick to point out that the firm also offers an IP course at Oxford University and a commercial disputes course at King’s College London to supplement in-house training, although this happens at the NQ level for those that qualify into brands, copyright and design or commercial disputes. “If you want to be a specialist and learn as much as possible, then Bristows is the perfect place,” one trainee said, “they’re very focused on learning and development.”

This includes ‘lunch and learn’ seminars in the firm’s subsidised cafeteria. Trainees are assigned a partner supervisor who they will be partnered up with for the full two years: “They aren’t scary!” one reassured us, “by the end, you’ll get to know them on a personal level too, because they’re there for pastoral support as well.” There are also seat-specific supervisors who organise daily check ins, as well as a “more structured development review cycle at the end of your seat where you get official feedback.”

Bristows London HQ is based in the Unilever building; “I love the location, it’s really well placed in the city,” one told us. Trainees are required in the office three days a week, “but there are no set days. Some departments have anchor days, but not all of them.” When it came to working hours, “we are typically in between 9.30 and 6.30/7pm, unless you’re in the run up to a trial. But it’s rare that you’ll have to be in the office late. If you are busy, you can work from home in the evening.”

The firm has a race and ethnic diversity network which hosts events, initiatives and workshops, “fantastic events with amazing turnout and a lot of support from partners in terms of funding, attendance and moral support.” Trainees also highlighted the mental health provision as a particular strength, with a team of mental health first aiders and a neurodiversity group which launched in the last six months, aimed at creating a healthier and more adaptable working environment for neurodiverse lawyers.

Qualification

When it comes to qualification, the firm circulates a list of departments that are hiring, and trainees list their top two choices. About a month later, they find out where they’ll qualify - no interview required! Those we spoke to appreciated the clear and informal approach: “It’s a nice system. They aren’t there to trip you up.” 9 out of 10 qualifiers received an offer in 2025.