Burges Salmon Vacation Scheme 2027

Based in Bristol and Edinburgh.

NoVacation Scheme

No. Burges Salmon does not sponsor its vacation scheme for international students who need a visa. The firm's own FAQ says sponsorship is available only for candidates who have successfully secured an employment opportunity with the firm, and that it cannot sponsor visas for work experience placements, which covers the vacation scheme. Spring 2027 runs 12-23 April and Summer 2027 runs 14-25 June, across Bristol (40 places over four schemes) and Edinburgh (8 spring places).

Sponsors grads?: No
Pay vs threshold: Below the threshold
Opportunity: vacation scheme
Pay: expenses allowance reported around £375 for the scheme by third-party sources; not confirmed on the firm's own page
2027 cycle: Applications open 28 September 2026, winter scheme closes 26 October 2026, spring and summer schemes close 5 January 2027
Confidence: high

Burges Salmon Vacation Scheme: at a glance

Burges Salmon's vacation scheme lets candidates trial firm life in one or two departments of their choice, doing real work and attending skills sessions with trainees and solicitors, alongside social and sports events. Bristol runs a one-week winter scheme, a two-week spring scheme and two two-week summer schemes; Edinburgh runs one spring scheme in April. Successful applicants are invited back for a training contract interview after the scheme. Source

Duration: One week (Bristol winter scheme) or two weeks (spring and summer schemes)“From our Bristol office we run a winter vacation scheme (one week), spring vacation scheme (two weeks), and two summer vacation schemes (two weeks each) each year.”Source
Start date: 12 April 2027 (spring vacation scheme)“In 2027, the Spring vacation scheme will take place between 12”Source
Who can apply: Candidates eligible to start a training contract in 2029 or earlier: penultimate and final year law students, final year non-law students, graduates and career changers“they are only open to candidates who are eligible to start a training contract in 2029 (or earlier)”Source
Locations: Bristol, Edinburgh“We offer vacation scheme programmes in both our Bristol and Edinburgh offices”Source
Degree requirement: Minimum 2.1 degree expected in any discipline, but all applications are considered and mitigating circumstances are taken into account“we are looking for candidates who have achieved, or are expecting to achieve, a minimum 2.1 degree, we do consider all applications”Source

How Burges Salmon recruits

2026/27 vacation schemes (winter deadline 26 October 2026; spring and summer deadline 5 January 2027). 9 stages, from Burges Salmon's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where Burges Salmon names them.

Online application form
Application form
Online application form; the process can take several months.
“Our application process starts in October each year with an online application form and can take several months to complete.”
Source
2
Emerging Talent Assessment
Immersive assessment
Untimed online scenario-based exercise, about 45 minutes, on workplace decisions plus behaviour and preference questions. Not a test of legal knowledge.
- about 45 minutes
“The first stage of our recruitment process is the Burges Salmon Emerging Talent Assessment, an online exercise designed to give you a realistic insight into what it’s like to work with us. [...] The assessment is untimed, but we recommend setting aside around 45 minutes to complete it at your own pace.”
Source
Critical Reasoning Assessment
Online tests
Online critical reasoning test on assumptions, evidence, arguments and conclusions. Provider not named. A feedback report follows the online tests.
“Once you have completed this stage, you will be directed to the Critical Reasoning Assessment, which is also completed online. This looks at critical thinking and reasoning in the workplace, measuring how efficiently you evaluate information and make evidence-based judgements.”
Source
Application Question
Motivational questions
Short written question on motivation for the firm and steps taken to gain insight into law, reviewed by the team.
“The next stage of the process involves answering a short application question, which will be reviewed by the Burges Salmon team.”
Source
Assessment Centre
Assessment centre
In-person assessment centre in Bristol or Edinburgh.
“Our assessment centres take place in person at our Bristol and Edinburgh offices.”
Source
Group exercise
Group exercise
Group discussion on a fictional business scenario, assessing collaboration and commercial focus.
“You’ll take part in a group exercise based on a fictional business scenario.”
Source
Written exercise
Written exercise
Written analysis of a fictional scenario.
“There will also be a written exercise based on a fictional scenario.”
Source
8
Interview
Final interview
One-to-one interview with a lawyer, framed as a two-way conversation.
- a lawyer at the firm
“The final stage will be a one-to-one interview with a lawyer at the firm.”
Source
Training contract interview after the scheme
Final interview
After the scheme, successful participants are invited back for a training contract interview. Interviewer seniority not stated.
“Successful applicants will be invited back for a training contract interview after the scheme has taken place.”
Source

Every programme and stage at Burges Salmon

“visa sponsorship is available only for candidates who have successfully secured an employment opportunity with our firm”

Burges Salmon, from its own careers pages

The catch: This is an expenses allowance rather than a weekly training-contract-level salary; pay figure not confirmed directly on the firm's own site.

Burges Salmon early careers Verify on gov.uk See the licence record

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What Burges Salmon publishes about this programme

Checked against Burges Salmon's own careers pages on 2026-10-01. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

Visa sponsorship policy: published
Application dates: published
Programme description: published
Duration and start date: published
Who can apply: published
Pay: published
Locations: published
Degree requirement: published
Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at Burges Salmon

Training Contracttraining contract, only some tracks
Legal Apprenticeship, Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship, six years (with BPP University)apprenticeship, no published policy

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-18. Application dates last checked 2026-10-01. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does Burges Salmon sponsor visas for its vacation scheme?

What is the Burges Salmon vacation scheme?

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme sits below the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which is itself a reason sponsorship is not possible.

What is the catch international students miss with Burges Salmon?

This is an expenses allowance rather than a weekly training-contract-level salary; pay figure not confirmed directly on the firm's own site.

When do applications open for the Burges Salmon vacation scheme?

Applications open 28 September 2026, winter scheme closes 26 October 2026, spring and summer schemes close 5 January 2027. Checked on 2026-10-01 against Burges Salmon's own site.

How long is the Burges Salmon vacation scheme?

One week (Bristol winter scheme) or two weeks (spring and summer schemes), according to Burges Salmon's own careers information.

When does the Burges Salmon vacation scheme start?

12 April 2027 (spring vacation scheme), according to Burges Salmon's own careers information.

Who can apply for the Burges Salmon vacation scheme?

Candidates eligible to start a training contract in 2029 or earlier: penultimate and final year law students, final year non-law students, graduates and career changers, according to Burges Salmon's own careers information.

Where is the Burges Salmon vacation scheme based?

Bristol, Edinburgh, according to Burges Salmon's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the Burges Salmon vacation scheme?

Minimum 2.1 degree expected in any discipline, but all applications are considered and mitigating circumstances are taken into account, according to Burges Salmon's own careers information.

How should I confirm Burges Salmon's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Burges Salmon's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

All visa and sponsorship guides

Other law schemes

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Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we check this data.