Associate Trainees

Bird & Bird; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 34,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lunch benefit

Job summary

Bird & Bird in Helsinki invites law students nearing graduation to join the Associate Trainee programme starting February or May 2027. The 5- to 6-month traineeship offers broad exposure to business law across all practice groups, before specialising in one or two areas.

You will draft legal documents, conduct research on complex matters, and rotate through groups with a dedicated tutor. Fluency in Finnish and English is required; the monthly salary is 3,550 €, plus a lunch benefit.

Qualifications

• Law students nearing graduation (approx 200 credits completed) with an interest in business law.
• Fluency in Finnish and English is required for assignments in both languages.

Responsibilities

• Draft legal documents and conduct research on complex legal matters.
• Work across all practice groups during the general period before focusing on one or two areas.
• Collaborate with colleagues and tutors to develop skills and professional judgment.

Education

Law studies nearing graduation (200 credits)

Job description

Are you approaching the final stretch of your law studies and considering a traineeship starting in February or May 2027? At Bird & Bird, our Associate Trainee programme gives you the chance to explore different areas of business law through a general period across all our practice groups — before focusing more deeply on one or two areas. Apply for our Helsinki office's Associate Trainee programme and take the first step toward your legal career with Bird & Bird!

The firm

At Bird & Bird, we offer aspiring legal professionals a unique opportunity to grow. As part of our team, you’ll contribute to exciting legal work while being trusted, supported and respected for your contribution from day one.

What you'll do

As an Associate Trainee, you’ll join us for a full-time, 5 to 6-month journey designed to give you a real taste of life as a business lawyer. You’ll work side by side with our lawyers contributing to varied assignments. Your responsibilities will mirror those of our recently graduated associates, including drafting legal documents and conducting research on complex legal matters. With our strong legal expertise and industry insight, you’ll be well-equipped to take your first steps toward a career in business law.

Explore before you specialize

Choosing your area of legal expertise is a big decision — and we’re here to help you make it with confidence. At Bird & Bird, our Associate Trainee programme begins with a three-month general period, giving you the chance to work across all our practice groups. This hands‑on experience lets you explore different areas of business law and discover what truly interests you.

As your traineeship progresses, you’ll have the opportunity to focus more closely on one or two practice groups that align with your interests. Throughout the programme, you’ll be supported by fellow trainees and a dedicated tutor lawyer, ensuring you have guidance along the way.

About you

Are you curious, driven, and eager to grow as part of a team? If so, we’d love to hear from you! We’re looking for students who are nearing the end of their law studies (around 200 credits completed by the start of the programme), with a genuine interest in business law and a strong desire to learn. To succeed in this role, you’ll need to be fluent in both Finnish and English, as our assignments often require working in both languages.

In this application round, you can apply for Associate Trainee periods starting in:

• February 2027 (1.2.2027-30.6.2027)
• May 2027 (3.5.2027-29.10.2027)

You’ll be joining a welcoming work environment where we respect different skills and personalities and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. Our approachable culture and international atmosphere create a supportive space for learning and collaboration. During your traineeship, you’ll have access to internal training sessions and social events. The monthly salary for this traineeship is 3.550 €, plus a lunch benefit.

Bird & Bird is an international law firm with a focus on organizations being changed by or creating technology and the digital world. We combine exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking to help our clients achieve their commercial goals. We have over 1600 lawyers in 34 offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and North America and a strong presence in the Nordics.

Bird & Bird is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment. We know an inclusive culture makes us more innovative and agile. We’re committed to treating everyone with kindness and respect, to creating an environment where everyone feels empowered and supported to succeed.

To find out more, please visit our social media channels and website www.twobirds.com/fi.