Baker & McKenzie is to take trainees in Belfast for the first time.

As of September 2017, the firm is offering two existing employees the chance to train in the office.

Part of the training contract will take place in London, although the trainees will eventually qualify as English and Welsh lawyers in Belfast.

The office initially opened in 2014, with Bakers’ global director of operations Jason Marty relocating from Chicago to serve as the initial executive director of the centre.

A growing number of large law firms now offer training contracts in the Northern Irish capital.

Allen & Overy made five training contract offers to its Belfast paralegals in 2014, despite originally hiring staff for commoditised work. TLT also launched a Belfast training contract in 2014.