Legal traineeships with Scottish law firms and other employers

A traineeship is a two-year period of in-office training with a training organisation. During these two years you’ll be known as a trainee solicitor, receive a salary for your work and be regarded as an essential part of the team.

When do I do a legal traineeship?

You’ll first need to have completed either a Scottish law degree or the accelerated law degree (if a non-law graduate), as well as the Scottish diploma in legal practice course. Competition for traineeships can be competitive and you may need to apply up to two years in advance of starting.

How do I apply for a training contract with a Scottish firm?

Recruiters use a variety of methods to assess a candidate’s suitability: these can range from an individual interview to a full day at an assessment centre. Most initial applications are completed via an online application system. Smaller law firms may require you to complete an application form or submit a covering letter and CV. Large firms and organisations including the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Government Legal Service Scotland (GLSS) will be actively recruiting via recruitment fairs and high-profile campaigns; smaller firms may have to be contacted directly to find out if and when they will be recruiting. It’s important to remember that although you will be submitting numerous applications, the firm or organisation you are applying to will also have received hundreds of applications, so it’s vital that yours stands out for all the right reasons. Make sure you have spelt the organisation’s name correctly, check there are no spelling or grammatical mistakes and ensure your contact details are up to date. It’s worth printing out the form prior to submitting to review details and check accuracy.

Which Scottish firms and recruiters offer training contracts?

Law firms and organisations that employ solicitors can be found throughout Scotland and come in a range of sizes, so you should find one that suits your individual needs. They range from small or niche practices to international firms, local councils, in-house legal departments of businesses, the COPFS and the GLSS.

The work you’ll be given as a trainee is dependent on the type of firm or organisation you join. In large commercial firms, trainees will be part of a larger team and the work can be quite document heavy and transaction-based. You may have the opportunity to get involved in large corporate, property or finance deals. In smaller, niche and regional practices trainees’ roles will differ and there may be more frequent opportunities to gain client exposure and early responsibility. Work in small firms may include house sales, wills and tax affairs; those in rural areas tend to do a significant amound of crofting and agricultural law. Many smaller firms will also offer criminal law services: some will specialise in this area, which means a very specific traineeship. Wherever you train, a large portion of all trainees’ work will involve legal research, drafting agreements, attending client meetings and court, and corresponding with clients.

What do legal traineeships involve?

Traineeships are regulated by The Law Society of Scotland. In larger firms you’ll do up to four ‘seats’  (placements) in different departments. Smaller firms may ensure that you get involved with different types of work from a range of departments whilst staying in one place. Where possible, law firms and organisations will try to accommodate trainees’ seat preferences. Some law firms also offer trainees the opportunity to do a seat in another office (or even country) or with a client’s in-house legal department (known as secondments).

Will I be assessed?

During your traineeship you will maintain a logbook and be assessed quarterly, as required by the Society. You’ll also need to attend the professional competence course (PCC) and you will be required to complete core subjects (36 hours) and elective subjects (18 hours) between the sixth and the eighteenth month of your traineeship. Core subjects include: financial and commercial awareness; client care; practical ethics; IT and the legal office; drafting; interviewing; negotiation skills; personal organisation; time management; and effective legal writing. The elective training you will receive may coincide with your current seat. Some of the larger firms are accredited by the Society to provide their own in-house PCC training, while most organisations tend to outsource the training.

What happens once I qualify as a solicitor?

At the end of the two-year period, provided you complete all the requirements, you’ll be known as a newly qualified (NQ) solicitor. Some NQs choose to stay with the firm or organisation they trained with but you’re not committed to do so (nor is your training organisation obligated to keep you on).

Whether the training organisation is large or small, it’s important to remember that it’s investing in your future, with the goal of producing a well-rounded NQ at the end.