Work Experience in Scotland
Despite legal work experience being traditionally difficult to obtain - especially if you have no connections to the legal profession - a wealth of programmes exist to provide work experience for aspiring lawyers from less advantaged backgrounds. The majority of these programmes recognise that unpaid work placements are simply not possible for some students, and so come with a salary. However, for the sake of completeness, this page includes paid, unpaid and voluntary work experience opportunities.
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If you have not had any legal work experience or are struggling to succeed with your applications, do not underestimate the importance of non-legal work experience! It provides you with a wide variety of transferable skills and life experience which law firms value.
Please note that many law firms - especially high street firms - accept speculative applications. If there is a firm you are particularly interested in, just e-mail or hand in your CV with a cover letter!
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Click on the buttons below to find information relevant to you.
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Prospective Law Students
PRIME
PRIME is a collection of leading law firms who have undertaken a commitment to promote social mobility in the legal profession by offering work experience to young people between S2 and S6. These placements generally last around one week and involve shadowing a lawyer, attending meetings and assisting with research tasks.
There are criteria which must be met, including:
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Attending a state school
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First generation to attend University
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You have been or are: in receipt of free school meals or Education Maintenance Allowance; a full or part time carer; in the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker; attending a school with below average Higher attainment or with a low rate of progression to higher education
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The following firms offer work experience placements as a result of their involvement with PRIME:
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Brodies
In addition to being a member of PRIME, Brodies holds Career Insight Days which are run by Newly Qualified (NQ) solicitors. This is an opportunity to learn more about becoming a lawyer and receive guidance as to how to enter the legal profession.
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Brodies also offers some ad hoc opportunities to visit their legal departments and shadow staff.
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Speculative Work Experience
These are law firms with Scottish offices who either run their own programme for informal work experience, or are open to receiving speculative applications:
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Procurator Fiscal Service
The Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service invite speculative applications for work experience during the summer months.
Contact your local COPFS for more information.
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Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates runs an annual open day for S5 and S6 pupils, as well as LLB and Diploma students. During the event, students can expect to gain an insight into the day-to-day life of an advocate and explore career opportunities, as well as participate in interactive activities such as mock hearings.
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The Faculty and its members are frequently involved in other initiatives to provide information and insights to school pupils and students in higher education about a career at the Scottish Bar. Contact Neil Mackenzie, QC, at neilmackenzie@amadvocates.co.uk for more information.
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Virtual Work Experience
The following law firms offer virtual work experience through Forage:
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Undergraduate Law Students
Insight Days
For current law students, many law firms run Insight Days, Networking Brunches and Open Days to provide you with a brief insight into the firm. These are run throughout the year, and generally require a small application form to be submitted. This is a great way to get noticed by a firm, experience their culture and decide if you would like to work with them in the future.
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These opportunities are usually advertised on a law firm's social media channels so keep an eye out!
Street Law
Run by the Law Society of Scotland, Street Law involves delivering 8 lessons to secondary school pupils, with the first covering the Scottish legal system and the remaining 7 being based on what the pupils hope to learn about. Trainers will be those on the route to becoming a qualified solicitor, such as students or trainee solicitors, who have undergone training to ensure they provide correct information and a dynamic learning environment. All lessons have links to the Curriculum for Excellence outcomes.
This scheme is supported by Pinsent Masons.
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NHS Central Legal Office
The NHS Central Legal Office offers a one-week work placement to law students and recent law graduates during the months of June, July and September. The week provides an overview of the work of the CLO, including in litigation, commercial contracts, commercial property and employment.
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Scottish Child Law Centre
The SCLC offers two types of volunteering opportunities: volunteer placements for a fixed period of time and weekly volunteering. Volunteer placements are full-time placements lasting for a minimum of four weeks up to a number of months (depending on the volunteer’s availability). They are open to all including both local and foreign law students. Weekly volunteers attend the Centre’s office on a set day (morning or afternoon) each week.
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All volunteers will receive comprehensive training, with the main responsibilities being answering the telephone and logging any queries.
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Victim Support Scotland
Victim Support Scotland are regularly seeking volunteers for their helpline. Helpline volunteers can expect to complete the following tasks:
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Answer incoming helpline enquiries
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Make outbound calls to service users
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Provide relevant support and information to anyone affected by crime
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Promote VSS’ support and make referrals to our local services
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Link service users with specialist organisations
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Update our database record system
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Vacation Schemes
Aimed primarily at law students in their third year of study, vacation schemes are the main way law firms recruit future trainee solicitors. The scheme usually takes place in the summer and can have a duration of between two and eight weeks. Most placements are paid at a competitive rate, but check this before applying.
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Application deadlines are generally in December and January.
Digby Brown
Available for undergraduate law students, the Digby Brown work experience placement offers an insight into how cases are conducted including the opportunity to shadow solicitors and conduct relevant research. Placements are offered across Scotland on a first come, first served basis.
The placement is unpaid.
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Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates runs an annual open day for S5 and S6 pupils, as well as LLB and Diploma students. During the event, students can expect to gain an insight into the day-to-day life of an advocate and explore career opportunities, as well as participate in interactive activities such as mock hearings.
​
The Faculty and its members are frequently involved in other initiatives to provide information and insights to school pupils and students in higher education about a career at the Scottish Bar. Contact Neil Mackenzie, QC, at neilmackenzie@amadvocates.co.uk for more information.
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Stronachs
Stronach's work placements for law students take place in the summer period when we offer “Insight Weeks”. Insight Weeks are available for 3rd, 4th and Diploma year law students. They offer the opportunity for up to 6 students to spend a week in our Aberdeen office.
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During the placement each student is assigned to a team where they will be given an opportunity to carry out research and drafting and, where possible, to attend client meetings with our fee earners. This is an ideal opportunity to gain an insight into a law firm and the type of work that you may do as a trainee solicitor.
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Virtual Work Experience
The following law firms offer virtual work experience through Forage:
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Citizens' Advice Scotland
Citizens' Advice are often looking for volunteer advisors. As a law student, such a placement provides hands on experience of the law in practice whilst enabling you to help others in need.
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Look for vacancies advertised on the Citizens' Advice Scotland website, contact your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or check your university careers service.
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JustRight Scotland
JustRight Scotland operates three centres for legal excellence: the Scottish Refugee & Migrant Centre; the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre; and the Scottish Anti-Trafficking & Exploitation Centre. They also host a think tank hub called JustRight for All.
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Through these centres, JustRight Scotland aims to identify gaps in law and the provision of legal service, and in public and professional understanding of legal rights, which lead to inequality and prevent people from accessing justice in Scotland.
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JustRight Scotland often recruit interns and volunteers to assist with their work, and to explore any vacancies they should be contacted directly.
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Clan Childlaw
Clan Childlaw is a unique legal and advocacy service for children and young people. They believe the law needs to work better for children and young people, and try to effect change by offering free representation and information as well as lobbying for policy changes.
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They are happy to receive enquiries from any speculative volunteers.
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Postgraduate Law Students
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates runs an annual open day for S5 and S6 pupils, as well as LLB and Diploma students. During the event, students can expect to gain an insight into the day-to-day life of an advocate and explore career opportunities, as well as participate in interactive activities such as mock hearings.
​
The Faculty and its members are frequently involved in other initiatives to provide information and insights to school pupils and students in higher education about a career at the Scottish Bar. Contact Neil Mackenzie, QC, at neilmackenzie@amadvocates.co.uk for more information.
Stronachs
Stronach's work placements for law students take place in the summer period when we offer “Insight Weeks”. Insight Weeks are available for 3rd, 4th and Diploma year law students. They offer the opportunity for up to 6 students to spend a week in our Aberdeen office.
​
During the placement each student is assigned to a team where they will be given an opportunity to carry out research and drafting and, where possible, to attend client meetings with our fee earners. This is an ideal opportunity to gain an insight into a law firm and the type of work that you may do as a trainee solicitor.
Citizens' Advice Scotland
Citizens' Advice are often looking for volunteer advisors. As a law student, such a placement provides hands on experience of the law in practice whilst enabling you to help others in need.
​
Look for vacancies advertised on the Citizens' Advice Scotland website, contact your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or check your university careers service.
JustRight Scotland
JustRight Scotland operates three centres for legal excellence: the Scottish Refugee & Migrant Centre; the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre; and the Scottish Anti-Trafficking & Exploitation Centre. They also host a think tank hub called JustRight for All.
​
Through these centres, JustRight Scotland aims to identify gaps in law and the provision of legal service, and in public and professional understanding of legal rights, which lead to inequality and prevent people from accessing justice in Scotland.
​
JustRight Scotland often recruit interns and volunteers to assist with their work, and to explore any vacancies they should be contacted directly.
​
Clan Childlaw
Clan Childlaw is a unique legal and advocacy service for children and young people. They believe the law needs to work better for children and young people, and try to effect change by offering free representation and information as well as lobbying for policy changes.
​
They are happy to receive enquiries from any speculative volunteers.
​
Street Law
Run by the Law Society of Scotland, Street Law involves delivering 8 lessons to secondary school pupils, with the first covering the Scottish legal system and the remaining 7 being based on what the pupils hope to learn about. Trainers will be those on the route to becoming a qualified solicitor, such as students or trainee solicitors, who have undergone training to ensure they provide correct information and a dynamic learning environment. All lessons have links to the Curriculum for Excellence outcomes.
This scheme is supported by Pinsent Masons.
​
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NHS Central Legal Office
The NHS Central Legal Office offers a one-week work placement to law students and recent law graduates during the months of June, July and September. The week provides an overview of the work of the CLO, including in litigation, commercial contracts, commercial property and employment.
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Virtual Work Experience
The following law firms offer virtual work experience through Forage:
​
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Scottish Child Law Centre
The SCLC offers two types of volunteering opportunities: volunteer placements for a fixed period of time and weekly volunteering. Volunteer placements are full-time placements lasting for a minimum of four weeks up to a number of months (depending on the volunteer’s availability). They are open to all including both local and foreign law students. Weekly volunteers attend the Centre’s office on a set day (morning or afternoon) each week.
​
All volunteers will receive comprehensive training, with the main responsibilities being answering the telephone and logging any queries.
​
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Victim Support Scotland
Victim Support Scotland are regularly seeking volunteers for their helpline. Helpline volunteers can expect to complete the following tasks:
-
Answer incoming helpline enquiries
-
Make outbound calls to service users
-
Provide relevant support and information to anyone affected by crime
-
Promote VSS’ support and make referrals to our local services
-
Link service users with specialist organisations
-
Update our database record system
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