Learning session group with their hands up

Training and Development

Whether or not you’re a lawyer, becoming a leader in your field requires a wide range of skills: technical, practical and personal. We’ll ensure that you have all the necessary opportunities to develop them.

We’re the only Scottish-headquartered law firm to have Platinum-level accreditations for both Investors in People and Investors in Young People. People tend to stay with us for a long time – it’s not unusual for our senior lawyers to have trained at the firm. A big part of the reason is our commitment to ensuring that everyone who works with us can learn, develop, and achieve their full potential.

“The firm has invested in my development with tailored training and ongoing support. That commitment has given me the confidence to lead a team effectively and to keep growing.”

Hannah McDermott
Communications, Brand & Marketing Manager

Key Contacts

Jaimee-Leigh McAulay

Senior HR/L&D Executive

Training is key. We provide high-quality courses for all colleagues on a wide range of subjects: technical legal skills, IT, risk and compliance, leadership skills, and many more. Some of these are group courses, delivered by internal or external speakers; we’ve also created many webinars and online training resources. Every year, our HR team conducts a thorough analysis of training needs around the firm, to ensure that we are providing everything that is required.

But training alone is not enough: it’s also important to be challenged and introduced to new environments, and we make sure that our people are. The projects run by our Smarter Working team are one example. Lawyers can also be seconded to our clients. These different opportunities help people to develop the breadth of experience necessary for a successful and fulfilling career.

Learn more about our training and development opportunities:

External Qualifications

We encourage everyone who works with us to undertake any further qualifications that will benefit both them and the firm.

Most commonly, this is legal dual-qualification through the SQE or QLTT. We have also helped people to gain other qualifications and accreditations, such as from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Core Skills Programme

This two-day course is for solicitors with up to three years’ post-qualified experience. It teaches the skills that people need to carry out their existing role to a very high standard, and provides a solid basis for career development. This includes presentations skills, effective communication, marketing and business development, client relationship management, communications and reputation management, smarter working, project management, and financial awareness including understanding accounts.

Senior Colleague Development Day

Every year we organise an away day for senior people from all our UK offices – including those from business services teams as well as lawyers. Helping people to get to know one another away from their desks benefits the firm in many ways: enhancing communication between practice areas, improving team spirit, and encouraging cross-selling of our services.

Emerging Leaders Programme

We launched our Emerging Leaders Programme in 2019. It is a two-year leadership development programme that offers a mix of individual coaching and interactive group training sessions to people from across the business. The core objective is to ensure that people at critical stages in their career path are given every opportunity to develop the key skills they need to unlock their promotion potential.

Mentoring

We have invested in training internal mentors, and all colleagues – not just trainees – are offered the opportunity to engage with them as part of our annual review process.

Key Contacts