Graduate recruitment
Opportunities for graduates & students
There are various routes to securing a traineeship with Harper Macleod which previously have included through the summer placement programme and through direct applications.
We recruited our trainees for 2021 last year and we are not actively recruiting, however we plan to review our Summer Placement and Traineeship processes in the Spring of 2021 and any updates we have following the review will be posterd on our social media channels and this section of our website
If you wish to find out more about Traineeships please look out for updates on the firm's Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram accounts & you can also follow our current trainees on Twitter and Instagram:
Our trainees are our potential Partners of the future and we are committed to retaining them.
2020 & 2021 Traineeships
We can advise that our Trainees are recruited two years in advance and, as such, the recruitment processes for our 2020 and 2021 Trainees have been completed and all positions have been filled.
In the past we have hired additional Trainees and may require to do so in the future. If so, any additional positions will be advertised via our website and social media channels.
What are we looking for?
Individuals who can demonstrate a strong academic background, previous work experience (summer vacation schemes, part-time jobs), interests that show skills in teamwork and/or leadership and a motivation for a career in law.
We offer opportunity and responsibility to those who can demonstrate the required HM Trainee qualities.
What can you expect as a trainee?
- Training and development
- Trainee meetings
- Flexible seat rotations
- Secondment opportunities
- Sector group involvement
- Managing trainee
- Social committee
- Career progression
Enquiries
If you have any questions regarding our application process, please contact Kirsty Hunter in our HR department.
What can you expect as a trainee?
Lamia Al-Lamki, 2017 Trainee following 2015 Summer Placement
I chose Harper Macleod because much of what the firm talked about in terms of being innovative and business-minded stood out to me. During the time I was at university, increasing pressure on the legal market meant that many traditional Scottish firms were fast disappearing. Harper Macleod stood out in that they had continued to grow despite the recession and the trainee retention rates remained high.
Read about Lamia's Summer Placement and experience with Harper Macleod
Deborah Alexander, 2017 Trainee following 2015 Summer Placement
I assisted two of the firm’s solicitors with obtaining Confirmation on a number of executries and conducted a will review to ensure all wills which were held on file were accurate and up to date. I had previously undertaken placements with other firms however my placement with Harper Macleod was different – I really felt that I was being given the chance to be involved in ‘real’ client-facing legal work for the first time.
Read about Deborah's Summer Placement and experience with Harper Macleod
Victoria Robinson, 2017 trainee
Harper Macleod stood out to me because of its business-minded nature to provide practical solutions in an evolving business environment. It is a firm that puts the client at the centre of everything they do and I was keen to be a part of this client-based approach.
Rachel Bell, 2016 Trainee following 2014 Summer Placement
I choose to apply to Harper Macleod as I had heard from previous summer students that they had been given a large amount of responsibility in their role and great exposure to cases. I had undertaken work experience before where I had been put in a room photocopying; therefore I thought this would be much more beneficial to my legal career.
Read about Rachel's Summer Placement and experience with Harper Macleod
