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Graduate Recruitment

The Summer Placement programme is one route to securing a Traineeship with Thorntons. Dates for our general Graduate Recruitment process for 2026 Traineeships will be published in April 2024.

At Thorntons, you’ll feel valued from day one because we know that recruiting the very best Trainee Solicitors is key to our future success. We want to employ talented graduates who are passionate about helping our clients and who will help drive our business forward for years to come.

There are two ways to apply for a Thorntons’ Training Contract: our Summer Placement Programme and our Graduate Recruitment process

Summer placements at Thorntons Solicitors
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Summer Programme

Our Summer Programme is designed to give you an insight into law in practice and help prepare you for life as a Trainee Solicitor. During the 3 week placement you will work with Partners and Solicitors in specific business areas on live client matters, gaining valuable experience and building your legal skills for the future.

You will also have the opportunity to find out how we deliver legal services and get to know our current Trainee Solicitors who can tell you a bit more about life at Thorntons. 

The placement gives us the chance to get to know you and for you to get to know a bit more about Thorntons – our clients, our people and our values. If you are keen to secure a Training Contract with the firm, you will have the opportunity to interview for this on completion of your placement. We offer Summer Placements across a number of office locations and we will discuss preferred locations with you during the recruitment process.

Graduate recruitment at Thorntons Solicitors
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Training Contracts

Naturally not everyone is able, or chooses, to apply for a Summer Placement. If this is the case then you can apply for a Training Contract through our Graduate Recruitment process.

For those shortlisted after a successful application, the second stage of our recruitment process is an Assessment Centre. The Assessment Centre gives you the chance to demonstrate a wide range of skills that isn't always possible in a traditional interview.  Our Assessment panel, made up of Partners from across the firm who are all passionate about selecting and developing the right Trainee Solicitors for Thorntons, aim to make the Assessment Centre experience as enjoyable as possible.

We feel that this process gives everyone the chance to showcase their strengths, skills and abilities and gives us the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of graduates who will become part of the team at Thorntons.


What to expect as a Trainee Solicitor

We want you to succeed as a Trainee Solicitor with us. Our first-class training and support are designed to help you achieve your goals..

Thorntons is one of the few full-service law firms in Scotland. It enables us to offer you a genuinely diverse training experience. Our Training Contracts comprise of four, 6 month seat rotations which could include areas such as:

  • Employment
  • Corporate
  • Intellectual Property
  • Trademarks
  • Data Protection & Privacy
  • Immigration
  • Commercial Real Estate
  • Personal Injury
  • Civil Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Family Law
  • Private Client
  • Residential Conveyancing
  • Land & Rural Business

At the beginning of a Training Contract, you may have a particular area of law that you are interested in: but this can change as you experience different areas of law in practice. We would encourage you to enjoy as varied a Training Contract as possible before you specialise, as your breadth of knowledge will develop in every area and you will get the chance to experience different types of clients.  

However, if you are absolutely sure of the field you want to specialise in, and would like to explore the possibility of a more specialised Training Contract, then please discuss this with us during the recruitment process.

As we grow across Scotland we can offer the opportunity to work in many of our offices across Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Fife and Angus.

Right from the start of your Training Contract with us, your learning and development begins: and it will continue throughout your time with us.

Along with your Trainee Continuing Professional Development (TCPD), you will be invited to regular training, webinars and seminars. You’ll also be included in our Trainee Development Programme covering topics such as Risk Management, Organisational Skills, Presentation Skills, Advocacy and Commercial Awareness.

Getting inspiration and support from our experienced colleagues is crucial to your development at Thorntons and throughout your Training Contract you’ll have a mentor within the firm. Your mentor is specially selected for you from our internal team who are all qualified solicitors. Your mentor will be a sounding board for anything you want to discuss and can offer advice and guidance during your Training Contract.

Giving back is something that is at the heart of Thorntons’ values. And we encourage you to get involved in charitable support, volunteering and opportunities to give something back to the communities that we live and work in.

From day one, we want to look after Thorntons’ people in all aspects of their lives. So we have a wide-ranging benefits package to cover your needs. As well as a competitive salary, we have a contributory pension scheme. To help you maintain your physical health we have a Healthcare Cash Plan which covers things like dental, optical and health screening.

We invest in your career by providing you training, development and career progression.

To ensure you give yourself a well-earned break from work we give you 25 days holiday, which rises with length of service to 30 days – plus 7 days public holiday.

We also provide corporate discounts and have a cycle to work scheme.

Each year a significant number of Trainee Solicitors stay on and continue their career as newly qualified Solicitors with Thorntons. It’s something we are very proud of. We see our training programme as a vital part of the firm’s continued success. As the firm continues to grow, opportunities become available to you across all our offices throughout Scotland.

Pamela Muir, Graduate Programme Partner.

Trainee Solicitors play a vital role, not only in our firm, but also in our shared profession. Of course we look for the brightest and the best, but you have already shown that you’re capable and smart.  What we’re also looking for is a diverse range of people with different backgrounds, interests, passions and personal stories.  Why? Because our profession is about understanding, communicating and helping people with all kinds of problems, questions, ambitions and plans and guess what, our clients are just like you; ambitious, entrepreneurial, anxious and looking for advice delivered by people who really understand them and their businesses or lives.

Pamela Muir, Partner

Hear from our Trainees | Read insights from our Trainee Solicitors on their experiences at Thorntons

Law Fairs

We attend many of the University Law Fairs and events to meet future Trainee Solicitors. If attending Law Fairs, please stop by out stand and say hello.

 

Careers at Thorntons

Accreditations

Living Wage Employer
Armed Forces Silver Award
Leading Firm Legal 500 2019
Chambers and Partners 2019
Scottish Law Awards winner 2017
Scott + Co Legal Awards Finalist 2018
scottish Business Pledge
Disability Confident 2019
Cyber Essential