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Why has the Law Society of Scotland launched this service?
We are committed to looking at ways of supporting new lawyers through the critical stages of qualifying as a solicitor. It can be difficult, firstly because there are not enough traineeships for everyone who wants one. Add to that that you might no longer be at university, and you might be feeling 'out of the loop' when it comes to applying for traineeships. For many years, Scots LLB students have lobbied the Society to work with the profession and maintain a central resource of available traineeships, and now we have this tool.
I'm looking for a traineeship / summer placement - how does this site work?
The Society is not guaranteeing that all traineeships in Scotland will be advertised here, but we can promise that we will encourage the profession to use the site. We are confident that in time the site will be utilised by the profession more and more, and will become an invaluable resource.
Because there are currently so many ways of sourcing a traineeship (law fairs, university notice boards, TARGETjobs Law Scotland, word of mouth and speculative applications) it can be difficult to understand what is actually on offer. Unless you do send speculative applications, you may not ever find out about a traineeship at a smaller firm or organisation - even though that traineeship might be exactly the right fit for you. The Society will be encouraging the profession to use the portal, particularly firms and organisations which otherwise find it difficult to reach you.
What about summer placements - can I look for a summer placement here also?
Yes. The drop-down options let employers advertise, and students search for, summer placements. Summer placements can often lead to a traineeship, either with the summer placement organisation, or because it adds to a CV.
Trainee Salaries
Trainee salaries- From 1 June 2010, the recommended rates for trainee salaries are now £15,965 for a first year trainee and £19,107 for a second year trainee. The rates are reviewed annually.
Contact the Society
If you have any questions about traineeships or summer placements, please contact the Society at careers@lawscot.org.uk
Note to Students:
The Education and Training Committee will be developing best practice in recruitment guidelines but until such time the Society would refer to the existing code of practice developed (see below) to guide all those involved in the graduate recruitment process.
Best practice in graduate recruitment
Please also have regard to the document ‘Ensuring Fairness, Creating Opportunities: A practical guide to equality and diversity for Scottish solicitors’ – Section 2, Employment and Training.
The following is guidance agreed by The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, the Association of Graduate Recruiters, and the National Union of Students fully endorse adherence to the following principles and strongly recommends their adoption by all those concerned with the process of graduate recruitment.
Whilst the Society recognises the distinct nature of recruitment of summer placement students and trainees within the Scottish legal profession, the Society believes it is useful to bring this best practice note to the attention of those using the lawscotjobs site to advertise these roles so far as it is relevant to these circumstances. This is an abridged version of the full Best Practice in Recruitment Guidelines. The full version can be accessed by following the link below. Where an employer has a query over their recruitment practices, they are encouraged to contact Katie Meanley (katiemeanley@lawscot.org.uk) at the Law Society of Scotland to discuss.
Best practice in graduate recruitment works to everyone’s advantage – students and graduates, recruiters and businesses, careers advisers and higher education institutions. A Code of Practice has been in circulation for many years and this updated guide has been produced to take account of significant changes that have been taking place in the worlds of higher education and employment including:
· the expansion of and the widening participation in higher education
· graduate expectations and aspirations
· the demands and expectations of employers
· developments in recruitment practice such as increasing use of the Internet and external agencies
The guidance within this code, if adhered to, will ensure a balanced, fair approach to graduate recruitment for the benefit of all concerned.
Students
Should:
1. Research the career options available via their institution's careers service, students’ unions, job shops and recruitment facilities, web sites, databases, careers fairs and academic departments and other sources.
2. Be prepared and committed to the recruitment process by:
I.fully reading the employers' information
II.carefully following employers' or their agents' application procedures
III.acknowledging promptly an invitation to interview
IV.being professional in all dealings with employers seeking only repayment of reasonable expenses incurred during the selection process.
3. Be honest in making applications and accept that false claims and statements are not in anyone’s best interest.
4. When accepting an unconditional offer, decline all other offers and withdraw any outstanding applications. Be aware of what is being signed up to. The acceptance in writing of an unconditional offer forms a contract. If students wish to qualify or defer acceptance, they should contact their careers service [1] [or the Society’s Registrar’s Department] for advice.
When declining an offer, do so as soon as possible to enable to employer to make alternative arrangements.
© 2009 Agcas, AGR and NUS
This document is also available at www.prospects.ac.uk
1 In the case of training contracts being deferred or cancelled please see the Society’s policy statement on the termination of training contracts:
www.lawscot.org.uk/training. If you have been affected by a training contract being deferred or cancelled please contact the Society’s Manager (Registrar’s Department) Katie Wood on (0131 476 8105).
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