Trainee recruitment is extremely important to us
Introduction
Trainee recruitment is the backbone of our business – the overwhelming majority of our partners joined the firm as trainees.
They chose us because we cover Scots Law Diploma in Professional Legal Practice fees and we provide a challenging and fun environment where hard work is rewarded.
We chose them because we take on only the top graduates and when we train the best we want to keep hold of them.
There is no typical Dickson Minto lawyer. You must have a Scottish law degree and a Scots Law Diploma in Professional Legal Practice – and of course excellent qualifications – but we're more interested in how you work. We want articulate team players with individual flair, people with an independence of mind who can think laterally to solve a client's challenges. We'll find this out at interview but we won't grill you about points of law or put you through gruelling psychometric tests. We simply want to find out if we'd enjoy working together.
We are completely focused on this area so can offer you highly specialist support during your training but it is certainly not a narrow field. It is hugely stimulating and includes private equity, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and banking, to name just a few.
Type of careers
We offer two different types of traineeships, one in corporate and one in commercial property. Both traineeships are designed to give you extensive legal experience while at the same time preparing you for a potential full-time position in our firm. Our student placements are the principal route into a traineeship with us.
Our application process for corporate traineeships commencing in September 2025 is now open. The closing date is midnight on Sunday 25 June 2023.
Please note that selected candidates may be invited for interview prior to the deadline and traineeships offered on a rolling basis. Accordingly early application is encouraged.
The traineeship experience includes placements in four seats over two years. You are paired with a different senior lawyer or partner every six months, giving you the opportunity to work on a range of business areas with a variety of clients. We can't guarantee a particular seat but always take into consideration your preferences and try to accommodate these whenever we can.
If you are interested in applying and will have obtained a Scots Law Diploma in Professional Legal Practice by the time your traineeship commences, please click on the Apply Here button below to complete our online application.
Apply HereOur application process for commercial property traineeships commencing in September 2025 is now open. The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 25 June 2023.
Please note that selected candidates may be invited for interview prior to the deadline and traineeships offered on a rolling basis. Accordingly early application is encouraged.
The traineeship experience includes four seats in different commercial property teams, each lasting six months. You will gain experience in both Scottish and English property law and its intersection with corporate, banking and restructuring transactions.
If you are interested in applying and will have obtained a Scots Law Diploma in Professional Legal Practice by the time your traineeship commences, please click on the Apply Here button below to complete our online application.
Apply HereWe will be attending the university law fairs in September and October 2023 so please come along and see us then. Dates will be published here once they are confirmed.
We hold an annual Insight Evening for students who are in their second year of a Scots law Honours LLB or their fist year of a Graduate LLB.
Our next Insight Evening will be in November 2023 and our website will give details on how to apply nearer the time.
Applications for 2023 corporate student placements are now closed.
Our corporate placements are open to university students who have commenced third year of a Scottish law degree or first year of a graduate LLB degree and are interested in pursuing a career in corporate law. Placements are for 3 weeks during the summer break in our Edinburgh office.
We take these placements seriously so won't be leaving you to do basic administrative tasks. Instead you will gain real legal experience, often leading to a full traineeship specialising in corporate law.
The website will be updated once the application process opens for 2024 student placements.
Applications for 2023 commercial property student placements are now closed.
Our commercial property placements are open to university students who have commenced third year of a Scottish law degree or first year of a graduate LLB degree and are interested in pursuing a career in commercial property. Placements are for 3 weeks during the summer break in our Edinburgh office.
We take these placements seriously so won't be leaving you to do basic administrative tasks. Instead you will gain real legal experience, often leading to a full traineeship specialising in commercial property.
The website will be updated once the application process opens for 2024 student placements.
Salary and benefits
The experience
Our training programme is one of the most highly regarded in the sector because we believe in giving people the complete experience. That means you will be fully involved in the work of the firm from day one, becoming an integral part of our team very quickly.
We recruit a select group of trainees so you will not be treated simply as a number.
Great teamwork is essential, which is why we want to make the environment as welcoming as possible. We have an open-door policy because working with us should be friendly and fun. We will also support you every step of the way, giving you continual feedback on your performance, with extended appraisals every six months.
YOU CAN HEAR MORE ABOUT LIFE AND
DICKSON MINTO DIRECT FROM SOME OF OUR FORMER TRAINEES: