See what some of our trainees, past and present, have to say about life at MacRoberts...
Professional and personal development at MacRoberts
"It goes without saying that a high standard of training is an essential part of any traineeship, but I was surprised by the variety of opportunities available at MacRoberts
On a professional level, I have arranged to sit in on training sessions in areas of law that I am interested in but have not yet experienced, and participate in a wide range of seminars designed to improve transferable skills.
I have found that the most encouraging aspect of being a MacRoberts trainee is the effort the firm makes to help trainees (and all members of staff) develop personally. The firm arranges internal and external sessions on a number of important issues such as mental health, the environment and homelessness (the latter session resulted in my being part of the MacRoberts team at the Big Sleep Out last year - a highlight of my first year!).
It would be easy to sit at a desk all day and just get on with work, but at MacRoberts, the desire to be better lawyers and better people is infectious and everyone works towards that goal together."
My first day
“I am now reaching the end of the first year of my traineeship and cannot believe how quickly time has passed. I arrived at the firm’s Glasgow office on the first Monday of September 2018, filled with apprehension and excitement - after two years of waiting to commence my traineeship, the day was finally here! I met my fellow first year trainees at Reception and, thereafter, we were taken through various HR inductions, IT training and overviews of firm procedures. After further inductions on the Tuesday morning, I was allocated my desk and met my new team, who could not have been more friendly and welcoming.
"For the next six months, I would be working in the firm’s Intellectual Property, Technology and Commercial Department and, from the word go, I was given varied and interesting work in the fields of data protection, commercial contracts and intellectual property. Despite a lack of familiarity with some of these areas of law prior to commencing my traineeship, I was fortunate enough to receive extensive training and support from the team, who were always prepared to answer any queries and to assist in any way possible, throughout my time in the seat.”
Career support at MacRoberts
"I have been incredibly lucky to take my first steps in the legal profession through the supportive and competent environment MacRoberts offers. I have had the privilege and pleasure of working with and being taught by incredible professionals from whom I have learned and continue to learn a great deal. I have been offered the opportunity to tackle a number of interesting and diverse legal challenges. The firm’s environment has allowed me to explore these independently with sufficient oversight where needed. Learning through practice is one of the best methods of building a sound foundation for practicing law and the firm is truly great in facilitating this process."
Opportunities at MacRoberts
"I am fast approaching the half-way mark of my traineeship at MacRoberts and I can’t believe how quickly it is going.
"The firm has provided me with a varied traineeship so far with seats in both Employment and Real Estate. I have had real responsibility from day one - from sitting in on meetings with major clients to running transactions by myself. I support a number of solicitors in the Dundee office and, whilst the work can be challenging, there is always someone willing to lend me a hand or offer support when I need it. I appreciate and enjoy the independence I am given and my confidence grows every day.
"MacRoberts provides a range of opportunities to learn and my continuing education feels like a priority here. There is typically one training session a week on all kinds of topics such as data protection, leases, time recording etc. I have also had the opportunity to sit on a number of our internal committees, including the Environmental Committee. This has given me the chance to get to know people from the Glasgow and Edinburgh offices. I will be based in the Edinburgh office for the second year of my traineeship and I am excited about the new challenges that lie ahead."
My first year
“Thinking back to the bundle of nerves that I was, walking into the Glasgow office as a fresh-faced, first year trainee back in September with no idea what to expect, I can scarcely believe that I am now reaching the half-way point of my traineeship. The first couple of days are a whirlwind of training and information before you are introduced to the team that you will be spending the next 6 months with. I have been extremely fortunate with my first two departments and the friendly and knowledgeable teams that I have worked with. My first seat was in Non-Contentious Construction, which was a completely new area of law to me but I got training and lots of support to ease me in. The work in Commercial Property, my second seat, has ranged from negotiating electricity sub-station leases to the sale of multi-million pound shopping centres, and almost everything in between and has given me a great deal of exposure to a vast variety of work and responsibilities."
Life as a Real Estate trainee
“I have to admit that being told my first seat would be in Real Estate didn’t exactly have me filled with excitement. However, having now spent a year in the department I am pleased to say that I couldn’t have been more wrong. From my very first day, I felt like a valued member of the team and was fully immersed in transactional work. As scary as this was at the time, the experience has been invaluable and allowed me to pick up not only the IT systems, but also how live transactions really work in practice. Unlike other firms I have experienced or heard of, MacRoberts trainees are given real work from the very beginning. A year down the line, I now have my own case load and am enjoying dealing with other lawyers and clients independently every day. No two days are the same, I never know what is going to land on my desk and have dealt with some really interesting cases – from selling a small flat in Burnside, to purchasing holiday lodges and now a Scottish island! It really is a varied and exciting job.”
The transition from university to work
“I took a year out after university and before starting the traineeship I was a bit anxious I’d have forgotten everything about “the law” and that this would be a problem for me. However, once I started, I realised there is such a massive gap between “the law” you learn at university and the kind of work you do in practice that I needn’t have worried so much about this. Partners and fee earners don’t expect you to be able to recite precedents or statute to them off the top of your head (you’re not Mike Ross), but they do expect you to have an idea of where to find the answer and to do your best to construct an argument. As long as you have exhausted every option you can think of and tried your best to figure out the answer, no one will criticise you (even if you come to a conclusion the Partner or fee earner disagrees with).”
The social side at MacRoberts
“One of MacRoberts’ achievements is managing to achieve the often elusive, ever talked about, Holy Grail that is the work/life balance. While you are often worked hard as a trainee, MacRoberts has a thriving social side, including a weekly running club, 5-aside football team and we often enter teams in tournaments in both rugby and football against other firms and clients alike.
The firm puts on drinks on the last Friday of every month, which I have found is a good way to unwind, chat to friends and also to meet colleagues from other areas of the firm. We also have the occasional unofficial Friday night drinks in a local pub on other Fridays in the month. Other calendar events which are organised by the Social Committee include the office Christmas parties and the annual summer day out where all three offices meet up."
