What we're looking for

At Burness, we promote a culture of excellence: it’s part of our formula for success. This section gives you an idea of the type of qualities we look for in our trainees. Keep them in mind when you complete your application form.

Academic achievement

We only accept applications for legal traineeships from candidates who are studying Scots Law and have gained a 2.1 (or are at least on track to achieve this) or those studying the Accelerated Law Degree. But we also want bright, well-rounded, interesting people to join us, so it’s not just about your grades.

Ambition

What drives you? We want to know. Motivated candidates appeal to us, so make sure your application explains why you want to become a solicitor, what your areas of interest are and what you have done to find out about a career in Scots law. Of course, you might be applying to other law firms – but tell us why you’ve chosen Burness and why a legal traineeship with us appeals to you.

Communication skills

At Burness we get to know our clients and the industries they work in – and for this we use our communication skills and ability to develop strong working relationships. In your application, think of examples from your personal or working life when you’ve used skills like these. And don’t forget that we consider a sense of humour to be vital. We take our work seriously, but not ourselves.

Organisation skills

As a trainee at Burness you’ll be juggling different cases and be very busy at times. We look for individuals who can manage their time effectively and prioritise their work. Examples of how you currently manage work along side course studies would be good to include in your application.

Team work

Our service standards are consistently high. And one of the reasons for that is that we work as a team. As a trainee solicitor it’s vital that you know how to work with your colleagues to achieve a common goal.