Trainee Solicitor

Dumfries and Galloway Council is delighted to be recruiting two Trainee Solicitors. You will work 36 hours per week over 52.14 weeks per year. These positions are fixed term for 2 years. This post may be suitable for attachment. Agreement from your line manager must be sought before applying for this post. 

Working in house for a Local Authority presents unique opportunities to gain experience in wide-ranging and diverse aspects of law which cut across the spectrum of issues and services a Local Authority deals with. Successful candidates will be expected to undertake work within both our Court and Licensing, and Commercial Planning and Property teams within Legal and Licensing Services throughout their two-year traineeship. 

During your traineeship you will develop working relationships with professional clients and departments who deliver key services to the wider community, such as education, social work, procurement, property, planning, economy, and infrastructure. You will expect to qualify as a solicitor with a broad set of skills and understanding in areas including litigation, employment, contracts, commercial transactions, data protection, information governance, planning, property transactions and licensing. 

You will be exposed to meaningful work throughout your traineeship where you will become responsible for your own workload, whilst always receiving appropriate supervision and guidance, all with a view to you achieving the PEAT 2 outcomes. Your work and advice will contribute to the delivery of the Council’s wider objectives. 

Successful candidates will be able to work collaboratively as part of a team, will be able to handle a varied workload, and will be clear and effective communicators. 

The successful post holder must: 

• Hold a degree preferably in Scots Law, or equivalent, and Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.  

Requirements

• Have a good knowledge of the broad principles of Scots Law.
• Have strong personal commitment to the delivery of first-class services.
• Be able to build and sustain positive working relationships with all stakeholders. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Be ambitious, energetic and highly motivated. 
• Be enthusiastic and self-disciplined, exhibiting good personal organisation and time management. 
• Have good listening skills and ability to deliver outcome/client focussed service.
• Be visible, approachable, and accessible.
• Have high standards of both personal and professional ethics, integrity, and credibility.
• Be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses and committed to addressing areas of development.
• Be calm under pressure, respond constructively to criticism with high levels of resilience. 
• Have strong IT skills.
• Have strong research skills.
• Be willing to learn and be part of a team. 
• Be capable of working collaboratively with other Council services / officers to delivery Council priorities. 

Requirements

Some knowledge/experience of the following is desirable:

• Some experience of working in a legal environment.
• Some experience of working in a public sector environment.
• Some experience of working with people in a team environment

Salary placing is dependent on experience and qualifications.

Hours: 36 hours per week

Trainee Solicitor (2) (Fixed Term)

Dumfries

Year 1: £29,133 - £30,597

Year 2: £31,215 - £33,300