Why choose a career in Scotland?
The Scottish Legal market is a varied and exciting market to be in at present. Whether it is the financial centre of Edinburgh or the Industry & Commerce sectors in Glasgow, or indeed the booming Energy and engineering sector in Aberdeen, the market has a lot to offer solicitors at all levels in all disciplines.
Michael Page Legal in Scotland is based in Edinburgh and our dedicated team has specialist consultants in the areas of Private Practice, Industry and Commerce, Financial Services and Not-for-Profit Sectors, and we recruit from Paralegal to Partner and Heads of Legal. We recruit for locum and permanent roles across the board.
More than ever, the main legal centres in Scotland and the surrounding areas are the subject of high levels of growth and investment across many sectors, particularly, but not limited to the financial, retail, and leisure sectors. The demand for experienced lawyers in areas such as corporate finance, property and banking and finance is greater than ever!
Here we give you several nuggets of information that will hopefully aid your job search including:
- Market Overview
- Typical Roles
- Range of Firms
- Demand Areas
- What to Expect
- Tips for Success
- and the opportunity to launch straight into your Job Search
Overview of market in Scotland
Michael Page Legal launched into the Scotland market in October 2006 and has already laid strong foundations to being the leading legal recruiter in this region. Michael Page Legal recruits both permanent and temporary staff, across private practice, financial services, Industry and Commerce and the Public and Not-for-Profit Sectors
Headed up by Rick Mattison, he and his team cover the main legal centers in Scotland and specialise in the recruitment of legal professionals from Paralegals and Newly Qualified lawyers to Heads of Legal and Partners. Rick himself joined Michael Page Legal in 2004, having worked in the City of London for 5 years as a lawyer.
Typical Roles
- Temporary/Interim appointments for paralegals through to Heads of Legal.
- Private Practice appointments for newly qualified through to Partner level.
- Opportunities exist within all legal specialisms and in all industry sectors.
Range of Firms
The need for lawyers of all levels is higher than ever in all of the sectors below:
Private Practice: From top-tier Corporate firms dealing with cutting edge corporate and Banking & Finance transactions and accompanying legal issues, to mid-tier and high street firms, who have a breadth of practice from family, commercial and retail property to personal injury.
Commerce & Industry: There are a broad range of organisations working across various sectors in Scotland. Demand is high for lawyers in the Energy, Retail, Technology and Manufacturing markets.
Financial Services: Organisations as wide ranging as Banks, Asset Managers, Private Equity firms and Insurance Companies are always looking for top quality candidates in areas as diverse as IT and Commercial Contracts to more specialist areas of finance and funds.
Public Sector/Not-for-profit: Edinburgh and Glasgow and surrounding areas are the key locations for many local and central government bodies and NDGB’s. The demand for quality lawyers to work in these sectors is high.
Demand Areas
There is consistent demand for lawyers on the less experienced side of things and those from NQ to up to 6 years relevant experience are in most demand. Generally lawyers with general commercial contracts, corporate, IT/IP and property experience are in demand across all sectors. On the public sector side, general commercial contracts and procurement are always good skills to have.
What to Expect
Hours: Within top tier firms, hours worked can be varied and depend on whether the role is transactional or advisory. Hours are better pretty much across the board compared to London, but ambitious lawyers will put in the hours wherever they work, whether it is the City or further afield. In-house roles do tend to offer a work-life balance, but private practice firms are certainly catching up, with flexible working schemes and an acknowledgment that work-life balance is a very important factor in choosing an employer. The Public and Not-for-profit sectors offer the greatest degrees of flexibility.
Work: High value corporate, banking and property deals are on the increase in Scotland, and particularly Investment in property across the whole of the UK is emanating more and more from Scottish or Irish based investors using Scottish legal capabilities. Organisations and clients want commercial attributes from their lawyers and as such, lawyers are getting closer to their respective businesses than ever before.
Salary: For real time information on salaries please go to www.michaelpage.co.uk/salaries/legal
Tips for Success
Commitment: Firms will want to see your commitment to their business, and to the sector in which you are going to practise. They will especially want to see that you are committed to the local area if you are considering relocation.
Flexibility: The market differs a fair amount from London and the rest of the UK, and salaries reflect the different cost of living. That being said, the salaries are usually very competitive and firms recognise that for tricky to find areas, sometimes a premium is required to be paid. Some in-house roles will not offer the salaries paid in private practice, but there is the potential for bonuses that outstrip those on offer in law firms. Where there is a large difference in salary between sectors, there will normally be a corresponding increase in work-life balance.
Preparation: As with all opportunities, you need to have researched the organisation and the market in which you are interested in. Our consultants will help you with this.
Interview Technique: To maximise your chance of securing the job you want, Michael Page Legal can help you with preparing a CV, interview technique, and offer management. For more information please contact us at the address below.
Michael Page Legal,
80 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3BU
legal.scotland@michaelpage.com
