Solicitor, Scotland : Career development

Many Scottish solicitors train and spend their whole careers in law firms, sometimes specialising in particular fields of law, and/or moving between firms to enhance their earning power or promotion prospects, or as their lifestyle preferences change. It is also possible to move in-house with appropriate experience.

After becoming partners, in firms of all sizes, solicitors become increasingly involved in running their firm. This includes directing and supervising the work of junior colleagues and other staff and attracting and retaining profitable business from existing and potential clients.

There are also opportunities for solicitors to qualify, work and progress their careers in Scotland as in-house lawyers. Currently 25% of Scotland solicitors work in-house for public and commercial organisations. Principal employers of in-house solicitors are the Scottish Executive, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) , local authorities, and the legal departments of banks, oil companies and other commercial organisations.

Experienced solicitors may undertake additional study and training to qualify as 'solicitor-advocates' (who are technically solicitors rather than advocates) with rights of audience in Scotland's highest civil and/or criminal courts; to date, about 120 have chosen to do so.

Solicitors who have qualified in Scotland but wish to practise elsewhere in the UK or in the EU may re-qualify in other jurisdictions by taking appropriate tests. Advice should be sought from the appropriate law society.