There's no better way to find out if a career in law is for you than to experience it for yourself.
Work experience with Scotland's leading law firm gives you an insight into who we are, what we do and what's important to us as a business. Whether you're interested in becoming a lawyer, or prefer to focus on a business service specialism – such as marketing, IT, finance or HR – there are a diverse range of career opportunities to choose from.
With several work experience programmes available, you can find out more about each one using the links below.
PRIME
We are one of the founding members of PRIME, a pioneering project to encourage greater diversity in the legal profession.
Aimed at young people aged 16-18 who want to pursue a career in law, the programme includes work experience and mentoring for students in their senior year of school and provides an insight into all areas of our business.
To qualify for work experience, students must be in S4, S5 or S6 and fulfil a number of criteria specified by PRIME.
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Applications for PRIME work experience placements in 2025 are now open, you can find out more here.
Please complete the application form before 12 May 2025.
Our PRIME weeks will be taking place on the following dates;
- Glasgow PRIME Work Experience: 16 June - 20 June 2025 - Now closed
- Edinburgh PRIME Work Experience: 23 June - 27 June 2025
- Aberdeen PRIME Work Experience: 30 June - 2 July 2025
- Inverness PRIME Work Experience: 3 July - 4 July
To qualify for work experience, students must be in S4, S5 or S6 (Scotland) and fulfil a number of criteria specified by PRIME.
At a state school
You’re attending, and have always attended, a state-funded, non-fee-paying school/college.
First to attend University
You grew up in a household where no parent or guardian attended University.
You must also meet one or more of the following (the more criteria you meet, the more likely you are to be offered a place on the programme):
- You have been, or are currently, in local authority care.
- You are currently in receipt of, or have previously received, free school meals, Pupil Premium, Education Maintenance Allowance and/or 16 to 19 Bursary.
- You are, or have been, a full-time or part-time carer.
- You came to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker.
- The occupation of your main household earner is categorised as a routine or manual occupation. A summary of this can be found here.
- You are attending a state school or college with:
a) below average A-Level or Higher point score and/or
b) low rate of progression to higher education.
More information can be found here.
Note: These criteria are not exhaustive and may be amended over time.
Please contact Wendy Murphy on workexperience@brodies.com or 0141 245 6293
During this programme you should expect to develop the following skills:
- Communicating
- Information sourcing
- Teamwork
- Relationship bundling
- Judgement
- Logical thinking
- Independent thinking
- Watch Julia and Fatima tell us about their work experience at Brodies.
- Read Hayley's PRIME experience here.
- PRIME student to trainee solicitor - read Rhea's story here.
- Read more about our early career experiences here.
Virtual Work Experience
Our virtual work experience programme is designed for students in S4/S5/S6 to provide insight into the skills you need to study and practice law in the future. Legal research, drafting, time management, attention to detail are all covered, and we'll also help you understand the career path you need to take your first steps in your legal career.
The programme contains four tasks that can be completed at your own pace, each task will take around one hour to complete. When all four are complete you will receive a certificate that you can talk about on your CV or personal statement.
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Register by completing the opening questionnaire here and when complete we will send you your first task.
If you have any questions about the Virtual Work Experience Programme, please contact us at workexperience@brodies.com.
During this programme you should expect to develop the following skills
- Self-learning
- Independent thinking
- Self-motivation
- Responsibility
- Logical thinking
- Critical reflection
Read more about our early career experiences here.
Career Insight Days
Our Career Insight Days are for S4-S6 students looking to learn more about a career in law.
The day-long, interactive session provides an overview of who we are and the many roles within our firm.
Our current trainees and newly qualified lawyers will share their own insights and top tips on all aspects of career planning, from attending university to pursuing career ambitions – and we'll involve you in activities and workshops, including a mock court case, to test your communication and problem-solving skills.
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Our next Career Insight Days will take place in Autumn 2025.
- Glasgow Career Insight Day: 23 September
- Edinburgh Career Insight Day: 30 September
- Aberdeen Career Insight Day: 7 October
- Inverness Career Insight Day: 8 October
Applications for our next Career Insight Day are now open, you can register here
The career insight day has been extremely helpful in giving me a greater insight into the world of law. Everyone was extremely kind and helpful in answering questions. I can confidently say it has helped me confirm my decision to study law. Thank you for this opportunity!
Darcie Banks, Aberdeen Grammar School
The career insight day helped me clarify my decision in pursuing a law degree. I enjoyed that the day had a mixture of interactive and presentation like sessions.
Jessica Stuart, Montrose Academy
A great insight into all sectors of law, and an engaging range of tasks to give a clear view the opportunities the world of law might have.
Ella Stockten, Mackie Academy
The career insights day helped me confirm that I would like to move on to study law further. It also gave me an insight to what I can expect to study at university as well as showing what a career would be like in a law firm.
Rachael Henderson, Aberdeen Grammar School
During this programme you should expect to develop the following skills
- Information sourcing
- Communicating
- Teamwork & collaboration
- Logical thinking
- Independent thinking
- Questioning
Read more about our early career experiences here.
Modern Apprenticeships
We work closely with our apprenticeship provider to offer Modern Apprenticeship opportunities to young people.
Apprenticeships positions have been available throughout the firm in both legal and business services practice areas, including IT, marketing, business development, real estate and our secretarial function.
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Our modern apprentice vacancies are advertised here. If you are interested please apply directly to the email provided with your CV and cover letter.
If there are no current modern apprentice vacancies, you can submit your CV speculatively and your CV will be kept on file for 6 months with a view to considering you for future opportunities.
If you have any questions about applying please contact Sarah Thompson.
I completed a digital marketing apprenticeship with Brodies. This was my first step in my career and gave me the opportunity to work, whilst gaining a qualification. I was able to apply my active learnings to my apprenticeship, and my apprenticeship learnings to my role. I was, and still am, surrounded by an excellent support system who helped me through my apprenticeship and beyond.
Rebecca Laing, Marketing Projects Assistant
During this programme you should expect to develop the following skills
- Self-motivation
- Responsibility
- Adaptability
- Receiving information
- Listening
- Relationship building
- Teamwork & collaboration
- Logical thinking
Career Ready
We partner with Career Ready – a charitable body working with employers and schools to provide young people aged 15-18 with a programme of mentoring, internships and work experiences.
The two-year programme provides young people with the support, experience and skills they require to find the right career path for them.
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Please apply directly though Career Ready.
If you have any questions about applying please contact Sarah Thompson.
I would 100% recommend an internship at Brodies to others. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and it has cemented the fact I would like to study law. It has been a great insight to the law industry as a whole as I have seen the different departments within Brodies. Overall, the people I have worked with have been welcoming and supportive and have helped me all throughout my time at Brodies.
Madeline McLean
I would recommend this experience for anyone with an interest in law as it really opened my perspective to all the different areas of the law and also gave me valuable experience which I'm sure will come in handy in the future. I'd also recommend Brodies as everyone was extremely friendly and accepting even though I didn't always have the most experience with law and didn't always know what I was doing.
Esme Soplantila
I have learnt about every sector of law and what they do, my understanding of law has grown massively and I have a way better understanding of what it is like to work in the law industry and working as a whole. My IT skills have for sure improved. My confidence and teamworking skills have also gotten better as this whole experience was outside of my comfort zone but next time I will be doing something like this I will be a lot more comfortable. I also used to have a terrible memory for names but I remember almost every person I met.
Cezary Sobczak
During this programme you should expect to develop the following skills:
- Relationship building
- Decision making
- Listening
- Receiving information
- Independent thinking
- Responsibility
- Adaptability
- My Career Ready experience - read Sergiusz's story.
- My experience as a Career Ready mentor - read Kate's story.
- Read more about our early career experiences here.
Entrepreneurial Scotland
We partner with Entrepreneurial Scotland, who are an independent charity that exists to equip future leaders and talent with the entrepreneurial skills, mindset and connections to create impact.
Entrepreneurial Scotland work with all of Scotland’s Universities which allows us to reach a significant talent pool and through a 12 week internship programme, we are able to provide an opportunity for talented and ambitious students.to partner with us on specific projects and provide a fresh perspective on the work we do.
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To apply you must be in your 3rd or 4th year at a Scottish University, and be part of the Saltire Scholars initiative.
If you’d like to know more information please contact peopleengagement@brodies.com
During the internship interns will work on a project of commercial significance and will gain exposure to all levels across the firm.
They will have an opportunity to present and talk through their findings to the Leadership team, and establish connections that will hopefully extend beyond their Graduation.
Watch Aida's Entrepreneurial Scotland summer intern experience here.
You can read more about our early career experiences here.
SEMLA
We partner with Scottish Ethnic Minorities Lawyers Association (SEMLA) to facilitate a diverse and inclusive legal profession in Scotland.
SEMLA aims to provide support and create career opportunities for ethnic minority lawyers and law students in Scotland. Brodies offers the opportunity for students who are members of SEMLA to undertake work experience which provides a snapshot of life at Brodies.
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This opportunity is open to current LLB and diploma students. Applicants must be members of SEMLA.
Applications are now closed and will open in Spring 2026.
Students will get the opportunity to work with one of our specialist teams, alongside some of Scotland's leading lawyers, be involved in interesting and challenging work and expand their knowledge through the completion of a valuable research project.
Full support will be available throughout the week, with a dedicated mentor and buddy on hand to provide guidance on allocated work. They can also answer any questions that the students may have about the firm or the wider legal profession.
- SEMLA student Fidelia shares her insight into her one week work experience at Brodies.
- Read more about our early career experiences here.
Help & advice
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Are there any other virtual work experience programmes I can complete?
As well as the Brodies work experience programme, PRIME also offer something similar - click here to find out more.
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How long do I have to complete the virtual work experience programme?
You can work through each of the four tasks at your own pace, fit them around your studies. You'll receive feedback on competing each task and a completion certificate at the end.
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Where are your career insight days held?
Career Insight days are held twice a year in each of the following office locations – Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
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I live too far away to travel to any of the offices offering career insight days, what can I do?
Please contact us at workexperience@brodies.com and we'll work with you to find a solution.
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How long will I be given to complete my modern apprenticeship?
Our modern apprentices usually join on 1-year fixed term contracts. You will have the full year to complete the apprenticeship coursework but will be given deadlines by your assessor to complete each assignment.
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Who is eligible to apply for a modern apprenticeship?
To qualify for our modern apprenticeships, you should be aged between 16 and 24.
Get in touch with Wendy
For more information about PRIME, virtual work experience and career insight days. please contact Wendy.
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