Life as a trainee solicitor in Edinburgh

In this blog, Zuzana Choteborska shares her experience as a trainee solicitor in our Edinburgh office.

Life as a trainee solicitor in Edinburgh

Life as a trainee solicitor at Burges Salmon starts with a week-long induction in our headquarters in Bristol. This is a great opportunity to get to know not only the Edinburgh cohort, but also the trainees based in Bristol. The week is filled with introductions to new colleagues and essential training, which can be a bit overwhelming but incredibly valuable and provides a great start to the traineeship.

After the return to Edinburgh, it is time to begin your first seat which lasts for four months. My first seat was in our Construction & Engineering department, where I experienced advising on significant energy projects being developed in Scotland. I recently moved into a seat split between Incentives and Pensions. Balancing work for two departments presents unique challenges and an abundance of opportunities for learning. Our six-seat model allows trainees to acquire as much experience as possible in a variety of fields and sectors. My favourite part has been the ability to experience deals from multiple perspectives and often work on vastly different matters for the same client.

The firm is always eager to support integration across offices, so I am always encouraged to fly down for events or department-wide training sessions. This is particularly beneficial as a lot of my work is done in collaboration with the teams in Bristol and London. I also had the chance to visit Bristol for our yearly Trainees’ New Years dinner where current trainees meet the future cohorts over great food and drinks.
The Edinburgh office is growing rapidly in all aspects, and it is exciting being part of the expanding team. It is open plan which provides ample opportunities to meet and interact with people from all departments. I most appreciate the collaborative culture of our office and the approachability of everyone I have had the pleasure of working with, from other trainees to partners.

There are many opportunities for more informal gatherings with your colleagues. For those interested in sports, we have a football club and a weekly running club, both open to all abilities. I especially appreciate being able to partake in initiatives that align with my values, such as helping school pupils interested in a career in law by delivering a short presentation in our office. In my first week, I was also part of a group that volunteered at the Edinburgh Zoo which was a fantastic way to kickstart my traineeship.

My experience as a trainee in Burges Salmon is both challenging and rewarding. I get to work on interesting matters, enjoy a supportive work environment and participate in various social and professional development activities. It is an experience that helps me grow as a professional and allows me to build lasting relationships with colleagues across our offices.