*Cheers Scotland* #YouRock
In the words of Billy Connolly "There are two seasons in Scotland: June and Winter." But don’t let that dampen your ideas on making the move (or staying put). Joking apart, Scotland certainly has a big heart and whilst the early morning bustle in the concrete jungle might be grinding you down I can think of many reasons that will make you consider moving closer to the highlands - quicker than you can say Ben Nevis!
Did you know...
- Housing and living costs are substantially lower in Scotland, weekly household costs can be 20% lower than in London and 10% cheaper than the rest of the UK.
- Edinburgh made the top 20 most desirable places to live in the world, the only city in the UK to feature on the list!
- It’s the perfect place to inhabit - with 7 cities, 2 National parks, 45 National nature reserves, 600+ square miles of freshwater lakes and some of the most alluring beaches in the UK Scotland falls nothing short of spectacular.
- Some of the best things in the world originated from Scotland… Golf, Shortbread, flushing toilets, Gin & Tonic…
- If a good quality of work/life balance is high up on your agenda, Scotland has highly regulated, good working practices to safeguard employees. Not to mention some of the most generous paid holiday entitlement.
- The quality of work in Scotland is top tier. Due to the size of the firms, the hierarchy is often less steep. You’re likely to be working with a closer-knit team, meaning technical exposure and personable skills tend to be more advanced earlier on – this is recognised.
In recent years the Scottish legal market has metamorphosed - Sectors such as food and drink, real estate, energy, infrastructure, finance and technology are generating substantial amounts of premium-quality work.
This is fuelling an influx of international heavyweights with the likes of CMS, Pinsent Masons, Addleshaw Goddard and Dentons’ entering the market through the takeover of some of Scotland’s leading law firms.
Meanwhile, the largest independent firms namely, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Brodies and Burness Paull and primary domestic firms Morton Fraser, Anderson Strathern, Harper Macleod and Dickson Minto continue to flourish.
So, I think we can all agree, Scotland has a great deal to offer! But if one day you decide to look further afield, you’ll be pleased to hear that Scottish legal talent is now in demand the world over. Exposure to high-quality work in environments that develop adaptable and commercially savvy lawyers has made this a fertile hunting ground for the international elite. Whether it is a Magic Circle firm in the City or a lucrative stint with an offshore firm in the Caribbean, experience in a leading Scottish firm will open doors.
We have many roles across the Corporate, Energy, Infrastructure and Real Estate practice areas. If you’d like a confidential chat, or to hear more about other opportunities in Scotland please do not hesitate to get in touch.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-traverse/
*Are you a solicitor, qualified in England, Wales or Northern Ireland? From November 2019, solicitors re-qualifying from another jurisdiction can apply to undertake the QLA (Qualified Lawyer Assessment). For those who have already started the process pre- November get in touch with lawscot.org.uk for more information.
