Position: Legal Trainee 2026
Location: Edinburgh
Programme Start date: September 2026
Closing date: 25th March (We reserve the right to close earlier due to volume of applications)
About the Role:
Ready to kickstart your legal career? Join the Legal, Secretariat, Public Affairs, and Sustainability team in September 2026 for a two-year Scots-law legal traineeship in Edinburgh.
Our Legal team supports our Investments and Platforms businesses and helps us hit our strategic goals, protect our reputation, and look after our clients. You’ll dive into asset management and get hands-on with all kinds of legal work, including investments and funds, contracts and corporate transactions.
What We’re Looking For:
We look for driven people with excellent analytical skills and interest in investments. You need to have the potential to see the big picture, make balanced decisions, and communicate clearly with everyone. From day one, you’ll be working on projects with colleagues across all our businesses.
Trainee Programme:
Our trainee programme usually has around three trainees across both years, mixing our in-house team with secondees from external law firms. You’ll rotate through four six-month seats, working flexibly to meet our business needs. There will also likely be the opportunity for a secondment to an external law firm. Expect a well-rounded experience with competitive compensation and excellent benefits.
During your traineeship, you’ll work towards your entry qualification to the Law Society of Scotland. We will provide access to mandatory training under the PEAT 2 programme through our external partners, giving you the chance to network in the Scottish legal scene. Plus, there’ll be talks and workshops from other teams to give you insights into various commercial and technical matters. This programme is your launchpad to a legal career with high-quality skills and experience.
About You:
We’re looking for motivated candidates with a commercial mindset who will have completed the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice by the start date. You should demonstrate:
* Communication Skills: Clear and effective written and verbal communication.
* Team Work: Collaboration and breaking down boundaries when working with others.
* Trust & Integrity: Work delivered with integrity and high ethical standards.
* Planning & Prioritising: Proactive and take the initiative. Accomplish tasks efficiently, prioritising objectives based on value, importance, and urgency.
* Attention to Detail: Accuracy, consistency, and organisation in work.
* Analytical: Collect and analyse information to support decisions. Problem-solving skills.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. As a Disability Confident Committed Level One employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds and provide support throughout the recruitment process. Contact us at abrdnearlycareers@abrdn.com for any accommodations needed.
Our Benefits
There's more to working life than coming home with a good salary. We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported. You will enjoy competitive rewards, including 40 days of annual leave, a 16% employer pension contribution, private healthcare, and flexible benefits such as gym discounts and more. You can read more about our benefits here.
Ready to make your mark? Apply now and start your legal journey with us!
We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment. We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance. We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone.
If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist.
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