The firm hosted three interns over the course of the summer, with each spending a week with the Edinburgh team gaining first-hand experience of life as a trainee at a growing national law firm. 

The interns were involved in a wide variety of tasks across the firm’s practice areas, gaining hands-on exposure to client work, legal processes and the day-to-day operations of a legal practice. 

They also had the opportunity to observe court proceedings and attend client calls, gaining a practical insight into the work of the firm’s teams. 

Fiona Pask, head of the Edinburgh office at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “Providing aspiring solicitors with meaningful, hands-on experience is an important part of our commitment to developing future legal talent. Our existing team have done a fantastic job of providing a warm welcome and great insight into our culture, helping the interns get involved in the work of our teams, ask questions and make the most of every opportunity during their time with us. 

“It has been a pleasure to have them in the office and we hope the experience helped inform their next step towards their future careers in law.” 

Among this year’s interns were Maria Imray and Sarah Love, who both spoke about the practical experience they gained during their placements. 

Ms Imray, who is entering her final year of an LLB at the University of Aberdeen, said: “My internship gave me a much more practical understanding of what trainees do across the practice areas offered by the Edinburgh team. I developed my drafting skills and understanding of court procedure, and gained experience of witnessing client interactions that will help me in future practice settings. One of the highlights was attending Dumbarton Sheriff Court to observe proceedings, which gave me a valuable insight into the litigation process.”

Ms Love, who is entering her penultimate year of the LLB at Glasgow Caledonian University, added: “Before starting the internship, I had very little knowledge of litigation. By the end of the week, I had developed an understanding of the litigation process, particularly in relation to simple procedure and ordinary cause actions. I gained hands-on experience completing court forms, reviewing cases and working alongside trainees to consider the next steps in matters.”