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Trainee Solicitors
Gyle Square, Edinburgh
Salary aligned to Law Society of Scotland recommended rate (currently AfC band 3)
These posts are all 24 Month Fixed Term positions for completion of a legal traineeship. Where individuals with continuous service within the NHS apply for fixed-term contract roles, NSS reserves the right to refuse any such appointment.
Trainee Solicitors to start September 2026 (2 posts)
Trainee Solicitors to start September 2027 (4 posts)
About the Organisation
In June 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care introduced two key frameworks: the Population Health Framework and the Service Renewal Framework (SRF). The SRF sets out an ambitious vision to drive innovation and enable more integrated delivery across Scotland’s health and care services. As part of this transformation, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) will come together to form a new organisation: Public Services Delivery Scotland in April 2026. The new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and long-term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland. To learn more about the new organisation, please read the public consultation paper, NHS Delivery – A New National Delivery Organisation, available on the Scottish Government website
The Post
The Central Legal Office (CLO) provides NHSScotland with legal advice and assistance in every area of law relevant to the health service. We operate a team-based structure, with four Departments – Litigation, Employment, Commercial Contracts and Commercial Property. Each Department comprises experienced solicitors and support staff committed to delivering a responsive and cost-effective service to clients across the NHS. CLO offers the opportunity to work in a hybrid manner but also has a base at Gyle Square in Edinburgh.
CLO is recruiting for two trainees to commence in September 2026 and four in 2027.
In each year, half of the posts will give successful candidates the opportunity to spend time in all of the four CLO practice areas (nine months in Employment and Litigation and three months in Commercial Contracts and Commercial Property). The other half of the posts will be split between the Employment and Litigation Departments (twelve months in each department).
The PEAT 2 programme will be followed for all posts.
The Candidate
Successful candidates will have a degree in Scots Law at 2.1 level or equivalent, and a Diploma in Legal Practice by the time they start in post. If candidates have completed their degree at the time of application their grade should be specified in the application. Candidates should also specify in the application whether their preference would be to take up post in 2026 or 2027.
CLO is a fantastic place to work, offering a varied and interesting range of work.
The successful candidates will be required to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who has lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.
Location and Working Pattern:
Gyle Square, Edinburgh.
Currently hybrid working, with all staff expected to come into the office at least one day a week.
Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week.
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with PSDS.
Benefits
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.
Inclusion
Public Services Delivery Scotland is a national organisation and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. PSDS has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of PSDS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.wfrs@nhs.scot
Further information:
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Jennifer Thomson, Legal Advisor at jennifer.thomson9@nhs.scot
Closing date for completed applications is Friday 27th March 2026.
Please note that candidates will be shortlisted by Eden Scott, and that the first stage interviews will be online using a video platform (Willo). Due to the to the potential number of applicants and the Easter holidays the first stage interviews will happen between 10th and 17th April. For successful candidates there will be a second interview, held in person at CLO’s office at Gyle Square Edinburgh. It is anticipated that the second interviews will take place at the beginning of May 2026.
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.
