Vacation Placement 2027 (Scotland)

Your gateway to Pinsent Masons

Our vacation placement programme is the perfect introduction to Pinsent Masons and a pathway to securing a training contract at the firm. We meticulously design, structure, and develop the programme to provide you with an experience that is both practical and enjoyable, while genuinely reflecting the trainee solicitor experience.

Navigating your vacation placement journey

Our two-week vacation placement programme often serves as the first opportunity for many individuals to work in a professional setting. We ensure you are welcomed to the firm through a UK-wide induction, giving you the chance to meet your peers and helping you gain valuable insights into life at the firm. You will gain comprehensive exposure to one specific practice area which will allow you to build strong relationships, engage deeply in the team's work, and enjoy a significant level of responsibility. You will be paired with a dedicated supervisor and a buddy who will guide you throughout the placement, assign hands-on tasks, provide constructive feedback, and address any questions you may have about the firm.

Vacation placement to training contract

If you are offered a placement, it signifies that we already recognise you as a potential trainee. During your time with us, we will strive to give you every opportunity to validate our confidence in you. This is why our vacation placement students are not required to submit a separate application for our training contract programme; in our perspective, you are already being considered. Throughout your placement, we will facilitate your development of knowledge, skills, and confidence, gathering feedback from your team to assess the outcome of your training contract application.

Candidates typically apply for our vacation placement programme two years in advance of when they wish to commence their training contract.

Key dates:

Applications open: 15th September 2026

Applications close: 13th January 2027 at 12pm

Assessment centre: Between February and March 2027

Programme start: 7th June - 18th June 2027 

Programme duration: 2 weeks

We do not offer ad hoc placements, so you must make sure you’re available for the full placement during the above dates. 

If you secure a training contract with us after your vacation placement, your training contract will start in September 2029.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

Our firm is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion, partnering with organisations such as the 10,000 Interns Foundation and Aspiring Solicitors to promote and support applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Eligibility requirements:

· 4 Scottish Highers - Minimum AAAB in Scottish Highers (or an equivalent qualification amounting to 126 UCAS points), achieved without resits.

· 2.1 degree or above - 2.1 degree or above already gained or predicted to achieve.

You must also meet one of the following:

· You have reached the penultimate year of your LLB in Scots Law or beyond

· You have completed a non-law degree and you are now in your 1st or 2nd year of your accelerated LLB in Scots Law or beyond

If you don’t meet the above minimum academic criteria but you have mitigating circumstances, there’s an opportunity for you to include this information in your registration form.

How to apply

To start your application, please click on apply now. Once you have registered an account, you will need to complete the following before the application closing date:

· Registration form

· Application form

· Online blended assessment

Once you have submitted all of the above, our recruitment team will review your application alongside your online blended assessment and will be in touch in due course regarding your outcome.