Brodies LLP

Overview

Brodies LLP is a prominent UK law firm headquartered in Scotland with a long heritage (providing legal services for over 300 years) and a national footprint that includes offices in London, Leeds and across Scotland. The firm positions itself as a full-service adviser to UK and international clients, combining sector-focused teams (over 850 specialists) with a global network of partner firms to deliver cross-border work. Brodies promotes a values-driven culture (courage, character, care, collaborative and collegiate), publishes extensive sector insight and holds numerous top-tier directory rankings (70 top-tier rankings across Legal 500 UK and Chambers UK).

• Headquarters: Scotland
• Lawyers: 850
• Offices: 6

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Banking & Finance
• Investment Funds
• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Intellectual Property
• Technology & Digital
• Real Estate
• Construction & Engineering
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Transport & Logistics
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Tax
• Family Law
• Private Client & Wealth
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Pensions

Geographic Focus: Core market focus is Scotland (multiple offices) with a national UK presence via Leeds and London and work for international clients supported by a global network of partner firms. The firm handles cross-border corporate, technology and finance matters and positions itself to act for clients across the UK and internationally.

Training Contract

Training contracts combine multiple seats across different practice groups (examples cited include Dispute Resolution & Risk, Real Estate, Personal & Family, Corporate and Employment). Trainees rotate through seats to gain qualifying work experience (QWE) credit under the SQE framework for English training contracts. The firm emphasises early ownership of work, practical hands-on experience, and national training sessions that supplement seat-based learning.

• Academic Requirements: Brodies uses the Rare Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) and anonymised CV screening across graduate recruitment to assess achievement in context; the English training contract seeks candidates passionate about English law and cross-jurisdictional work.
• Application Deadline: 2026-08-17

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Real Estate
• Family Law
• Employment
• Technology & Digital
• Intellectual Property
• Private Client & Wealth
• Agriculture & Rural

Sponsorship

Diploma fees paid (the firm states it pays diploma fees to support trainees continuing their studies).

SQE Support

For English-qualified trainees Brodies provides SQE preparation support and states it will provide support as candidates prepare for SQE assessments. The firm finances diploma fees (see sponsorship) and runs structured training events to support readiness for professional assessments.

International Opportunities

Brodies offers international experience through cross-border matters and partner-firm networks; trainee anecdotes reference secondment opportunities including a Brodies Middle East office secondment (one trainee noted being the first trainee seconded to that office). The English training contract is delivered from Edinburgh or Glasgow and the firm emphasises QWE across cross-jurisdictional work.

Mentorship

Trainees are assigned a buddy (an experienced trainee) and have mentors/supervising lawyers in each seat who provide assignments, feedback and pastoral support. There are also trainee networks and colleague networks that offer peer support.

Apply on the Brodies LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Brodies LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Resilience and adaptability
• Ownership and initiative
• Inclusive mindset and commitment to diversity
• Interest in sector specialisms (eg. technology, finance, energy)

Evidence Signals

• Relevant vacation scheme or summer placement experience
• Commercial work experience (eg. internships with corporates or law firms)
• Pro bono and community involvement (PRIME, Career Ready, Reading Partners)
• International experience or cross-border project involvement for transactional roles
• Demonstrable interest in technology/AI for tech-focused teams
• Use of Rare contextual data to explain achievements in context (CRS)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Upper quartile trainee salaries
• Diploma fees paid
• Firm-wide and individual performance bonus scheme
• Pension scheme with monthly contributions
• Discounted gym membership
• Fruit deliveries
• Yoga and pilates classes for colleagues
• Flexible working arrangements (formal and informal)
• Agile working (ability to work where needed)
• Emergency authorised absence days
• Dependent leave days
• Online wellbeing portal (social, physical, mental and financial health resources)
• Menopause Friendly Accreditation and menopause support programme

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is embedded in the firm's approach: an online wellbeing portal, dedicated Health & Wellbeing Manager, discounted fitness offerings, colleague wellbeing events, a menopause taskforce and neuroinclusion initiatives (reasonable adjustments passport pilot, awareness training).

Awards & Recognition

• Inclusive Culture Award at the enei Inclusivity Excellence Awards (2022)
• Top thirty Working Families Employer (2025)
• IP, Technology & Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in Scotland (Global Law Experts, 2021)
• Practice of the Year at Chambers High Net Worth Awards (2025)
• 70 top tier rankings from Legal 500 UK and Chambers UK (as advertised on site)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Brodies publishes diversity data and gender pay reports (annual reports) and is a signatory/partner to multiple social mobility and inclusion initiatives (Social Mobility Pledge, PRIME, Working Families, Mindful Business Charter). The firm runs formal allyship training and specific inclusion programmes such as neuroinclusion and menopause support.

• Network for Equality and Inclusion
• Colleague networks (six networks)
• Inclusive Email Signatures & Inclusive Language guide
• PRIME social mobility programme
• Partnership with Career Ready
• Partnership with Disabling Barriers Scotland
• Signatory to the Social Mobility Pledge
• Supporter of the LawScot Foundation
• Member of Working Families UK
• Signatory of the Mindful Business Charter
• Use of Rare Contextual Recruitment System (anonymised CVs)
• Partnership with Scottish Ethnic Minority Lawyers' Association and Black Professionals United Kingdom
• Neuroinclusion working group and partnership with Mindroom

Pro Bono

Brodies operates a Positive Impact / community programme (including partnerships with CHAS 2024-2027 and the RSA Schools Art Awards sponsorship) and provides pro bono/community engagement through initiatives such as PRIME, Career Ready and Reading Partners.

Innovation

Brodies invests in legal technology and automation (Amelior CLM, Workbox, automated legal solutions) and positions these tools as part of client-facing solutions (eg. virtual GC and document automation). The firm publishes insight on AI and technology and integrates tech-adjacent legal work into its transactional and regulatory practice; trainees are exposed to technology-led matters and automated legal solutions as part of seats and secondments.

• Amelior
• Amelior CLM
• Workbox by Brodies
• Virtual General Counsel by Brodies
• Wills by Brodies
• AI hub / AI insights pages
• Automated legal solutions and CLM tooling

Quick Application Angles

• Lead with the firm's values in applications: reference Brodies' stated values (Courage; Character; Care; Collegiate; Collaborative) and give concrete examples of how you demonstrate those behaviours.
• If applying to technology or data teams, mention commercial tech experience or awareness (eg. interest in AI or data projects) and reference Brodies' tech mandates such as advisory work on Episerver’s sale and large outsourcing agreements (Capgemini/Scottish Water).
• Demonstrate commitment to inclusion and social mobility: reference participation in PRIME/Career Ready or other widening-access initiatives and explain how contextual factors in your Rare CRS profile shaped your achievements.
• For English training contract applicants, emphasise cross-jurisdictional interest and readiness for SQE/QWE (Brodies supports SQE preparation and places trainees in Edinburgh or Glasgow for the English programme).
• Use concrete seat-related examples: if applying for corporate, cite transactional experience or commercial internships; for family/child law seats reference any relevant clinic, mediation or pro bono work and empathy/resilience examples.