Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP
Overview
Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP (MFMac) is a leading independent Scottish full-service law firm with deep market presence in Scotland and a track record of acting as specialist Scottish counsel for national and international firms. The firm combines broad sector coverage (real estate, infrastructure, energy, banking & finance, manufacturing/media/technology, health & life sciences) with a strong project and construction capability and a large dedicated real estate team. Its heritage stretches back centuries (root firms traceable to 1614 and 1829) and the firm positions itself on client-focused delivery, transparency on fees, sustainability credentials and a culture of early responsibility for junior lawyers.
- Headquarters: Edinburgh, 9 Haymarket Square
- Founded: 1614
- Lawyers: Over 250 lawyers
- Trainees: Up to 20 per year
- Offices: 2
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Infrastructure & Projects
- Real Estate
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Construction & Engineering
- Banking & Finance
- Corporate & M&A
- Commercial Contracts
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Intellectual Property
- Data Protection & Privacy
- Employment
- Private Client & Wealth
- Tax
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Media & Entertainment
- Technology & Digital
- Pensions
Geographic Focus: MFMac is primarily Scotland-focused with two principal offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow. It acts as the go-to Scottish counsel for national and international law firms working on cross-border transactions and advises clients with UK-wide and international operations. The firm routinely supports multi-jurisdictional deals by integrating Scottish legal advice with partner firms elsewhere.
Training Contract
MFMac offers a two-year traineeship consisting of four six-month seats. Seats are arranged across four divisions (typically Corporate, Commercial Real Estate, Private Client and Litigation) and trainees are expected to rotate through these areas to gain broad commercial and client-facing experience. Induction and formal training occur in the first week, with trainees allocated a trainee manager and supported by teams throughout each seat.
- Trainee Intake: Up to 20 per year
- Academic Requirements: The firm welcomes applications from graduates and states a strong academic record is important. MFMac uses a contextual recruitment system (RARE) in its trainee selection and runs PRIME outreach to broaden socio-economic access to traineeships.
- Application Deadline: 2026-07-17
Seat Options
- Corporate & M&A
- Real Estate
- Private Client & Wealth
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Employment
- Banking & Finance
- Construction & Engineering
- Family Law
- Energy & Natural Resources
Mentorship
The firm operates internal mentoring and development support (trainee manager oversight and peer trainee networks) and participates in external mentoring programmes and outreach (MCR Pathways, Law Society schemes, university tutoring and Napier University Scheme). The People team coordinate trainee support and trainees are able to join employee networks and committees for additional pastoral and development support.
Programmes & Schemes
A week-long outreach placement for high-school pupils from less privileged backgrounds delivered in the firm's Edinburgh office (PRIME partner). The programme gives students first-hand insight into legal work, exposure to trainees and lawyers, and practical sessions across departments.
- Duration: 1 week
A one-week unpaid placement for secondary school pupils (completed fourth year) designed to provide exposure to at least three different departments by shadowing trainee solicitors. Placements run Monday–Friday, typically 09:30–13:00.
- Duration: 1 week
- Salary: Unpaid
- Places: 20 places each year (10 Edinburgh, 10 Glasgow)
- Deadline: 30 August 2026
Firm-run summer placement opportunities intended to give students practical experience of life in a commercial law firm and help applicants prepare for traineeships.
Information evenings in Glasgow and Edinburgh for prospective trainee applicants to learn about the traineeship, ask questions and meet current trainees and People team representatives. (Dates published for each intake.)
- Duration: Evening events
Notable Matters
Acted on matters connected to SSE’s 'Pathway to 2030' programme, an initiative to upgrade electricity transmission across the north of Scotland to support net zero targets. The work demonstrates the firm's market-facing energy and infrastructure capability across consenting, project delivery and regulatory issues.
Energy & Natural Resources
Advising Clydeside Regeneration Limited on the Queens Quay Regeneration project, a major remediation and mixed-use redevelopment of the former John Brown shipyard in Clydebank with an estimated value of £250 million. The firm provided integrated real estate, planning and construction advice across the transaction.
Real Estate
Acted for David Samuel Properties on the acquisition of the BP HQ in Dyce, Aberdeen — recorded as the largest Q1 2024 office investment deal in Scotland — providing real estate transactional and commercial advice.
Real Estate
Advising NHS Lanarkshire on the Monklands Replacement Project, a major hospital design and construction programme. The role covers procurement, construction contracting and project delivery legal support for a large healthcare infrastructure project.
Infrastructure & Projects
Acted for BAM Properties Limited (with Federated Hermes) on a speculative office development at Capital Square, Morrison Street, Edinburgh, providing development, real estate and project support across acquisition, funding and construction contract stages.
Real Estate
Advised Indy Cinema on SaaS contracts, ticketing frameworks and data protection matters to support the platform’s international growth into the US and South American markets, demonstrating the firm’s cross-border technology and data practice work for scale-ups.
Technology & Digital
What Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Commercial awareness
- Client focus and excellent communication
- Confidence and a positive 'can-do' approach
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Initiative and problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Resilience and adaptability
- Authenticity and commitment to inclusive practice
Evidence Signals
- Contextual and socio-economic outreach (PRIME/RARE) — applicants with relevant overcoming-adversity evidence
- Practical legal work experience or paralegal placements
- Commercial work or sector-specific projects (real estate, infrastructure, energy, TMT)
- Demonstrable teamwork (committee, society roles) and client-facing experience
- Clear examples using the STAR method for competency answers
- Interest or experience in sustainability, community or pro bono initiatives
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Pension contributions
- Life assurance
- Health and wellbeing programmes
- Mental Health First Aiders and mental health awareness training
- Confidential counselling service (EAP)
- Generous annual leave (described as generous; days not specified)
- Holiday purchase plan
- Enhanced sick pay
- Family-friendly pay
- Discretionary pay awards
- Interest-free season ticket loans
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Lockers and shower facilities
- Flexible/remote-first working policy
- Season ticket loans and interest-free travel loans
- Access to CPD and training (Summer of CPD webinars)
- Employee networks and ERGs (Social Mobility ERG, charity and wellbeing committees)
Wellbeing
Wide-ranging wellbeing support including Mental Health First Aiders, confidential counselling, online exercise classes, workplace wellbeing events, walk/cycle-to-work initiatives, bake sales and CSR volunteering days.
Awards & Recognition
- Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For (only law firm in Scotland on the list)
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification
- ISO 27001 Information Security certification
- Member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance
- Rankings and listings in leading legal directories (Chambers & Partners, Legal 500)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Member of The 30% Club; signatory to the Mindful Business Charter and the Armed Forces Covenant; active PRIME and social mobility outreach; annual Gender Pay Gap reporting and public Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging strategy commitments.
- RARE Contextualised Recruitment System (CRS) used in trainee recruitment
- PRIME Work Experience placements
- Social Mobility Employee Resource Group (ERG)
- The 30% Club (member)
- Mindful Business Charter (signatory)
- Armed Forces Covenant (signatory)
- Partnerships with Black Professionals Scotland
- Partnerships with Whizz-Kids
- Partnerships with MCR Pathways
- Mentoring through Law Society of Scotland programmes, Napier University Scheme, WiRES and Very Impressive People
- Modern apprenticeship programme
Pro Bono
Active pro bono and community engagement: formal charity partnerships (Smart Works Scotland, SAMH, Scottish Autism, The Hygiene Bank, Dyslexia Scotland), panel membership with Brake (national road safety charity) providing legal support to road collision victims, volunteering, fundraising and board-level charity support. The firm also offers legal advice to select charities and supports staff volunteering and fundraising initiatives.
Innovation
The firm pursues a digital-first approach with information security accreditation (ISO 27001) and a paper-light operating model. It publishes digital tools for clients and HR (the MFMac HR app) and runs focused CPD and webinar programmes to keep clients and staff current on legal and regulatory developments. Trainees engage with technology through practice-driven work, CPD webinars and cross-team digital collaboration.
- MFMac HR app (employment law app for iPhone and Android)
- Digital-first and paper-light working practices
- ISO 27001 Information Security certification
- Summer of CPD (focused webinars and online training series)
- Use of Microsoft Teams for cross-office collaboration
Quick Application Angles
- Highlight exposure to Scottish real estate or infrastructure: reference the firm’s recent Capital Square, Queens Quay or NHS hospital infrastructure work when explaining your commercial awareness.
- If you come from a socio‑economically disadvantaged background, use the RARE contextual information — MFMac uses RARE and PRIME, so explain how your background shaped outcomes and resilience.
- Demonstrate client-facing skills and evidence of early responsibility (use STAR examples from placements, part-time jobs or committee roles) — the firm values commercial communication and early responsibility.
- Mention MFMac’s sustainability and environmental credentials (ISO 14001, Carbon Reduction Plan, Legal Sustainability Alliance) if you have related experience or commitment — this aligns with the firm’s stated priorities.
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