Solicitor Advocate / Solicitor

Brodies LLP is a prominent UK law firm headquartered in Scotland, that provides expert advice to UK and international clients.

We have the capability and expertise to deliver mandates with global reach, uniting specialist perspectives from across our firm to offer bespoke legal solutions and advice, resulting in impactful outcomes for our clients.

With offices in London, Leeds, and throughout Scotland, we are dedicated to driving innovation in the legal sector, leveraging new technologies and forward-thinking strategies to deliver exceptional value and efficiency for our clients.

Our contract with our people underlines our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment, prioritising the wellbeing and development of our colleagues to ensure they thrive both personally and professionally.

We are also deeply committed to making a positive impact in the communities in which we live and work. Through our pro bono work, charitable activities, and initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion, we strive to contribute meaningfully to society.

JOB TITLE

Solicitor Advocate / Solicitor (any PQE) looking to become a Solicitor Advocate

REPORTING TO

David Ford, Partner & Solicitor Advocate

Based in Edinburgh

READY TO MAKE ADVOCACY A BIGGER PART OF YOUR CAREER?

We have a solicitor advocate team that focuses on advocacy, supported by a large firm.

If you're someone with a strong interest in advocacy, looking for an opportunity to do more of it, and make it the focus of your career, this could be the role for you.

We're looking for a talented person to join our Dispute Resolution team and develop a career with advocacy at its heart. You will eventually predominantly work on cases as a solicitor advocate, concentrating on the advocacy and strategy required to progress cases at all levels of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal system.

You may already have significant advocacy experience as part of your current role and be ready to take the next step, you may already be a solicitor advocate or an advocate, or you may have had limited exposure to advocacy and are keen to develop your skills, eventually becoming a solicitor advocate. Regardless, what matters most to us is your enthusiasm for advocacy, your ability to think on your feet and your ambition to build your career as a solicitor advocate.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an opportunity to work closely with our head of solicitor advocacy, David Ford and our other solicitor advocates, based within the advocacy team, working on a broad range of interesting and challenging disputes across the whole of commercial disputes, while developing the skills and confidence needed to become an accomplished solicitor advocate.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Develop your advocacy skills through hands-on experience and structured support.
• Appear in court and undertake advocacy as your experience develops.
• Prepare for and conduct hearings, motions and other procedural matters.
• Work on complex litigation from initial instruction through to resolution.
• Develop strong technical, analytical and drafting skills.
• Work closely with Partners, senior lawyers and other specialists across the firm.
• Advise clients directly and develop your ability to communicate complex issues clearly and confidently.
• Gain experience across different forms of dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation.
• Build your own profile and develop a career focused on advocacy.
• For someone who already has advocacy experience, this is an opportunity to move beyond advocacy being one part of a broader litigation role and make it what you do.
• For someone earlier in their advocacy journey, it provides the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners and develop those skills in a supportive environment with a view to becoming a solicitor advocate at Brodies.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We're interested in hearing from Scottish-qualified lawyers with a background in litigation who are genuinely interested in developing or furthering a career in advocacy.

You might be:

• A solicitor who already undertakes some advocacy and wants to do considerably more.
• An experienced litigator, who has had limited advocacy opportunities, looking for a role where advocacy can become the sole focus of their career.
• A solicitor who is considering pursuing, or is already working towards, the Solicitor Advocate qualification.
• Someone who enjoys the challenge of presenting an argument, thinking on your feet and representing clients in contentious situations.
• You'll also bring strong communication, analytical and drafting skills, commercial awareness and a genuine commitment to delivering excellent client service.
• Previous extensive advocacy experience is not essential.

As part of the role, you will be aware of Brodies' information security policies, and protect information assets from unauthorised access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference at all times.
Why join us?
You'll be joining a collaborative and ambitious disputes team where you'll have the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners while developing your own advocacy style and expertise.

We're committed to supporting lawyers who want to build specialist careers, and this role provides a clear opportunity to develop your advocacy experience, take on increasing responsibility and build your profile within the firm.

If you're a litigator who has ever thought "I'd like to do more advocacy", we'd love to hear from you.

This could be the opportunity to turn that ambition into the next stage of your career.