Shakespeare Martineau welcomes 2026 summer interns to Edinburgh office - Scottish Business News
Shakespeare Martineau has welcomed three summer interns to its Edinburgh office, following an exceptional volume of applications for its 2026 internship programme. Building on the success of its inaugural. . .
Shakespeare Martineau has welcomed three summer interns to its Edinburgh office, following an exceptional volume of applications for its 2026 internship programme. Building on the success of its inaugural scheme last year, each intern spent a week with the national law firm, gaining first-hand experience of trainee life across its Edinburgh practice areas. The interns supported a variety of client-focused work, legal processes and day-to-day office activities. Their placements also included opportunities to observe court proceedings, attend client calls and work alongside trainees and partners. Fiona Pask, head of Shakespeare Martineau’s Edinburgh office, said: “We’re delighted to have continued our internship programme this summer, welcoming another group of interns to our Edinburgh office. The quality of applicants this year was outstanding, and it’s been wonderful to build on the success of our inaugural interns last year. “Providing aspiring solicitors with meaningful, hands-on experience is an important part of our commitment to developing future legal talent. Our existing team have done a fantastic job of providing a warm welcome and great insight into our culture, helping the interns get involved in the work of our teams, ask questions and make the most of every opportunity during their time with us. “It has been a pleasure to have them in the office and we hope the experience helped inform their next step towards their future careers in law. ”Among this year’s cohort were University of Aberdeen law student Maria Imray and Glasgow Caledonian University Scots law student Sarah Love. Maria, who is entering the final year of her LLB, said she applied after reading about the experiences of the firm’s 2025 interns. She said: “My internship gave me a much more practical understanding of what trainees do across the practice areas offered by the Edinburgh team. I developed my drafting skills and understanding of court procedure, and gained experience of witnessing client interactions that will help me in future practice settings. “One of the highlights was attending Dumbarton Sheriff Court to observe proceedings, which gave me a valuable insight into the litigation process. ”Maria added that the supportive environment had strengthened her ambition to complete the diploma and secure a traineeship. “Everyone in the office was incredibly welcoming, approachable and supportive, and I felt able to ask questions of both trainees and partners,” she said. “The experience has reinforced my ambition to study the diploma and secure a traineeship, and I look forward to staying in touch with the team. ”Sarah, who is entering her penultimate year studying Scots law, said the placement had given her valuable insight into civil litigation and commercial property. “Before starting the internship, I had very little knowledge of litigation,” she said. “By the end of the week, I had developed an understanding of the litigation process, particularly in relation to simple procedure and ordinary cause actions. “I gained hands-on experience completing court forms, reviewing cases and working alongside trainees to consider the next steps in matters. ”Sarah also worked with the commercial property team, joined client calls, observed a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court and researched and wrote an article on the Private Residential Tenancy (Scotland) Act 2016. She added: “Everyone made me feel incredibly welcome from the moment I arrived, and I was trusted with meaningful work from my first day. “I’m leaving the internship with a much stronger understanding of civil litigation, commercial property and the day-to-day responsibilities of working in a law firm. The experience has made me even more enthusiastic about the possibility of returning in the future, hopefully as a trainee solicitor. ”The initiative forms part of Shakespeare Martineau’s wider commitment to developing the next generation of legal professionals through inclusive, mentorship-led and practical learning opportunities. The firm continues to expand its presence in Scotland, with its Edinburgh office advising clients across litigation and dispute resolution, commercial property and private client work.