mms.co.uk/careers

Trainee Recruitment

Great training leads to great performance.“

”Double world champion, Olympic silver medallist and MMS Ambassador Keri-anne Payne.

Keri-anne PayneOlympic Silver medallist, double World Champion and MMS Ambassador

I have been a MMS Ambassador for almost a year now and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know people in the firm and developing a feel for the culture.

For a long time I have been very keen to work with young people and to help them fulfil their potential. As an elite athlete I believe I bring a unique perspective to the topic of what is required to push yourself to be the best and to prepare to perform and compete at the very highest levels. In my discussions with Kenneth Shand, MMS’s CEO, I have been struck by how many parallels there are between our two worlds and the extent to which competition, excellence and achievement are also the driving forces within MMS’s business environment.

I hope and believe there are aspects of what I can bring from my background and training that will help you to understand how to incorporate these goals into your own development, and perhaps from a slightly different perspective than you might have expected in a law firm environment. Therefore I intend to be involved in presenting to the MMS trainee intake as part of the induction process and then to be able to develop these conversations with you as a group as you settle into the firm. I am very excited to be involved in this initiative with MMS and being part of your journey as you pursue your career in the law with MMS.

Chief Executive Kenneth Shand

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP (MMS) has been one of the UK’s leading law firms for over 140 years. In that time we have consistently recruited the best lawyers and worked for blue-chip clients on the most complex work both across the UK and internationally, in recent times through our membership of Lex Mundi – the world’s leading network of independent law firms. That long tradition of excellence carries with it an expectation of the highest standards and quality in everything we do at every level of our organisation and we pride ourselves on delivering the same excellence and commitment to quality across our network of offices in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. We are exceptionally proud of that history and it creates a benchmark for our future performance.

Our tradition of excellence in recruiting and developing trainees is key to our success and the future of MMS. We will invest time and energy in ensuring that you are comprehensively trained, properly supported and given a variety of opportunities to allow you to grow in confidence and to prepare you for the next stage of your career.

We expect that throughout your Training Contract you will take responsibility for getting the job done to the level of excellence we demand. As an ambassador for MMS you will demonstrate our core values – being enthusiastic; being open and accessible; acting with integrity; communicating and being commercial. You will learn a great deal and recognise the importance of being a team player, sharing your experiences and helping colleagues, going the extra mile and hopefully having fun.

If you think you can take on this level of expectation and responsibility then we look forward to receiving your application.

Direct. +44 (0)330 222 1954Email. kenneth.shand@mms.co.uk

Offering our legal trainees a bright future

A training contract with Maclay Murray & Spens LLP places emphasis upon developing you as a professional within a highly stimulating environment.

Our strength across a wide range of practice areas gives us an exceptional reputation not only for corporate transactional work, but also for other specialist areas including Banking, Financial Services, Intellectual Property, Employment, EU, Competition & Regulatory, and Tax.

We are one of the largest law firms in Scotland with a sizeable office in London. Add in our membership of Lex Mundi and we are part of a global legal network.

Further information. mms.co.uk/AtoZ

MMS Practice AreasBanking & FinanceCapital ProjectsCommercial Dispute ResolutionConstruction & EngineeringCorporateEmployment & PensionsEU, Competition & RegulatoryFinancial ServicesHousing & CareIP & TechnologyPlanning & EnvironmentalPrivate Client & CharitiesPropertyTax

‘MMS provides trainees with a training contract that is well rounded and sets you apart from your peers.’

Hanna CockayneTrainee Solicitor

Your training contract

Your training contract with MMS will be varied, eventful and rewarding. We will provide you with a very broad range of practice experience including legal writing, drafting, research work, and client contact.

Our thorough training, combined with real responsibility, consistently opens doors to the profession in the UK, Europe and beyond.

The programme operates over 2 years and consists of three 8 month seats. We believe, and trainee feedback has confirmed, that 8 month seats are the most beneficial for trainees and for MMS. It takes a trainee around 4 months to get to grips with what is needed in each seat therefore it allows more time for you to refine your skills and gain confidence that you know what you are doing. It is also more likely that you will see a transaction through from start to finish and benefit from the experience of the 2nd year trainee who has already been in the seat for 4 months when you join the team. In the spring before you start with MMS, you will be invited to meet representatives from the different practice groups so that they can give you an overview of what it will be like to be a trainee in their area. You will then be asked for your top 3 preferences.

We work hard to try to accommodate individuals’ interests with the business needs of the Firm and generally most trainees receive 2 out of their 3 preferences.

During your training contract you will work closely with a ‘buddy’ who will be on hand to offer guidance and encouragement so you won’t be on your own.

Further information. mms.co.uk/careers/traineeship

What trainees can expect from MMS:

Hands on experiences

Support to help you grow in confidence

Supportive and approachable colleagues

High quality training

‘Perhaps the best part of being a trainee at MMS is the exposure to Partners and the resultant client contact.’

Graham MacdonaldTrainee Solicitor

Development

We aim to provide trainee solicitors with a clear insight into the areas of law in which we practice. We will encourage you to develop your skills and abilities in each practice area in which you work and to explore specialist fields.

Each practice area runs internal seminars on a wide variety of topics of interest to both trainee solicitors and qualified lawyers. Regular discussion groups take place on current developments in the law and their effect in practice.

Progress is discussed and reviewed at regular intervals and you will be encouraged to give your own assessment of your performance.

Further information. mms.co.uk/careers

Culture

At MMS we recognise that in order to provide superb service, each of us must understand the importance of our individual contribution. Every member of the team, from the receptionist to the mail room staff to the Chief Executive has a role to play. This is encapsulated by our Very Smart people concept.

This concept is embedded in the culture of MMS, where everyone’s contribution is recognised and everyone is treated with respect. You will very quickly become a valued member of the team. We want you to succeed, and will provide you with training, support, skills and knowledge throughout your Training Contract.

The Client is at the heart of everything we do at MMS and our core values also contribute to the culture of the firm. They are:

We will be enthusiasticWe will be open and accessibleWe will communicate and be commercialWe will act with integrity

Our open plan offices create a friendly and approachable atmosphere which encourages interaction at all levels.

Further information. mms.co.uk/verysmartpeople

Our commitment to the wider community

As one of the UK’s leading legal firms, we understand at MMS that we have a responsibility to the community in which we work. In recognition of this the Firm has in place a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy covering a range of topics and practices, designed to allow us to be good corporate citizens.

The Firm also contributes through charitable work and contribution. The MMS Charitable Trust is specifically charged with managing the Firm’s corporate giving. Each office has a CSR and Charity Committee who co-ordinate the CSR and Charity activities for that office. The committee is responsible for collating nominations and coordinating a vote to choose a local charity for each office. The rest of the year is spent fundraising and helping this charity. The MMS Charitable Trust encourage participation by matching every £1 that is raised.

The Firm also encourages staff participation through our Staff Suggestion Scheme and is willing to take on board any suggestions that will enhance our current activities.

Further information. mms.co.uk/verysmartpeople

What are we looking for?

We welcome applications from all disciplines. You should have a strong academic record and be on track to achieve a 2:1 or above in your undergraduate degree.

The skills and attitude we look for in our trainees are:

Further information. mms.co.uk/careers/traineeship

An alert, inquiring mind and a keenness to learn

First class verbal communication skills

Resilience – ability to keep going when things are not going as planned

Professionalism

Ability to write in plain English with excellent grammar and spelling

Enthusiasm and a sense of humour

Commitment – determination to see a job through

The willingness and ability to get on with colleagues and clients at all levels

Ability to operate under pressure in a team environment

Trainee recruitment process

The recruitment process will be launched in summer and starts after you have filled out and returned the application form, which can be found on our website: mms.co.uk/careers/traineeship

Training Contract offered

Assessment Dayincluding for example group exercise, research exercise, interview

Candidates shortlisted for interviews

Application Form received

Further information. mms.co.uk/careers/traineeship

Summer Internships

Each year we offer students the opportunity to apply for a 3 week summer internship which takes place between June and September. The internships are paid and we will take into account your preferred location and area of law. The summer internships are part of our trainee recruitment process so you should expect a similar robust recruitment process as previously described.

You will be placed in one practice group for the 3 weeks to enable you to get a realistic idea of what it would be like to be a trainee in that practice group. You will attend an induction on your first day covering general firm information, IT training and guidance on how to get the most out of your internship. There will also be a further Training Day during your time with us. You will have a buddy who will help you get settled in and will help ensure that you get varied and challenging work. As we will be assessing your suitability for a training contract you should expect real work and an expectation that you will contribute to the workload of the team.

In order to apply for a Summer Internship in London, students should be in at least Year 2 and in Scotland, Year 3 of their honours law degree or in the final year of a non-law degree. The application process and closing dates will be updated on our website in December each year, with the closing dates for London and Scotland being early in the new year.

Further information. mms.co.uk/careers

If you have any questions regarding our training contract or our trainee recruitment process, please contact the HR team at:

+44 (0)141 271 5472trainee.recruitment@mms.co.uk

Further information. mms.co.uk/getintouch

MMS LondonOne London WallLondonEC2Y 5AB

Tel 0330 222 0050

MMS Edinburgh15 Lauriston PlaceEdinburghEH3 9EP

Tel 0330 222 0050

MMS Glasgow1 George SquareGlasgowG2 1AL

Tel 0330 222 0050

MMS Aberdeen66 Queens RoadAberdeenAB15 4YE

Tel 0330 222 0050

mms.co.uk/careers