The number of traineeships available for aspiring solicitors in Scotland continues to rise.

According to a Law Society of Scotland report, the number of training contracts started in practice year 2015/16 was 549, representing an increase of 2% on the previous practice year. This is the same percentage increase as the previous year on year comparison.

80% of traineeships commenced in practice year 2015/2016, were in the central belt, an increase of 5% on the previous year although there was a 26% drop in the number of traineeships in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire – which might be linked to the difficulties experienced by the oil industry in this region.

The newly published statistics from the Law Society also show that:

• 90% of trainees admitted in the last practice year are currently employed as solicitors (an increase on the 88% last year)
• 11% of traineeships are in house, this figure remains static from the previous year
• 63% of solicitors admitted over the last five years are female
• 65% of solicitors admitted in 2015/2016 are female, compared with 63% in 2014/2015

There was an overall 6% increase in the number of traineeships in firms with 21-30 partners, and a corresponding decrease in the number at firms with 11-20 partners

Katie Wood, Head of Admissions at the Law Society of Scotland, said:

“The Society’s traineeship statistics are a useful resource for all those interested and involved in the legal profession. The latest set of results is encouraging for solicitors, trainees, students and the Law Society.