Independent full-service Scottish law firm, Thorntons has appointed nine newly qualified solicitors following the successful completion of its two-year traineeship programme, which achieved an impressive 75% retention rate for the cohort.
The newly qualified solicitors include Catriona Kemp, Robyn Canning, Rebecca Engel-Morton, Rose Grant, and Lewis Quinn in the firm’s Edinburgh office, Liam Martin and Eilidh Withers in Glasgow, and Ben Ager and Lois Legge in Dundee and Inverness, respectively.
Thorntons’ two-year graduate programme is structured to provide trainees with robust legal training and practical experience, while ensuring graduates are given the opportunity to specialise in practice areas aligned with their interests. With a broad client base spanning 14 offices across Scotland, the firm offers exposure to a comprehensive range of legal services.
Lois Legge, newly qualified solicitor in the firm’s Inverness-based commercial property team, said:
“It’s fantastic to be staying on as a qualified solicitor with Thorntons and continuing to develop my career within the firm. Having joined earlier this year, qualifying into the commercial property team, I’ve had a truly positive experience and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
“Being part of Thorntons’ newest office in Inverness, which opened last November, is particularly exciting. We have ambitious plans for the office, and there’s a lot of growth on the horizon."
Colin Graham, senior partner at Thorntons, said:
"We are incredibly proud of our newly qualified solicitors and the dedication they have shown throughout their traineeship. Our trainees are vital to the firm's future, and we are committed to supporting their professional development as they continue to grow in their legal careers.
"Retaining 75% of our trainees clearly reflects the value they bring to the firm and the strong career opportunities we provide."
With new positions spanning departments such as corporate law, employment, intellectual property, private client services, and family law, the cohort will continue to build on the high-quality training they received during their time as trainees.
Thorntons has a longstanding reputation for nurturing legal talent, offering a structured and supportive environment where trainees can thrive. Its rotational programme of four six-month seats ensures that the next generation of lawyers is well-prepared to take on the challenges of a dynamic legal landscape and establish successful careers within the firm.
Applications for Thorntons’ 2025 summer internships, which offer aspiring trainees a preview of the firm’s training programme, will open this November. The firm will also begin accepting applications for its 2027 traineeships starting in April 2025.