Working with you - The support and balance you need
Working with you
The support and balance you need
“As a trainee at BTO you are given the opportunity to work alongside partners and associates and experience a real variety of legal work... I have attended client meetings and worked on a number of high value and complex claims, with my supervisors providing the required support and training to develop my skills and knowledge.
All staff and team members are very approachable and the various social occasions encourage you to meet people and network within the wider firm.”
(Former Trainee Solicitor)
Contents
BTO: Some stats
Welcome to BTO
Vision and values
BTO’s services
Traineeships: Key facts
What are we looking for?
Why choose BTO?
What BTO trainees say
BTO: Some stats
At BTO there is a great work life balance. The firm actively encourages you to live a life outside of the office too.
4 Band 1 team rankings in Chambers UK
2 Band 1 team rankings in The Legal 500
14 In-house Solicitor Advocates
5 Solicitors dual qualified in Scotland and England (one is also qualified in Northern Ireland)
31 Ranked lawyers in Chambers UK
20 “Leading individuals” & Next Generation Partners in The Legal 500
8 Legal specialists accredited by the Law Society of Scotland
5 Qualified mediators
Welcome to BTO
BTO is well respected Scottish Law firm with offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Helensburgh. The firm provides expert legal service to businesses, individuals and families. We provide local knowledge, a friendly, personalised service, and have the capability to provide international legal advice through the Mackrell International network (www.mackrell.net/) and other contacts.
Our clients range from large medical defence organisations and public sector organisations, not for profit and charitable organisations, to major insurers, major corporates, SMEs, real estate developers and investors, manufacturers, well known retailers, financial institutions, membership organisations and senior executives.
With over 220 personnel, the firm has enjoyed steady growth over the last decade across all sectors. Clients describe BTO as pragmatic, client-focused and providing value for money.
At BTO, you will be working in an environment that is “down-to-earth” with “approachable” people and we do all we can to help our colleagues and clients achieve their aspirations. Determined to deliver practical solutions and solid results, a ‘can do’ attitude and enthusiasm drive everything we do.
A responsive and supportive firm, we listen, collaborate and forge longstanding relationships. We take responsibility for our clients, our people and the wider community.
We recruit trainees who are seeking a career with us and we reward them for their loyaltymany of our Partners were once trainees with the firm. At BTO, you will gain experience of working in a range of departments and a dose of commercial realism along the way.
We will work with you to provide the support and balance you need to reach your full potential.
Vision and values
We promote initiative, courage and action. We encourage fresh ideas and confidently embrace challenges and opportunities!
BTO’s Vision: To ensure continued success as one of the leading legal firms in Scotland with a distinctive, progressive, high performing and positive culture, focused on sustainable growth.
To excel at being both great to work with and a great place to work!
Values:
Positive
Supportive
Brave
Insightful
“pragmatic and solution driven”
BTO’s services
“adaptable” and “innovative”
Insolvency & Corporate Recovery
Insurance & Risk
IP, Tech & Data
Leisure, Hospitality & Licensing
Liability Claims
Mediation
Personal Injury
Procurement Regulation
Product Liability
Professional Discipline
Professional Liability
Real Estate
Regulatory & Compliance
Reputation Protection
Residential Property
Retail
Road Traffic Defence
Rural Business
Sports Law
STEM
Wills, Estates & Succession Planning
strong personal relationships [it] builds up with its clients.”
“good common sense advice.”
“provide a first rate service... with a flair for commercial awareness.”
“The greatest strengths of BTO are consistency, transparency and communication throughout all levels.”
“the best...for integrating different legal services, to ensure a seamless, professional yet affordable product.”
“exceptionally customer-focused and... always looking for ways to improve the service we receive.”
"consistently secures local deals, and is often instructed on matters with an international flavour."
[BTO Clients]
Traineeships: Key facts
To complete an application form, visit the Careers section on BTO’s website
Application to be submitted via email to HR at trainee@bto.co.uk
If you are successful, there will be two interviews with Partners
◼ No psychometric testing, no presentations - we want to get to know you
Opportunity to spend two weeks in BTO’s office before you start your traineeship to acquaint yourself with future colleagues
Six months rotation (single seats may be considered)
Potential for focussed traineeship (commercial or dispute resolution)
Most common seats:
◼ Corporate
◼ Real estate
◼ Private client
◼ Family
◼ Litigation
◼ Professional discipline and clinical defence
◼ Professional liability
◼ Commercial dispute resolution
◼ Non-personal injury litigation
Seats in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Helensburgh offices.
What are we looking for?
Minimum requirement 2:1 degree
PEAT 1 Diploma in Professional Legal Practice
Good academic history
Life experience (previous work experience - legal / non legal)
Interpersonal skills
Team player
Leadership skills
Excellent time management
Experience of handling responsibility
Commercial awareness
Organisational skills
Genuine interest in the law
BTO “Quiz Night”
Why choose BTO?
Great opportunities to develop: As a trainee you will attend client meetings, go to court, manage your own files...
Regular opportunity to work directly with partners: Not all work comes through associates and solicitors.
Social events throughout the year: Including annual lawyers’ dinner, quiz and more.
Strong retention rate for trainees: We invest time in our trainees and want them to stay with the firm when business needs allow.
What BTO trainees say
You need the right balance of people to constantly achieve success...
“As a BTO trainee, I have gained experience in a variety of different areas of the law and been given the opportunity to work closely with Partners and Solicitors across the firm who are specialists in their fields.
My supervisors and colleagues are enthusiastic about their work and willing to share their insights into the challenges faced by our clients and the solutions we can provide.
They have trusted me with substantive and interesting tasks since day one of my traineeship and encouraged me to expand my legal knowledge and take on increased responsibility. Thanks to this supportive and positive environment, I have grown in confidence and feel ready to fully qualify as a solicitor!”
Kym Haley
“My traineeship with the firm was extremely varied and I was given a high-level of responsibility from day one. I had the benefit throughout my traineeship of learning from extremely well-respected and approachable senior practitioners who were always enthusiastic about ensuring that I had a wide scope of learning opportunities available to me.
As someone who is particularly keen on advocacy opportunities the firm has been very supportive of this and afforded me the opportunity to obtain my restricted practicing certificate early on in my first year.
Overall I would definitely recommend a traineeship at BTO for anyone who wants to train with a firm which is enthusiastic about developing junior staff and affording them a valuable and positive traineeship.”
