Working in-house Supporting our members working in the public, commercial and third sectors
In-house lawyers make a critical contribution to the success of the companies and organisations that employ them. We’re proud to represent and support the large number of Scottish solicitors working in-house.
The profile of the expanding and important community of in-house lawyers is extremely diverse. Scottish in-house lawyers can be found across every sector, performing a wide range of roles and in every corner of Scotland (and beyond). With diversity comes complexity and the needs, challenges and working environments of in-house lawyers can differ greatly from individual to individual. However, the rewards of being an in-house lawyers are many.
Our in-house members play an important role in providing advice which is closely attuned to the needs and strategies of the large number of organisations which employ them.
These pages will provide you with an overview our in-house membership and some guidance on working in-house.
Keep in touch
If you work in-house, we want to hear from you. There are lots of ways to get in touch.
To find out about our work representing in-house lawyers, share some ideas or just to connect, please contact inhouse@lawscot.org.uk.
Dedicated Council member
Sheekha Saha and Vladimir Bujanda-Valiente are co-conveners of the In-house Lawyers Committee and co-opted members of the Law Society Council. Some in-house members also represent geographical constituencies - find out more on the Council pages.
Professional practice
Our Professional Practice team provides support to all our members. Contact the helpline on 0131 226 8896 for expert, confidential advice.
In-house Lawyers Committee
The In-house Lawyers Committee represents, supports and promotes the interests and status of our members working in-house in Scotland and beyond.
Guide for in-house lawyers
This guide aims to set out the key things you should know about working in-house. If you’re new to in-house, this guide will help you get started.
'Who is your client?' guidelines
A one-stop guide for in-house lawyers to know exactly who their client is, where boundaries lie, to ensure ethical practice.
In-house secondments
What does an in-house secondment really look like? How can you prepare for it? And why should you jump at the chance of doing one?
Setting up in-house
A guide to setting up an in-house legal department
Support for traineeship providers
Specific guidance for supervising solicitors about how they should support their trainees.
Flexible traineeships
An alternative to a two-year traineeship with one employer is to offer a flexible traineeship. This might involve multiple employers offering a traineeship position together and sharing the trainee's time, looking at part-time options or multiple secondments. There are lots of potential benefits for both employers and trainees.
CPD for in-house lawyers
We run a series of CPD events for in-house lawyers, which are open to all solicitors working in-house. We're always looking for your suggestions for future CPD seminar topics and enthusiastic in-house lawyers to speak at seminars and conferences.