From Trainee to Commercial Property Solicitor

When I started my traineeship, I hadn’t settled on a particular practice area in which to qualify. However, one of the biggest advantages of a four-seat traineeship is the opportunity to experience different departments and gain a better understanding of what day-to-day practice across the business actually looks like.

Over the course of my traineeship, I spent time in Litigation and Corporate/Licensing, both of which offered valuable experience and helped me develop a broader perspective of the wider legal landscape. I then spent a year in the Commercial Property team, which allowed me to get involved in a broad range of work and see transactions through from instruction to completion.

From acquisitions and disposals to leasing and finance work, no two matters were quite the same. The variety kept things interesting and offered great insight into the commercial realities of property transactions and the role solicitors play in progressing deals to completion.
What appealed to me most about Commercial Property was the pace and the collaborative nature of the work. Transactions often involve lenders, borrowers, agents and solicitors all working towards a common objective: completion. Commercial Property also sits at the centre of a great deal of business activity, and it’s satisfying to play a role in transactions that have a genuine commercial purpose behind them. Whether acting for investors, lenders, landlords or tenants – you’re helping clients achieve a tangible outcome and being a part of that process is particularly rewarding.

Spending a full year in the department allowed me to take on increasing responsibility as my experience and confidence grew. I became involved in reviewing complex titles, carrying out due diligence, preparing reports and liaising with clients and other parties throughout transactions. Working closely with experienced colleagues helped me to develop both technical knowledge and my understanding of the commercial considerations that sit behind each deal.

Another key factor in my decision to qualify into Commercial Property was the supportive and approachable nature of the team, and their willingness to invest time in my development. Being entrusted with responsibility while knowing there was always someone available to provide guidance created an environment where I could learn and progress.

Having spent much of my traineeship working on various lender and investment transactions across Scotland, qualifying into the Commercial Property team at Gilson Gray felt like a natural next step. I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my expertise and supporting clients on a wide range of transactions.

The information and opinions contained in this blog are for information only.  They are not intended to constitute advice and should not be relied upon or considered as a replacement for advice.  Before acting on any information contained in this blog, please seek a solicitor’s advice from Gilson Gray.