8 weeks

It was 8 weeks from finishing my internship with the Corporate team in Glasgow, to starting my Traineeship in Edinburgh, with my first seat in the Family Law team.

Following the internship and a presentation to some of the partners at Gilson Gray, I felt I had earned a much-needed break!

The first trip of the summer was with my girlfriend to “sunny” Arran, spending a week camping by the sea. The first night was certainly exciting! We spent the night getting battered by wind, rain, and thunder. It was a relief to wake up finding that the tent had managed to stay up and, with only a minor puddle in the corner. Following a brisk morning swim (sadly not with any seals), we headed up the highest mountain on Arran experiencing a typical Scottish summer, seeing all four seasons along the way. We spent the rest of the week walking, swimming and darting into the tent to avoid the swarms of midges.

In July I spent a week with my family on the shores of Loch Tay. A highlight of the trip was a mornings cycle with my brother through the Glen Lyon valley and up over Ben Lawers. The glen is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets and at times it was easy to forget that I was in Scotland and not the Austrian Alps. Again the weather was not kind to us, but we did manage to find a break and headed for a walk and a swim in the Falls of Tummel, a spot I would absolutely recommend to any outdoor swimming enthusiasts.

It was now August and once again time for the Fringe! Having only lived in Edinburgh for a year, I haven’t quite joined the rest of the city in despising the Edinburgh Fringe and the hundreds of thousands that flock to the city. Fully embracing the Fringe, I went for variety, going to shows ranging from forensic minder readers to comedy and even a burlesque circus/operatic cabaret.

The highpoint of the summer was not Arran, the cycle, or even the mad Fringe performances. My highpoint was being offered my traineeship at Gilson Gray. Having waited anxiously and excitedly over the summer I was told I would start my traineeship at the Edinburgh office and would be doing so in 4 days! Luckily my offer came just in time for the annual family BBQ. The event was a great opportunity to meet everyone at Gilson Gray as well as the other trainees starting with me on Monday. The BBQ reaffirmed what I thought about the firm and I couldn’t wait to join such an exciting and friendly team.