From classroom to career: Scottish student lands traineeship at Murray Beith Murray after ‘challenging’ summer placement

Prestigious law firm Murray Beith Murray has welcomed a new generation of budding lawyers through its doors during another successful summer placement programme.

While many of their contemporaries spent the last few months on their holidays, three enthusiastic students instead opted to step out of their ‘comfort zone’ with a challenging but ‘extremely valuable’ spell working alongside some of Scotland’s top legal minds at the Edinburgh-based private client practice.

The sought-after placements put students through their paces for up to six weeks as they are given invaluable insights and hands-on experience of life as a lawyer.

The programme this year coincided with an exciting period for Murray Beith Murray as it launched a refreshed brand, a new website and the inaugural edition of the Andrew Murray Signature Prize, which was opened to talented law students across Scotland.

For Aberdeen University graduate Lauren Kidd (pictured above), it was her second summer placement at Murray Beith Murray and it will not be the last time she sets foot in the Glenfinlas Street offices – because she has now accepted an offer to return as a trainee solicitor in 2027.

She said: “I’d have to say that my experience at MBM was more than I ever expected to get out of a summer placement, and both experiences were extremely valuable, giving me the opportunity to learn, grow and feel like a part of the team.

“I have always had a strong interest in private client work and I became very excited about the opportunity to apply to a firm with specialist expertise which had been recognised in the Legal 500 as a leading Private Client firm in 2025, when I had applied for my placement.

“After researching the firm further, I believed Murray Beith Murray was the perfect fit for me as it reflected an approach that aligned with my own career aspirations.”

Lauren said the placements provided students with the chance to contribute to practical legal work, ask questions, build confidence and see how a specialist private client practice operates day to day.

She added: “Something I particularly value about the placement at Murray Beith Murray, is the firm doesn’t shy away from exposing Summer Students to challenging work and new concepts.

“You are encouraged to step outside your comfort zone, and I found that I learnt so much from being trusted with opportunities that pushed me.”

Edinburgh University graduate Joshua Holmes (pictured above), another summer placement participant at Murray Beith Murray this year, is due to start his Diploma in Professional Legal Practice this month.

He said: “The highlight of my six weeks was gaining first-hand experience of the practical side of private client work. I enjoyed seeing the difference between the legal theory I had developed during my LLB, and the day-to-day work that solicitors are involved in.

“The most valuable thing I learned is that practical legal work is not memorising statutes or case law as university might lead you to believe it is. While that is important, being a good solicitor is also about being a good communicator.

“I have seen how important it is to adapt the way you communicate depending on your audience, whether that is explaining a legal issue to a client, or discussing it with colleagues.”

Joshua added: “My advice would be to make the most of every opportunity to get involved and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to put yourself forward for or say yes to things that may initially feel outside your comfort zone.

“I would also encourage future students to speak to as many people across the firm as possible and to make the most of the opportunity to learn from their experience. They are all at the top of their game, and all very approachable. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the placement.”

The end of the summer placement programme was marked by Murray Beith Murray as the firm also celebrated three trainees shortly qualifying as solicitors – Kineta Murphy in private client (pictured below), Jasmine Arndt (pictured below) in private client, and Murray Armitage (pictured below) in rural property.

Later this month, Murray Beith Murray will hold a reception at the Signet Library in Edinburgh to mark a series of recent milestones for the practice, including its recent rebrand and transition to an LLP.

At the ceremony, the winning entry for the Andrew Murray Signature Prize will be revealed. The outstanding student will receive a £1,000 cash prize, a guaranteed interview for a traineeship with Murray Beith Murray, and the publication of the winning essay by the Journal.

Andrew Paterson, Chairman of Murray Beith Murray, said: “We are constantly looking to find the next generation of talented lawyers emerging from universities and our summer placement programme is central to our recruitment strategy.

“The Partners always enjoy working with enthusiastic students like Lauren and Joshua and it is hugely rewarding when they end up returning as trainees in future years.

“With the summer programme complete, and three of our trainees qualifying we are already turning our attention to next year and look forward to welcoming another group of future stars to Murray Beith Murray.”