Solicitor in training – my journey so far
"I am pleased to announce that I have accepted a training contract offer with [FIRM]…"
We all know that period on LinkedIn when your feed is drowned by training contract acceptance posts whilst your inbox is filled with rejection emails. Every read is like a stab to your already aching heart, but you must hold on to the hope that your offer(s) will come after the next round of applications.
Well, if you are reading this, mine finally came.
Did I always want to become a lawyer? Absolutely! My brother already had the medical side on lock (and I was not good with numbers to go into accountancy), so law it was.
For many, a training contract begins on the first day of your first seat, but for me, it started on the first day of my first job after university. The objective was set, my plan was clear, and I was going to make sure everything I did from that first day onward was going to help me achieve my objective.
Every work experience was a stepping stone, every application an opportunity to market myself and every rejection the chance to fine tune any details. I repeated this process until I found a firm that not only saw value in those years of development but also recognised the experience I had gained along that journey.
Start as you mean to go on
From my first interview with Hunters, the interaction always felt collaborative and supportive, and this was confirmed once I joined the firm. My induction week was well organised, and every introduction was warm and welcoming. One thing was apparent to me: everyone I met was genuinely happy to be at the firm and the fact that many fee earners have been at the firm since they were trainees is a testament to Hunters' ability to successfully invest in people and support them throughout their development.
Since joining, I have not only been invited but encouraged to get involved in as many aspects of the firm as I am able, whether it be via article writing, diversity and inclusion projects or business and development initiatives. I feel my ideas are listened to and, where appropriate, implemented.
I am inquisitive by nature, so I ask a lot of questions (at the appropriate times of course) and every time people have made themselves available to not only answer but, at times, use it as a teaching opportunity.
Getting stuck in
I am currently completing my first seat with the Corporate and Commercial department. Having litigation-heavy work experience, the initial "fear" of transactional work was there, but the team was quick to dispel it, and it has truly been a delight delving into the work.
Something I hadn't appreciated, and was surprised to note, was how diverse corporate work is in practice. Between drafting legal due diligence reports for company mergers/acquisitions, attending meetings for a pitch and discussing employment-related issues affecting a deal, the days are easily filled. The team is very diverse in terms of gender, backgrounds, views, and it is impressive to see how seamlessly we mesh and work together. With strict hierarchy faded in the background, the open working space naturally creates opportunities to share ideas and, even when I am not directly involved, allows me to listen in and learn from other ongoing conversations.
Although my current seat is with the Corporate and Commercial department, I am still being invited to attend training sessions and events run by other departments at the firm, such as the family law pro-bono clinic.
Enjoy the ride
Our experiences in any one role will always differ; it is not one size fits all. However, when the environment provided is one that takes into consideration people's differences and makes space for individuals to grow in their own way whilst being fully supported, we all reap similar benefits.
I do not believe that solicitors are made in two years but develop over time. It is a journey, and it is up to each individual to make the most of that journey with the support of their firm and that is my case here at Hunters.
I am a solicitor in training. Semantics maybe, but putting the emphasis on ‘solicitor’ first forces me to raise my standards and I trust Hunters to fine tune me down to the smallest detail.
For more information on our Training Contracts, please visit our Careers page.
