1. Why did you decide you wanted to become a solicitor? When did you make the decision?

I made the decision early on at Secondary School having completed work experience at a firm of high street solicitors. I wanted a successful and rewarding career which would continually challenge me throughout my career. I was also attracted to the fact that the law touches every aspect of life and I wanted to be a part of that.

2. What academic route did you take to become a trainee? Would you do it differently if you had your time again? What academic grades have you achieved from A-Levels to date?

I completed my A Levels and gained grades ABB. I did a LLB (Hons) degree at Lancaster University and gaining a 2.1. I then attended Huddersfield University for my Legal Practice Course.  I achieved a commendation and prizes for best family law and conveyancing student.

I may have attended a more local university for my LLB (Hons) to draw on the support from family and friends.

3. How did you fund your legal studies? Were you in debt at the end of them? If so, how much? (optional)

I took out a student loan and my parents were kind enough to help me out.

4. What sort of firm/organisation are you training at?

A multi-jurisdictional law firm providing a range of litigation and legal property services for a variety of business sectors throughout England, Wales and Scotland.

5. When did you secure your training contract? How many applications did you make and how many interviews did you have?

I secured my training contract 18 months after completing the Legal Practice Course. I made approximately 60 applications over 24 months and attended 5 interviews

6. Before securing your training contract did you gain any work experience within the legal profession? If so, what?

I worked at a local high street firm throughout my school holidays and during my free periods at sixth form.

I worked within the firm I am currently employed at for 18 months prior to securing my training contract.

7. What’s the best thing and the worst thing about studying law?

The best element is reaping the rewards from your hard work. It is a fantastic degree to gain and keeps you on your toes. I would say the worst element is the volume of work.

8. What sort of career, and work, do you intend to pursue after your training contract?

I hope I continue to be employed after my training contract but to be honest I am not sure yet. I am hoping things become clearer after completing more of my training seats.

9. What advice would you give to someone considering studying and training to become a solicitor? Is there anything else you would like to add?

• Make sure you are 100% committed to hard work. You will be successful if you are willing to work hard and persevere during hard times.
• Gain the best academic grades you can.  The competition for training contracts is hard enough without trying with a poor degree.
• Work within teams – bounce ideas off each other and provide support to your peers
• Gain experience within a legal firm. Even if it is making tea and photocopying- it makes you look committed to the legal world.
• Get used to reading! Keep it interesting by reading from a range of sources.

*If you are a law student, trainee solicitor or solicitor who would like to be interviewed for the Trainee Solicitor Surgery website please get in touch using the Contact Us form.

1. Why did you decide to study law? When did you make the decision?

I decided to study law during my first year of reading Philosophy at Sussex University. I was considering a CPE course, but then decided that I couldn’t wait, so I transferred to Law.

2. At what stage of your legal education are you? What course(s) are you currently doing and which have you already completed?

I am now in my second year of the LLB at Sussex. In our first year we studied Contract, Tort, Public, and a course focusing on the structure of the legal system. This year we are studying Equity and Trusts, Criminal, EU, and Land law modules.

3. What academic grades have you achieved from A-Levels to date?

I achieved three A’s at A-level (Philosophy, English, Theatre Studies) and an A at AS (Biology).

4. What sort of career, and work, do you intend to pursue after your studies?

I am hoping to secure a training contract before leaving Sussex that would pay for my LPC course. My interests lie in commercial law, and I hope to become a commercial solicitor in an international firm based in London. I have a vacation scheme placement in the Summer with my ‘dream firm’, and I am very much hoping that I can secure a training contract there.

5. How are you funding your legal studies? Do you think you will be in debt at the end of them?

I am funding my studies through a maintenance grant, and by having a job (working 2-3 days per week, and full time throughout holiday periods). I am sure I will have some debt by the end of my legal studies but I hope it will be minimal.

6. Have you had any work experience within the legal profession? If so, what?

I have had work experience at a variety of different firms, with varying levels of enjoyment. One of the most beneficial aspects of work experience is discovering what areas of law you definitely do not want to work in (for me this was family law, despite thinking I was going to pursue this as a career). I have also sat with judges in Magistrates Courts.

7. What’s the best thing and the worst thing about studying law?

The best thing about studying law is the you can’t help but feel different to all other students. I think this is because you have to be constantly bearing in mind your career prospects, and thinking about what areas you would like to specialise in. There is such breadth and diversity to law students, from those who want to pursue human rights on a pro bono basis, to those who want to represent FTSE 100 companies. The worst thing about studying law is not simply the workload, as it is surely expected that you have to work hard. The worst thing is that students on most other courses don’t appreciate the workload, and think that you are just a bit boring!

8. What advice would you give to someone considering studying to become a lawyer?

You really have to want to become a lawyer, do not just do it because you think it is a good degree to have. Too many people are starting law degrees with no real clue about what they want to do with their lives, and it is not the degree to discover this. It used to be the case that if you left a decent university with a law degree, then there would be a job waiting for you. This couldn’t be further from the truth anymore, as many of my friends have left top 5 universities with law degrees but are not being offered jobs. You have to work your socks off, and take it seriously from the first minute.

9. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Make the most of every opportunity at university. If there is a speaker coming to talk about life at the bar, or as a solicitor, GO! Take part in all the law-related extra-curricular activities, such as Mooting, client interviewing, and negotiating. These help your CV tremendously. Finally, be a well-rounded individual by gaining work experience in a number of areas, playing a sport, or having a part-time job.

Alex Kerr is the editor of the Student Law Magazine website, a site giving students crucial information about beginning a legal career.  You can visit the site by clicking here.

*If you are a law student, trainee solicitor or solicitor who would like to be interviewed for the Trainee Solicitor Surgery website please get in touch using the Contact Us form.

I undertook an undergraduate law degree with a view to enrolling with the police within their accelerated graduate scheme, over the three years I considered training to be a solicitor and completed the LPC.

2. What academic route did you take to qualify as a solicitor? Would you do it differently if you had your time again?

I initially took art and psychology A-Levels with a view to becoming a designer or criminal psychologist, one psychology module involved law and this is where my interest in the law started. I took a year to work, followed by a year travelling before commencing my degree. This suited me very well as I was unsure what I wanted to do, but would recommend that if you know which direction you want to go, then completing your degree before doing any travel would be the better way to go as re-entering the education system after 3 years was difficult. I completed the LPC part time, whilst working as a legal assistant. I found that ultimately that gave me the edge over other applicants who had gone straight through the education system and completed the LPC full time, so it it a question of getting the right balance.

3. How did you find it securing a training contract/articles?

Very difficult; many places recruit 2 – 3 years in advance and want at least 2:1 qualification at degree level, other firms advertise for paralegal, legal assistant roles with a view to obtaining a training contract after 12 months or so. You will find that once employed there are several others already there all trying to gain the elusive training contract, usually 12 applicants for just 2 places and therefore you have to wait another 12 months for the next intake, which you may not necessarily get.

4. What sort of firm did you do your training contract/articles with?

A very small boutique property firm. There were only 12 employees in total and only I was in the position of gaining a training contract. Again I was employed as a paralegal initially and was given a training contract after 4 months. However, this was over 18 months after finishing my LPC and I had been applying for training contracts since my second year of my degree (3 years in total).

5. What sort of law did you practice after qualifying as a solicitor?

Initially commercial property and property finance, I have moved slightly and now deal with non-contentious contract, construction and procurement matters.

6. What legal jobs have you had since qualifying?

Upon qualifying I moved to a top 50 firm as an assistant solicitor and was made redundant after 18 months due to the market. I have since gained employment as a solicitor within local government, which is my current role.

7. What’s the best thing and the worst thing about being a solicitor for you?

Deadlines and the pressure therefrom and the volume of work which are the worst aspect of the job, in private practice you have this, together with the working hours involved where 12 hour days tend to be the norm. The best thing is qualifying, years of education and training to eventually be classed as a solicitor. Regardless of what type of law your specialise in there is enormous job satisfaction when you complete a deal (or successfully prosecute someone, win a case etc).

8. Would you consider you are in a career for life or do you think you might want to try something different at some stage? If so, what?

I have had several friends who after 10 years of qualification and working as a solicitor then decide that they wish to re-train into something they have always wanted to do (journalist, recruitment consultant etc). But then after some time of re-training or trying to find a suitable position with no experience in the new area, they have ultimately reverted to being a solicitor again as they have realised that although there is pressure, once you are qualified you do have a job for life, they have come back to it with new vigour. I do not plan to change my career at all, having worked so hard to get here.

9. What advice would you give to law students and trainee solicitors today? Is there anything else you would like to add?

Obtaining a training contract can be very difficult, on many occasions and for smaller firms it can be case of who you know rather than what you know. The good news is that once you are qualified as a solicitor, it doesn’t really matter what grades you obtained at GCSE, A Level or degree, it is purely based on what type of experience you have had and how hard you work. As long as you continue to push yourselves you will do well.

To read the full interview please click here.

To read the full interview please click here.

To read the full interview please click here.

She touches on what sort of work trainees can expect to do after qualification, as well as discussing the hours their lawyers can be expected to work and the opportunities for working overseas.  Finally, she explains the Clifford Chance Pro Bono programme which is a major feature of the Clifford Chance ethos.

The podcast and transcript appear on the College of Law website.  Click here to listen/view.

To read the full interview please click here.

To read the full interview please click here.

To read the full interview please click here.