Trainee, London
I had been interested in studying law and working in the legal sector since sixth form. I went on to study law at the University of Birmingham. I sought any legal work experiences I could find, including marshalling a Crown court judge, shadowing solicitors and volunteering at a law firm. I then decided to become a solicitor and studied the LLM Legal Practice Course at BPP University while working part-time as a sales assistant.
I graduated from the LLM LPC during the pandemic in 2020. I continued to work in the retail sector before becoming furloughed. Like so many struggling then, I found it difficult to progress my career and break into the legal sector. I had continued to apply for legal positions after the lockdowns. The application process began to feel like a war of attrition and repetition. I was motivated to keep applying, however, because I was driven by my ultimate goal of wanting to help clients achieve justice.
I then saw a position at Hodge Jones & Allen [HJA] as a dispute resolution legal administrative assistant. I applied and joined the firm in April 2022, two years after the LLM LPC. Since then, my legal career has been a welcome whirlwind. Six months after joining HJA, I became a dispute resolution paralegal. I was then able to work under two partners who mentored me and appreciated my journey. I assisted on a wide range of complex disputes involving property, contested probate, harassment, defamation and misfeasance in public office. I acted for businesses, individuals and charities from the first enquiry meeting to trial.
Eight months later, I applied for the firm’s training contract. At HJA this is done via a ‘blind’ recruitment process. This seemed daunting but it was extremely rewarding, as it reinforced my belief that individuals can succeed based on their unique skills and merit, and regardless of background.
I secured a training contract which began last September. My first seat was with the personal injury department. I assisted on cases that cover the entire breadth of the practice area, including catastrophic and serious injuries, fatalities and class-action lawsuits. I have now started my second seat, in the housing department.
I have also been involved in opportunities beyond legal work. I attended legal seminars, drafted blogs and became a HJA mentor and mental health first-aider. I also ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon and took part in the London Legal Walk in 2023 and 2024 on behalf of the firm and several charities. Since commencing my training contract I have started a firm football team, who were promoted to the London Legal League. I also started a ‘take a book, leave a book’ library which has been a success with co-workers and clients. I have attended numerous law fairs and legal clinics to give back as much knowledge and insight as I can.
I am grateful that in the span of three years, I have got to where I am. This is the main reason why I enjoy attending the law fairs. I understand the situation students are in and answer their questions in a way that I wish they had been answered for me. I remember standing where they are and now I am on the other side of the law fair stand. The most common question I get is how I transitioned from retail to the legal sector. I tell them that there is no experience that is not relevant to being a solicitor. The work I have been involved with is dynamic and no two days are the same. I have relied on the entire body of experiences that I have in order to succeed in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment where priorities can change in an instant. On any given day I may be attending a hearing, visiting a vulnerable client, reviewing medical records and drafting legal documents. All rely on different skills.
I always encourage students to continue to invest in themselves academically and personally in order to develop into well-rounded individuals. They can then leverage diverse skills to become successful legal professionals and help clients get a favourable result. Becoming a solicitor is a journey and everyone’s journey is different. It is important to continue to grow during this process.
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