Meet The Trainees

 

My name is Kiran, and I am currently in the second seat of my training contract at Wilson Browne Solicitors in the Childcare Team. I am due to qualify in November 2025.

I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a LLB Law degree and then gained a distinction in the LLM LPC from the Nottingham Law School. I really enjoyed the Legal Practice Course as I felt it demonstrated how the law is applied in reality. In particular, I liked the property module which spurred me to pursue a role in residential conveyancing.

I started at Wilson Browne as a paralegal in the residential conveyancing team and began my training contract two years later in November 2023 after securing a fabulous golden ticket!

My first seat was in the same team which I think really helped ease me into life as a trainee solicitor. As I was already comfortable in my knowledge of the area it was a smooth transition adding in the new aspects of being a trainee. I carried out legal research tasks and was able to expand my current caseload to include more complex matters with guidance.

In addition, I learnt many transferable skills during my time as a paralegal and really valued these once I then moved departments within the firm. I had also already built many positive working relationships with others, and this helped my nerves as I moved into a new team!

In my current seat within our Childcare Team, I am learning so much as it is a very different area to what I was used to previously, with it being a contentious area and dealing with very vulnerable clients.

It has been both exciting and interesting attending court with our experienced solicitors or with counsel to gain a first-hand insight into what happens during hearings. A new skill I have been able to build on is drafting as I have been given some great opportunities to have a go at bundle documents and applications to the court.

I am almost at the halfway mark of my second seat already and it is amazing how quickly time flies by, but I am eager to learn as much as I can from the team who have been very approachable and supportive throughout.

The culture and wealth of expertise we have here at Wilson Browne is why I wanted to pursue my training contract here. There is such a warm and encouraging atmosphere, no matter which office or which team you are in. As much as it was a daunting thought starting the journey to qualifying as a solicitor – where you are is so important and can really make sure it is a valuable, rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Outside of day-to-day work, I regularly attend the Rotary Club of Rushden meetings and events. Wilson Browne are corporate members of the club and therefore support the charitable work they do. It is wonderful to be involved in helping good causes and the community at the club have always been so friendly and welcoming. Networking is a really great way to socialise and expand your interpersonal skills whilst speaking to a variety of individuals and it builds confidence even if it is a bit unnerving at first!

I am looking forward to seeing what challenges await me and how my journey will continue in both my training contract and with Wilson Browne.

I am not your typical trainee.

I came to law later than most after my curious nature and desire to learn took me on a journey through many careers.  At the age of 42 it finally dawned on me that law was the thing I had been searching for, this was the thing that would match my curiosity and passion for learning with a career that would be varied, challenging and exciting!  This is my story…

I came from Poland in the early 2000’s as a well-educated young adult with a desire to learn English living in the UK which I felt would help me move on with life and develop a solid career.  Although I only planned to stay for 12 months, I found the freedom and variety available in the UK matched perfectly with my character.   As a result, I went through various careers in a number of different sectors, this included sales, hospitality, court and police interpreter, special needs teacher (I hold qualified teacher status) and prison officer. On top of this I also successfully built my own business, where I was designing and installing full kitchens in UK households that I imported from Poland.  All of this has given me a broad experience and knowledge of industry and commerce and built many transferrable skills.

Life of course is not without its challenges, one of the most significant through my journey was where I needed spinal surgery which ultimately ended my career as a special needs teacher (as I was working with very physically challenging children). By I have learnt that “when life brings you lemons, make a lemon drizzle cake!”.

My first exposure to law was when my brother chose to become a lawyer many years ago and I always found myself asking him lots of questions and was intrigued by his journey. My second glimpse was when I was climbing Mt Toubkal in Morocco and I met a girl who worked for the courts as an Interpreter. I thought that this sounded interesting and, as I do, I decided that I would train to be able to do that too! For a few years I travelled to various courts all over the UK and interpreted at all levels from Crown Courts, Magistrate Courts and Employment Tribunal a few times a week. The job was fascinating and varied, however not sustainable in the long run, but through the interpreting I got “the law bug” and when you get the bug is sometimes difficult to get rid of it!

So, my journey to become a lawyer began.  I had gained a Master’s degree from Poland and also a postgraduate diploma in advertising and a diploma in teaching children who are on the autism spectrum from Kingston University.  Obviously, none of these qualifications were related to law, so I needed a plan. I was not aware of the CILEX route at that time but found out that I was able to complete a GDL conversion course, then a LPC / LLM and move towards a training contract to qualify.  I shared my idea with my barrister friend, and he asked me do I really want to spend so many years on route to become a lawyer and my answer was “why not?”.

So, some years later I have completed the GDL with commendation and the LPC LLM with distinction at the University of Law. I would not say this was easy being a mature student, a non-native speaker, experiencing Covid and completing LPC LLM online from Middle East, where I lived for a couple of years with my husband.  However, I did it and battled through by devoting more time to study than an average “English bear”, being organised, doing lots of self-directed learning and learning to deal with studying in a different time zone.

Obviously, study is only part of the story, I also needed to gain hands on experience in the world of law.  I therefore secured my first legal job in the small local firm in the UK through Facebook advert during GDL times. As much as I enjoyed working in the firm and made some long-lasting friends there, I was also aware that I needed to move on into a bigger firm with aim to get establish myself and be accepted for a training contract.  Through LinkedIn I found Wilson Browne Solicitors. Who in Northampton does not know the Wilson Bear and the singing solicitor!  I applied for a role and secured a position as a paralegal in the conveyancing team.  Unfortunately, I had to leave this role as my husband got a job in the Middle East and I decided to go on the adventure with him. I obviously kept in touch with the team at Wilson Browne and was lucky enough to be offered a training contract to start at the end of 2023 which I accepted without hesitation. I am so grateful for the training contract opportunity, and I always will be!

Almost seven months on I am now early in my second seat, which is in the Commercial Property department, having completed my first contentious seat in Private Family Law.  I have learnt so much during this time and feel myself developing each day.  The current seat is a bonus as I have a secret passion for property. So far, I have been carrying out research, finding answers to various legal issues and drafting all of which sit well with my inquisitive nature.  I am also very lucky to be working 1:1 with one of the partners which is amazing.

Me being me, I also decided to continue my study alongside my training contract so have embarked on a course at UCL to become a Notary Public, which with my international background from Civil Law system, makes sense.

But life is not just about work and study, it is better when shared and when we can give back, therefore along the way I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity the National Autistic Society.  I have also more recently signed up to be a mentor for law students through Grow Mentoring. I love helping people on their journey to become the best version of themselves while retaining their personality and values.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband, family, friends and my mischievous Border Collie called Chester.  I also love renovating and converting properties, travelling, reading books about personal development and listening to business podcasts. I enjoy networking too. I am a borne extrovert. To keep me calm and grounded I watch YouTube videos about personal development and the stoics philosophers and their attitude to life.

My tips for future trainees:

1. Welcome every opportunity with open arms as you are going to acquire some transferable skills from every type of work or department.
2. Do not let anybody tell you that you cannot do something. Do not take “no” for an answer. The only limitation is your health, nothing else.
3. A pinch of luck, a pinch of intelligence and tonnes of effort, resilience and determination equals success.
4. If a door closes in front of you, go in through the window. Where there is a will, there is always a way.
5. Be grateful, respectful and friendly, but do not be afraid to challenge, in a positive way and offer to help if something is not right.
6. As humans we are judgmental and you will never be liked by every person on this planet. This is ok.
7. You are enough, but you can always be better. Life is a dynamic journey and it is a marathon not a sprint.
8. Solicitors these days are more than legal professionals, so you also need to be business/customer service orientated.

Since leaving school at 17, I have worked in various jobs, across various sectors including local authority and healthcare, but always seemed to return to the legal sector.

In late 2015, when my son had just started in Reception, a job came up as Legal Secretary to the Partner of the Corporate and Commercial Team in the Wilson Browne Grange Park office. I started at the firm at the beginning of January 2016.

We were a small team at the time and I worked closely with the Partner, taking on more responsibilities as I developed further in the role such as drafting ancillary documents for matters and liaising with clients. As part of my role, I also supported the Employment Team with any administration needs they had. I also gained experience in Family and Court of Protection work as if I had any spare capacity I would help out with any typing the fee earners had.

During my time at Wilson Browne I have worked supporting most teams where the business needs fell. At the time of the pandemic Corporate work was quiet and I assisted the Clinical Negligence Team where staff required. I also worked alongside our Operations Director to put together the internal and external Covid 19 policies and checklists whilst also ensuring the normal compliance requirements were met by coordinating file reviews and insurance renewals from across the firm.

In October 2020 I was asked to move to support the Commercial Litigation Team which was somewhere I had not worked in before so I got to see a whole new area of law. I stayed there until July 2021 as I was asked to move to the Employment Team which meant a return to being fully office based. This was also the point when my CILEX journey began.

I looked into the CILEX qualification route and discovered that it had changed and was now a three steps process called the CPQ (CILEX Professional Qualification). The first step being Foundation Stage where once completed you would be a CILEX Paralegal. I put forward a proposal to the firm to undertake the course and commenced it in October 2021.

Working 5 days a week, studying all weekend, running a house, supporting elderly parents and looking after a child who was in the process of moving from primary to secondary school was very challenging and I became exhausted. I requested to go down to working 4 days a week, so that I could study one day a week, freeing up time at the weekend to spend with my family and have a break. The firm agreed to this which made the work/study balance a lot easier and enable me to put in the time and commitment required to pass the course.

In March 2023 I returned to the Corporate and Commercial Team to support the new Head of Team. I remained on a 4 day week to enable me to continue studying one day during the week.

I turned 50 in December 2023 and took my final exam for the CPQ Foundation Stage in January 2024. The results were announced in March 2024 and I had passed. CILEX Paralegal/ACILEX – a Professional Diploma in Law and Practice – my highest-level qualification.

I could go on to do the second step of the CPQ Advanced Stage to become an Advanced Paralegal but at the moment I feel I need some time out from studying but never say never.

If, for any reason, you did not go to university or complete your degree, the CILEX route is open to you. By completing all three steps you would become a CILEX Lawyer. You could also skip some steps if you have some previous, relevant, qualifications. If you have a law degree you could start at the CPQ Advanced Stage as an alternative to undertaking the LPC/training contract route or the SQE.

My experience just goes to show you are never too old to undertake training and advance your skills.

I have had a somewhat atypical journey into the world of law.

After reading Geography at the University of Birmingham and graduating in 2017 I spent the best part of a year travelling around Southeast Asia and parts of Europe. This gave me the opportunity to experience a wide range of cultures and appreciate the differences people have.

Once I had returned from my travels I moved up to Liverpool and began my planned career, but after realising it was not what I wanted to do for 30 years, I decided to leave and move back home. This was a difficult decision, but without doubt, the single best decision of my life – Audentes Fortuna Iuvat!

I’ve always loved the law, but I didn’t realise I would have the opportunity to become a lawyer due to my lack of a law degree but after some research I realised I could do a law conversion. We all know that embarking on a legal career is expensive, with no guarantee that you’ll actually get the opportunity to start a training contract at the end of it, but nonetheless I applied to start the GDL commencing in September 2019. I, of course, needed money for this, so decided to join a business that did telemarketing for SKODA to save up for my GDL. My job essentially covered ringing up businesses and trying to convince them to buy SKODAs (its not actually that hard to sell SKODAs, they’re really good cars to be honest!). This was a great opportunity for me to develop my skills as a salesman, which are so important as a lawyer, because, as JP always says, the lawyer who is a good salesman will never be short of work!

After completing my GDL and subsequently my LPC in 2021, I applied for a paralegal role in the Commercial Property team at KVP. In my interview with Kevin, he asked me to justify why I wanted to work in Northamptonshire – which was easy enough being as though this is my home and I love the county!

A few months into my job as a paralegal, Ika pulled me into her office and gave me a post-it note with ‘May 2023’ on it, and casually asked me if I would like a training contract starting in May 2023. I said yes and the rest, as they say, is history.

I did my first seat in Commercial Property and loved every second (I’d strongly you encourage you to do a seat in Comm Prop if you can). I was lucky enough to have my own files and case load during this seat, under the guidance and supervision of Tom and Ika. I am now just a little over halfway into Employment, my second seat, which has been fantastic in itself and has let me hone a number of different skills. My third seat will take me to Commercial Litigation where I will get to experience contentious work for the first time and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Tom’s Top Tips:

• Sell yourself – not just to clients but to colleagues. Heads of team and supervisors talk, and you don’t want a reputation of working hard in the seats you love and not bothering in the ones that you don’t.
• Be an individual – nobody wants a carbon copy. The biggest compliment that I’ve had in my life is where I have been told that: ‘I’ve never met anyone like you before’.
• Talk to other trainees – the journey can be tough, and we are stronger together.
• Be proactive, not reactive – the best lawyers in the world are the instigators, don’t be the person that waits for the other side to deal with it! Take control yourself!
• Attitude – a good attitude towards anything in the workplace is key and will never go unnoticed.
• Networking – do it. Simple as that.

 

After completing my Law Degree in May 2019, I joined Wilson Browne in the June of 2019.  I started within the Higham Ferrers office within the Residential Conveyancing team as an Apprentice. Following this I started my CILEx Level Graduate Diploma to qualify as Chartered Legal Executive following the completion of my LLB Law Degree.  This involved practice units, multiple exams, and coursework but I was fortunate enough to have one study day a week.

Prior to Wilson Browne, I had no legal experience within Conveyancing however, I quickly began to find my feet in the Conveyancing world. I joined throughout the Stamp Duty Holiday due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and so I truly was thrown in the deep end. The craziness of the Stamp Duty Holiday period meant I instantly had exposure to all sorts of complex matters, whilst also building skills and legal knowledge within the field.

As the months went on, and I got to grips with working and studying simultaneously and soon began to excel in my studies and started running my own case load.

I finally qualified in March 2024 officially but completed all my studying in November 2023. The final leg of my Diploma involved showcasing my work through a comprehensive portfolio and case study.

The support of my team enabled me to progress through both my portfolio and case study as I was able to gain exposure and practice in all complex matters.

I am excited to see what challenges I am yet to encounter and what NQ life brings for me!

After over three years as a paralegal in all (but one!) of our residential conveyancing teams, I started my training contract in May 2023. I am currently in my second seat in our Commercial Property Team.

I graduated from De Montfort University, Leicester in 2021 with a first-class Law degree, and have since completed the LPC at Nottingham Trent University. During my undergraduate Law degree, I joined Wilson Browne as a placement student – the rest, as they say, is history!

In February 2021, my dreams came true when I got the golden phone call – I had been offered a Training Contract. I had not even finished my undergraduate degree at this point, and so it was a huge display of the firm’s faith in my ability and commitment to my future. I was ecstatic!

My first seat was within our Conveyancing team – I had actually earned a caseload as a paralegal prior to this, and so I felt as though I was able to transition well into life as a trainee. I was dealing with files from inception to completion and assisting senior fee earners on more complex transactions.

During this time, I started volunteering with local schools and universities, and began to create social media content aimed at inspiring the next generation of future lawyers. I had an article published in the Business Times, and even ran the London marathon. All of these achievements, as well as growth in my ability as a lawyer, saw me win Trainee/Paralegal of the Year at the 2023 Leicestershire Law Society Awards. I can firmly say that this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my colleagues.

Outside of the legal world, I’ve competed in pageants for over ten years – something which the firm have actively encouraged by sponsoring me in Miss Universe Great Britain. These endeavours saw me (a first seat trainee at the time!) published in the Times legal bulletin, The Brief, as their Lawyer in Conversation.

I absolutely love the work I am getting to do in our Commercial Property Team, as well as learning from the partners and solicitors in the team. It’s been great to capitalise on my property experience, but I’ve also relished in the chances to develop my commercial awareness and technical skills. The variety of work has been brilliant; I’ve assisted on development matters, lots of lease work, and even some commercial finance for a longstanding client.

I think that is one of the constants to life as a trainee here at Wilson Browne – you are stretched, you are challenged, but above all, you’re encouraged to thrive and create your own destiny with the support of colleagues at every level. I cannot wait to see what the remainder of my Training Contract and NQ life has to offer!

 

I began my training contract with Wilson Browne in May 2022 after being a Paralegal in the Conveyancing team for a year and a half. I am now in my final seat in Private Client, and I am due to qualify in May 2024.

I completed my LLB law degree at Nottingham Trent University, where I graduated with a First Class Honours Degree. During my third year at university I undertook placement year, which helped me to gain invaluable insight and knowledge in to the legal world and helped set me on my career path in law. I then continued to study the LPC and graduated with a distinction from Nottingham Trent University.

My first few years and trainee seat in Wilson Browne, was in the Conveyancing team, which taught me a great deal of transferable skills, which I have carried with me throughout my career so far. I then moved on to my second seat in Private Client, where I dealt with complex Wills, Estates and Trusts and I was able to attend a lot of client meetings. I instantly fell in love with this area of law.

My third seat was in the clinical negligence team, which was a great experience and insight into the world of litigation and I was able to manage my own caseload, which allowed me to see an array of case types and different stages of negligence file.

The last 18 months have flown by and without even realising it, I am now in my final seat, back in the Private Client team, where I hope to qualify in May. I can’t wait to see how my journey continues and how much more I learn during my final months as a trainee.

My name is Emily, and I am currently in the first seat of my training contract at Wilson Browne Solicitors. I am due to qualify in November 2025.

I completed my LLB Law Degree in 2021 at De Montfort University in Leicester and graduated in September with First Class Honours. I then applied for and completed my Legal Practice Course, again at De Montfort in 2021.

Whilst studying for my Legal Practice Course, I began to gain an understanding of the areas of Law I enjoyed, and further, began to learn the importance of practical experience in the legal profession.

Living locally to Wilson Browne and knowing the name in the local area, I applied for a position as a paralegal in the Commercial Litigation team on a part time basis, to gain some experience alongside University.

I was lucky enough to secure a role in the Commercial Litigation Team and began my journey at WB in January 2022. Working alongside my LPC was both challenging and stimulating at the same time; whereby I gained invaluable experience and learned how to manage my time effectively.

Within my paralegal role, I learned a plethora of skills. I was able to shadow experienced Solicitors and Partners and develop my abilities as a lawyer. I was “thrown in the deep end”, and allocated my own caseload early on, which enabled me to learn and develop at greater speed.

This also allowed me to explore many areas of Commercial Litigation, for example, Adverse Possession, and develop a niche understanding of complex areas of Law.

Having my own caseload and being trusted by the senior members of the team allowed me to gain exposure and develop my client communication and relationship skills, whereby I led my own meetings with Clients and Counsel alike.

I was exposed to a wide variety of challenges during this role including; preparing for Tribunal Hearings; attending meetings; and dealing with high value matters. The experience and value gained as a paralegal within the Commercial Litigation team is immeasurable, and I believe, paved the way for me to succeed as a Lawyer, both now and in the future.

In February 2023 I was offered a training contract, commencing in November 2023. This moment felt like recognition for all of my hard work, both through University and at Wilson Browne.

Whilst patiently anticipating beginning my training, I continued my paralegal role within Commercial Litigation. Upon commencing my training contract, I elected to continue my journey and remain in Commercial Litigation for my first seat.

Although I remained in the same team, the work I am doing has changed considerably, whereby I am now assisting the Partner in the team with complex, high value matters.

The work I am doing is considered complex, no two days are the same. I now get exposure to areas of law that are new to me, including professional negligence and defamation.

Whilst extremely exciting, it was fairly daunting to start my training contract, but the transition has been made so much smoother by my team. The experience and insight gained by working so closely with an experienced and knowledgeable Partner has been invaluable and has provided me with insight into the day-to-day life of both a Solicitor and Partner at a Law Firm.

Everyone I have worked with throughout my journey so far has been nothing but supportive and approachable. My fellow trainees have offered ample support and guidance, as after all, they are all going through the same experiences as me.

The Partners and senior fee earners have also been vital to my growth and development and will continue to be as I progress through my training.

The next 12 months will bring great change, whereby I will leave Commercial Litigation and begin my training in different teams. The greatest challenge I think I will face will be adapting to new areas of law.

Having always worked in a contentious environment, the contrast of working in a non-contentious team will be significant, but also beneficial to my growth as a well-rounded lawyer.

My top tip for future trainees is definitely self-belief. Imposter syndrome is real and something we all experience from time to time.

It is important to remember, you have been chosen for a reason to be a trainee and have an opportunity that many people wish for. It is important to be your own biggest supporter and advocate.

Remember, this is an experience to train, be guided, and be mentored, you are not expected to know everything on day one! This is definitely something I still need to work on.

I am excited to see what the future will bring, but I am trying to live every day as it comes as time does fly by! I am both excited and nervous to qualify and begin my career as a Solicitor, but I know those nerves will continue to subside with the support and assistance from my colleagues at Wilson Browne.

 

I lived locally to Wilson Browne Solicitors and applied successfully for a job in the New Enquiries team. What a lifeline this job would turn out to be for me.

Each day I took calls from a range of prospective clients who had all sorts of issues and were seeking legal assistance.

Within the first few months of the job, I realised I didn’t want to go back into full-time education and that I loved having my own financial independence, routine, and responsibility.

In addition to this, I was exceptionally lucky to have a very supportive manager who knew I was ambitious and offered me the option of training to become a CILEx Lawyer.

Furthermore, Wilson Browne had never offered this opportunity to anyone who was not a fee earner/paralegal so I felt privileged that they saw potential in me. I remained in this role for two years and then I applied internally for a Trainee Legal Executive role in the Private Client team.

I took my first CILEx exam in June 2016 and managed to complete the first stage (which comprised of ten modules) by August 2018. The good thing about CILEx is that it is all at your own pace and you can choose when you want to enter for an exam.

I must admit that I was  in a very fortunate position of living at home, with no dependents, and with a job that didn’t have the level of responsibility that it does now.  It was therefore relatively easy for me to fit studying around my lifestyle.

However, there are many people at various stages in their careers who embark on the CILEx journey and find creative ways to fit it all in with life and a full-time job. I did sacrifice some social events, and for many years I found May and December were the worst months of the year as they were jam-packed with revision.

Moving on to the second stage, CILEx Level 6, I was in for a shock. These specialist essay style exams required an abundance of case law and many references to statute. You soon adapt to the new style of exams and the additional amount of work needed to get a pass. During this time, I moved into my own flat, and took on additional responsibilities in my job role as by now I was running my own caseload.

I completed the bulk of the work during the COVID-19 Pandemic which presented many problems including a struggle with motivation and a feeling of severe burn-out. Completing this last stage was very challenging and I often felt that I wanted to give up. I successfully passed my final exam in March 2022, submitted my portfolio in March 2023, and eventually qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in July 2023.

What did I learn over the last 8 years?

There are many twists and turns in life and we don’t always end up on the original path intended. I had always pictured myself attending university and getting my degree so when I decided not to it was very unsettling.

Trying new opportunities and putting yourself out there is the best way to combat this and you could end up loving a job you didn’t know existed.

University isn’t the only route. If you are looking for a career in law, then ideally you need to get work experience or a job in a law firm to start building experience and a good CV. Whether it is an office assistant or paralegal role, getting your foot in the door is the first step.

After this, you need to get yourself known within the firm and network with the right people. Make sure you introduce yourself to the Partners of the firm and take opportunities to attend work social events or take on additional responsibilities in the firm which are outside of your role i.e. volunteering to organise the work Christmas party.

If you are looking at taking the CILEx route then bear in mind it has recently changed its structure and is slightly different to the courses I took. However, the same principles apply and you need to be committed and willing to put the hours of studying time in to succeed.

I would suggest that you identify what sort of learner you are. For instance, I am a morning person and I struggle to study in the evening. Therefore, I made sure I woke up early to study before work and during my lunch break.

I would also set myself targets to make sure I finished my notes by a certain date before the exam. I would then allocate several weeks for past papers and revision questions. This worked well for me, as I was assured that I wouldn’t run out of time.

When picking CILEx modules to study, I would choose areas of law that I either had the most experience in or enjoyed the subject. It’s hard enough studying whilst working full-time so pick something interesting and enjoyable!

Lastly, if you are struggling trying to juggle it all then make sure you reach out to your supervisor or a fellow CILEx student who can offer support. It may be that the firm you are working for can change your hours slightly to ease the studying or it might be that you just need vent to someone who understands. It is hard work to become a lawyer but I can assure you that it will eventually pay off.

I began my training contract with Wilson Browne in May 2023 after a couple of years as a Paralegal in the childcare team. I am currently in my second seat and am due to qualify in May 2025.

I completed my LLB Law and Criminal Justice degree at DMU University in Leicester. I graduated with First Class Honours in 2018 and went on to complete the LPC in 2019. I then spent some time as a trainee conveyancer before making the move to family law in 2020.

Starting a new role in the middle of a pandemic wasn’t without its challenges. The whole world was having to adapt, including lawyers. Hearings were being conducted online and we were no longer seeing clients.

However, I learned so many skills within my first couple of months which I will use throughout my career (perhaps more than I would have if we hadn’t been in a pandemic!). That being said, I’m glad things are slowly getting back to normal.

I moved to Wilson Browne in October 2021 and applied for a training contract in January 2022. From the moment I started, I felt like I was part of a community. I could see how important career progression and well-being was to the firm and instantly knew I would love to complete my training here. I felt supported from the moment I stepped through the door.

I completed my first seat in the childcare team, a team I had been with for nearly 2 years prior. I was already managing my own caseload of low-level files but in the very first week of my training contract, I was given a care case to run.

This meant I was in charge of the whole file, including hearings. I think having my first seat with childcare made the first 6 months of my training contract so much easier, I was able to take on so much responsibility.

I am now in my second seat with the Court of Protection team. Whilst it was weird being the ‘new girl’ again and knowing practically nothing, I have picked up so many new skills already.

I have also been able to use many skills I have already developed on the way. I have a real passion for helping those most vulnerable, especially at such difficult times in their lives so I am very grateful to be able to spend some time here.

I cannot believe I am already in my second seat, time is flying by. I can’t wait to see what the future holds here for me at Wilson Browne, University me would be pinching herself!

 

I am currently halfway through my second seat of my training contract. I am due to qualify in November 2024.

I studied my Law degree at the University of Lincoln, graduating in 2019 and completed my LPC while working at Wilson Browne as a Paralegal, over 2 years from 2021 to 2023. Studying part time and working full time, was a challenge but taught me so much about time management and working under pressure.

Working as a Paralegal for 18 months before completing the LPC taught me a lot of relevant skills that assisted me when studying. It helped my confidence and meant I was able to grow as a lawyer while taking the next step towards qualifying.

I was offered a Training Contract in March 2021 to start in November 2023. A complete dream and showed me the confidence and faith Wilson Browne had in me, at such an early stage in my career. Throughout my entire time at Wilson Browne, I have never doubted the faith they have had in me, at all levels. I have felt respected as a lawyer by all my fellow colleagues, regardless of their experience or job title.

My first seat was in the Court of Protection team, I had worked in the team for just over 3 years before becoming a Trainee Solicitor and was given a high level of responsibility and my own case load to manage during my time here. I got to spend a lot of time with clients, and it was a very personal area of law where you really get to know your client. It is also very rewarding as you really get to help those that need it most every day.

My second seat is in Commercial Litigation, I have been here for nearly 3 months now and it is a complete contrast to the Court of Protection team. Now, most of my clients are commercial clients and I spend a lot more of my time researching and drafting. The work can be fast paced but it is important to remember to take it one step at a time. I get to work very closely with Partners within the Litigation team and learn directly from them. In just 3 months, I have been able to develop my legal analysis skills and understand the importance of having your own voice.

I am excited to see what challenges I am yet to encounter and what other areas of law I get to experience during my Training Contract.

My name is Hannah, and I am currently in the second seat of my training contract with Wilson Browne Solicitors and am due to qualify in November 2024.

I completed my LLB Law Degree in 2020. In 2018-2019, during my third year at university, I decided to undertake a placement year to gain some invaluable legal knowledge which I knew would help greatly with my future career. Whilst all of my university friends were asking me “Why would you not just want to finish uni next year?” and “I couldn’t think of anything worse than getting a full-time job and postponing final year”, I knew that gaining as much legal experience as possible would be beneficial in every way and far outweighed simply wanting to finish my degree as soon as possible (with probably no job to walk in to).

I applied for a Paralegal role at Wilson Browne Solicitors for my sandwich year and was lucky enough to secure the role in the Clinical Negligence team and take over from the existing Trainee Solicitor there at just 20 years old! I gained such a variety of skills, even the simplest things (such as drafting letters and communication) were tricky at first and these skills helped me immensely during my final year of university and beyond. I was exposed to such a wide variety of challenges during this role including attending the Royal Courts of Justice, Parliament and Round Table Meetings. To this day, the best thing I ever did was undertaking a placement year.

After finishing university in 2020, I went straight on to complete my LLM LPC full-time whilst working part-time. This was a very challenging time (not helped by having to do it all from home during the Pandemic) yet somehow managed to stay motivated and remained focus on the end goal as I knew the hard work would eventually pay off. After I completed the LLM LPC in the summer of 2021, I noticed that there were vacancies again at Wilson Browne. Having re-applied to Wilson Browne, I was then offered a paralegal role within the well-recognised (by the Legal 500) Commercial Litigation team shortly after. I worked closely and alongside the Head of Team and Partner of the firm and was afforded a high level of responsibility from the beginning. I was exposed to such a variety of cases, skills and knowledge every day which I will never forget.

I was offered a training contract in January 2022, to start in November 2022 just a few months later and it really was such an amazing day, which was of course followed by celebrations at the weekend. I truly felt that my hard work had been recognised and felt like a very valuable member of the team and had been rewarded for that.

During my time at Wilson Browne, I have been provided with a solid foundation of the law and a variety of skills, in a variety of areas which I truly believe will make me the best solicitor that I can be in the future. This has also helped me to tick every box on which area of law to go into, whether that be contentious or non-contentious or private or commercial which is typically the hardest thing for every trainee to decide!

Everyone who I work with has been very approachable and the partners very much operate an open-door policy. Time really does fly by and it won’t be long before qualification. The exposure has meant that I am very well-equipped for this and cannot wait for that day to come, although every day is still a school day and there is so much still to learn! I cannot wait for my journey to continue and I have loved every part of it!

Today we celebrate #NeverGiveUpDay This day is all about cultivating a mindset of determination and it is the perfect day for taking pride in everything you’ve overcome and defeated. As lots of students receive their A Levels results today Ellie Tait in the Commercial Property team reflects on her journey to becoming a Solicitor

Law has always been of interest to me although when I started out on my legal journey I did not necessarily know at that point I wanted to be a solicitor. As a student going to university for the first time, the legal sector can be a minefield. It wasn’t until I was at university learning about the different areas of law and opportunities within those areas that I decided I wanted to become a solicitor.

For anyone not within the legal world, becoming a solicitor can appear to involve going to university, working hard and getting a job. That is however only part of the journey. Becoming a solicitor involves an undergraduate degree, a post graduate degree and a two year training contract all amongst trying to obtain valuable work experience within a competitive field. The journey to becoming a solicitor can at times seem unachievable but it’s important to take things one step at a time and always have the end goal in sight.

During my journey I found it important to keep reflecting on what I had already achieved and overcome rather than focusing on what I had not yet achieved. It can become easy to feel like you are stuck without acknowledging all the hard work and effort you have put in to be where you are currently. It’s important to remember that no two people’s journeys are the same and as long as you know where you want to end up, you will get there in the end!

I have recently just finished the first seat of my training contract and I think that it is important to reflect back on the past 6 months when it comes to these milestones as you can really see the progress you have made over this time and how far you have come since the start of the seat.

Clinical Negligence*

I was both excited and nervous to begin the first seat of my training contract. Clinical negligence was a whole new area of law for me and so I was excited to get started. Although I had been working within a litigation team already as a paralegal, it was interesting to work on cases from a different litigation aspect. This was both in the case of moving from working with commercial clients to individuals and also taking the step from paralegal to trainee.

It was fairly daunting to start in a new team and new office but everyone around me made the transition so positive and comfortable for me. I was lucky enough to have a week’s handover with the trainee already in the team which was really helpful. I have found the other trainees’ advice extremely invaluable since starting my training contract and I think it’s great to be able to learn from each other’s experiences. It’s also a great motivation to be able to watch as other trainee’s qualify into teams within the firm!

Being a trainee in the clinical negligence team meant that I was responsible for the new enquiries that came in to the team. I really enjoyed this aspect of my time in the team as it meant I was the first point of contact for the clients and it was great to be able to advise clients that we were able to take on their case for them and provide them with that hope that we felt there were sufficient prospects of success.

Commercial Property

My second seat brings with it change again with moving back to working on commercial matters and this time in a non-contentious area. I am looking forward to seeing what the next 6 months brings.

 

* (Clinical Negligence is no longer a service we provide)