Thomas L.

Trainee Solicitor
Happy to mentor
Happy to be contacted

About me

Thomas L.
History
History
Undergraduate
James
2019
United Kingdom

My employment

Trainee Solicitor
Clifford Chance
United Kingdom
Legal services
Large business (250+ employees)

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A day in the life of a Trainee Solicitor in the United Kingdom

Once I decided that the role of a solicitor was for me, I applied for Clifford Chance's vacation scheme and joined the firm as a future trainee at its end.

Briefly describe the organisation you work for

I work for Clifford Chance, a magic circle commercial law firm

What do you do?

I've finished the LPC and GDL, now I'm preparing to start work as a trainee at the firm

Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?

I knew I wanted to pursue law as a career from approaching university, so used my first year to explore the different paths. Once I decided that the role of a solicitor was for me, I applied for Clifford Chance's vacation scheme and joined the firm as a future trainee at its end.

Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?

Not at all, this was where I intended to go

Describe your most memorable day at work

I haven't started work itself yet, so can't quite give an insight! But the tasks I did on my vacation scheme varied wildly, so be ready for anything

What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?

I worked on the Law Society as Head of Law for Non-Law and developed networking, leadership and project management. I completed a project with York Community Consultancy, which helped with practical management skills and organization. I spent time volunteering at York Students in Schools, which was a very different experience and certainly developed my adaptability!

What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?

Get started as soon as you can, and make sure that you keep in contact with the people you meet at careers events. You never know where a conversation can take you

What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?

Getting into law, magic circle firms, or commercial law as a whole.

Next steps...

If you like the look of Thomas’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Thomas a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Thomas to be your mentor.

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