Print article
Author
Author
It wasn’t the easiest decision to relocate to Exeter for my Training Contract (TC) with Michelmores a few years ago. Being a career changer, I was a little older than the average trainee and had established a life for myself and my partner in West Sussex during the pandemic. We had moved out of London during the pandemic, and had found a wonderful little beach town on the South Coast which was close to both of our families, and accessible to London to visit the friends we still have there.
I had been introduced to Michelmores by a family friend who had worked there for many years and when they found out I was applying for TCs, couldn’t speak more highly about the Firm and its people, encouraging me to take a closer look.
When I learnt more about the firm, and realised it aligned pretty perfectly with my values, I knew I had to at least apply – it felt like the firm for me. Michelmores don’t offer London TC’s, which meant if I wanted to apply I would have to move if I was successful. Discussions with my partner made us both realise we didn’t really want to head back into the City anyway, we’d created a happy little life by the sea where work had become perfectly balanced against a freer, healthier outdoor lifestyle.
Relocation would be a challenge but I knew that if it was the place I needed to be, so I could work for the right firm, then we could find a way to make it work.
I wasn’t successful the year I applied (which is totally normal and nothing to worry about) and instead accepted a job as a paralegal in a local firm. After getting several months of work experience under my belt, my application was stronger, I had more confidence and I secured my TC with Michelmores in my 2nd attempt.
Luckily, my partner was on board with a move, and despite the fact I had to leave friends and family and the life we’d built, which was harder than I thought, I knew this move would bring with it opportunities and experiences that I would never have been exposed to had we stayed.
We found an adorable little cottage just under 30 minutes away from the office, in a tiny little village surrounded by the unique green of Devon’s rolling hills. Honestly a part of me felt nervous about starting my career in a regional firm. I had grown up with a very traditional mindset that you have to go London to succeed in a legal career. There is this common misconception that all the best opportunities lie in big cities, and it was reinforced by my lived existence – all my friends who were lawyers, or in corporate jobs, were in London and did not look like they were moving any time soon. I really had to look past this belief I had, and trust that I was where I needed to be to give myself the best chance at building a successful legal career.
Thankfully, this became much easier to believe once I started working for Michelmores. Michelmores is committed to a “one-team” mentality, and the work is spread across all of the offices, meaning I regularly worked on complex, City matters, as well more localised or more straightforward cases throughout my TC. I was immersed in a professional, ambitious environment, exposed to challenging work matters and trusted with real responsibility early on – but at the same time, my TC lacked the relentless intensity that I’ve seen often comes with City life. That balance is key to me enjoying this career, and I feel overwhelmingly lucky that I found a firm that could offer that, and that I had to confidence to really consider what worked for me and my values and pursue that rather than just following the crowd.
Now, having qualified and chosen to stay in Exeter, I can say with confidence that it was the right decision. I love the Firm, the team I work with, and the lifestyle we’ve built here. Michelmores gave me the chance to develop as a lawyer without sacrificing everything outside of work — and in many ways, it’s enhanced both. Outside of work, my partner and I quickly fell in love with everything the South West has to offer — weekends surfing and hiking, exploring North Devon, Exmoor and Dartmoor, bird (and beaver!) watching, and just enjoying the sense of space that feels harder and harder to find these days. Having such incredible natural surroundings on the doorstep made switching off outside of work, so much more accessible.
For anyone considering where to start their legal career, my experience has taught me that there’s no single “right” path. Sometimes, stepping away from the obvious choice and embracing something a little different can lead to exactly the career — and life — you’re looking for. My advice would be to look for the firm that feels right to you, and is somewhere you believe you will be supported and challenged to develop as that is essential in setting you up for success when you become an NQ and beyond.