We recently sat down with Trainee Solicitor Matt Cordwent to find out a little bit more about him and his experience training with Michelmores.
Matt is a second-year trainee solicitor and currently sitting in the Commercial and Regulatory Disputes team in London.
Before commencing his Training Contract, Matt studied Law at the University of Exeter before completing his Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the University of Law in Exeter.
I graduated from the University of Exeter in 2020. Rather than immediately starting my LPC I deferred a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, I secured an admin role at Trowers and Hamlins in their Exeter office and worked there for six months before joining Charlesworth Nicholls as a conveyancing paralegal. I worked in that role for a further six months on a full-time basis before starting my LPC, and then worked on a part-time basis while studying the LPC full time.
As a result of the pandemic, it certainly became more difficult to find a legal role. One tip I would share with those still looking is to contact your local recruitment agencies in addition to making direct applications. Some roles, including both of my above examples, are only shared with agencies. Using recruitment agencies can widen the pool of opportunities available to you.
When applying for training contracts I looked for a firm which would provide me with responsibility from early in my career with plenty of client engagement and the scope for international work. Essentially, a firm which would offer opportunities for me to develop as a lawyer.
Michelmores stood out from the other firms which offered those opportunities as a result of its culture. In fact, our culture is so important to us we have made it a core part of our business strategy for ‘Destination 2030’. Michelmores has fostered an environment in which everyone feels supported to pursue their interests to contribute the firm’s growth. This is reflected not only in our retention rates but also our organic growth, with many partners having trained at the firm themselves.
My time at Michelmores has been incredibly action packed, so it is hard to pick just one! The work speaks for itself for all of the reasons above, but I’ve also really enjoyed the extra opportunities that we can be involved in. During my time at Michelmores I have joined the Charity Group and helped raise money for our annual charity partners by organising events including a Halloween Quiz and the return of our infamous Christmas Bazaar. These partnerships are just one way that Michelmores supports its local communities, and being involved with them is always incredibly rewarding.
Outside of the office I work with a charity mentoring A level students to assist with their applications to university. My experience doing this has linked well with Michelmores’ Momentum project, which encourages employees to deliver sessions to local schools to help students consider their future careers.
Having been born in Devon, I enjoy rambling on the moors, and I am assisting with the organisation of a Three Peaks Challenge as part of my work with our Charity team.
I also enjoy travelling to spend time in the sun (admittedly, this isn’t always in high supply when on the moors!).
