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There are currently more routes than ever to become a solicitor. Each route offers its own benefits and potential drawbacks. There isn’t one best route and choosing the right one is very much a personal decision. This article sets out some of the most notable benefits I have experienced so far in my training contract.
Training contracts provide broad exposure to multiple areas of law, helping you make the most informed decision for your career. A training contract typically involves four ‘seats’ rotating across different departments every six months. One of the key benefits is the support of experienced mentors and educational supervisors who can help guide your career development. Training contracts therefore provide a structured foundation, allowing you to discover which area of practice you are best suited to.
Varied legal exposure
Training contracts bridge the gap between academic legal studies and real-world practice. The exposure to commercial environments and different team dynamics helps you to understand the different business contexts and commercial pressures that come with each department. This is especially the case at a full-service law firm such as Michelmores. Despite having previous experience working in a law firm, I still didn’t know exactly which area of law was right for me. In my first six months at Michelmores I worked in the Transactional Real Estate team in Bristol before moving to the Corporate team in London. The exposure to this variety of areas has allowed me to narrow the scope of what is and what isn’t for me.
Building a network
Rotating through four teams also allows you to meet a range of different people and teams within a firm. Joining a firm post qualification, you may rarely interact with other teams across the legal spectrum. However, as a trainee you can potentially move across four different offices joining four different teams. This is not simply great socially, but also for building your own internal network within the firm. As law firms have moved to a sector-focused approach to meet client needs, knowing which colleagues to contact for specialist expertise has proven invaluable. I have also been lucky enough to move cities during my training contract and would recommend the experience to anyone on the fence about doing so. It has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally. I have had the opportunity to really expand my own network in London in a way which just would not have been possible without having lived there.
Whether a training contract is the right route for you often comes down to personal circumstances. A training contract has definitely however been the right decision for me. Besides rigorous training and a diverse experience, they promote personal development and provide the opportunity to build a strong internal network across a firm. A training contract is an investment that will pay dividends throughout your legal career enabling you to deliver the best possible legal advice to your future clients.