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Many aspiring solicitors begin their training with a clear picture of the type of lawyer they want to become, whether that’s in corporate, private client, litigation, or another specialist area. That sense of direction can be both motivating and reassuring. However, one of the most valuable (and often unexpected) aspects of a training contract is the opportunity to step beyond that initial plan and develop a broader understanding of how solicitors work across different areas of law.
When I started my training contract, I did have a general sense of direction. I came into the role having really enjoyed my previous experience in the private client sector and having a clear idea of the areas of law I enjoyed academically. Since then, I have split my first seat between Transactional Real Estate and a commercial client secondment, and I am now in my second seat in Tax, Trusts and Succession. Therefore, within my first eight months, I have been fortunate enough to experience Michelmores’ three main practice areas: Private Client, Real Estate and Business.
What I didn’t fully appreciate at the outset was just how valuable it would be to keep an open mind and use my early seats as an opportunity to experience something new, challenge my assumptions, and develop a more well-rounded skill set.
Understanding clients holistically
A broad training contract can equip you with the experience, awareness and perspective to support clients in a genuinely holistic way. Rather than approaching legal issues in isolation, you begin to understand how different areas of law intersect and influence one another.
For example, I had not initially envisaged Real Estate as being central to my long-term career. However, in practice, it has proved to be an incredibly strong foundation, as real estate has underpinned a significant proportion of my work, since most clients will own or rent a house, factory or land! Through my seat in Real Estate, I have come to appreciate how real estate considerations arise across a wide range of matters and often form the basis on which wider advice is built.
Developing a broad skill set
Starting my training contract with a sense of direction was helpful, but keeping an open mind has been just as important. Working in areas I had not originally prioritised has expanded my skill set in ways I didn’t anticipate. I found that working in Real Estate has helped me to hone my technical drafting skills, including attention to detail, managing complex documents, understanding risk and working to tight deadlines. These are highly transferable skills that apply across all practice areas and are invaluable regardless of where you ultimately qualify.
Gaining different perspectives
Before starting my training contract, I would likely have been quite content to remain within the Private Client sector, as an area I already knew I enjoyed. I had also not seriously considered undertaking a client secondment, despite it being such a unique and highly regarded opportunity.
However, working in-house for clients has given me a completely different perspective on legal practice and has allowed me to appreciate the “other side of the coin”. It has provided valuable insight into how legal advice is applied in a commercial setting and, importantly, what clients truly value from their lawyers: clear, pragmatic, and commercially focused guidance.
Training at Michelmores has also broadened my perspective in other ways. Trainees have the opportunity to complete seats or work with colleagues across the firm’s various offices, combining the firm’s strong South West roots with Michelmores’ more corporate London presence, which provides exposure to City-level opportunities. Experiencing both regional practice and City work, alongside a client secondment, means trainees are able to develop a well-rounded understanding of legal practice and genuinely see the bigger picture.
Seeing the bigger picture
For anyone about to start a training contract, my main advice would be not to feel pressured to have everything figured out from day one. It is entirely normal to feel uncertain, and that is precisely what the structure of a training contract is designed to address.
Using your early seats to explore different areas, learn what you do (or do not!) enjoy, and develop transferable skills can put you in a much stronger position by the time qualification decisions come around. More importantly, it will enable you to see the bigger picture, both in terms of your own career and in how you deliver value to clients. This is not to say that you cannot specialise, but remaining open to new experiences can add real depth to your perspective and training experience.