Trainee Solicitor

Andrew Howson, Aberystwyth University, Law

Q: What has been your most interesting work to date?

Working on a debt claim that became subject to a winding up petition hearing. This was a fast-paced case that allowed me to take on a lot of responsibility and to be closely involved in the preparation for the hearing. I was able to learn a lot from senior members of the team, to really understand how to prepare for a court hearing and the tactics involved in litigation.

Q: What are you enjoying most about working at BDB Pitmans?

The firm has a very friendly culture and an extremely nice atmosphere. If you are ever struggling there will always be a fee earner that is happy to help you. It’s very good to have so many approachable members of staff as this ensures you aren’t stuck on your own worrying about a problem for hours on end.

Q: What is the work/life balance at BDB Pitmans?

It is very good, you are encouraged not to stay late unless you absolutely need to. Trainees are given the chance to have a life outside of work and to pursue extra-curricular weekday activities. You are also allowed to enjoy your weekends with no expectation to do extra work and not have a break at the end of the week.

Aileen Redmond, University of Bristol, German and Spanish

What challenges did you face in your first seat?

As with any new job it takes some time to get your head around the new systems, and for those that haven’t worked in a law firm it can take some time to adjust to time recording and filing documents. At the start of each seat it also generally takes about a month or so to feel comfortable in the practice area, but it gets easier with each seat change. Having said that, each team has a range of training sessions to help you get up to speed on the different work streams for each department and everyone is very supportive.

My first seat was in the Charities team, a unique area of law which I hadn’t been exposed to before. I particularly enjoyed how much client contact I had during my first seat. I regularly attended trustee meetings which gave me an understanding of the challenges charity clients face and it was a fantastic experience to help them to achieve their goals.

How did you approach your second seat six months into your training contract?

 My second seat was in litigation so I was prepared to work to strict deadlines and to travel to court a lot. I really enjoyed the range of experience I had in litigation, working across different practice areas including, regulatory proceedings, property matters, Wills and trust disputes, as well as commercial litigation. I think litigation is a good seat to do early in your training contract as it gives you exposure to a variety of different clients and practice areas and helps you in other seats. I really enjoyed helping clients to put forward their case and, where possible, to come to an agreement with the other side – but if the matter did end up in court it was really exciting to watch counsel argue our client’s case. 

You are now in your third/final seat – what have you enjoyed most about working at BDB Pitmans?

As a trainee you are given real responsibility. During my time at the firm I have led my own matters and have given real input to larger projects. This isn’t the type of firm where you will be just given administrative tasks to do. As a result, now that I am coming to the end of my training contract I feel equipped to make the transition to becoming a qualified solicitor.

I’ve also really enjoyed the variety of work I’ve had and the opportunity to experience specialist practice areas, which you don’t always find at mid-size law firms. I’ve worked with teams that are industry leaders in their field, and have been involved in really interesting work such as drafting legislation, advising public bodies of their functions, and conducting my own advocacy.

The firm’s size means trainees are given genuine responsibility and the specialist practice areas has given me experience in unique and fascinating work. 

What is the work/life balance at BDB Pitmans?

 The work/life balance at the firm is really good – there is no expectation for you to stay late unless there is a real need to. Of course this can depend on the department and deadlines but the firm has a really friendly atmosphere and promotes a good work life balance. A lot of fee earners work flexibly and I appreciate working at a firm that helps employees to balance work and family life.