Interview with Lucy Nock, Trainee Solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard

I applied for the 2020 Vacation Scheme at AG. Unfortunately, due to Covid, the vac scheme was online but it still packed a punch! The vac scheme included individual tasks, group tasks and an interview with partners. I was offered my training contract at the end. 

What's a typical day like as a trainee lawyer?

There is no right answer to this! It is so varied and different every day. Although, the main crux of it is managing your own workload and assisting members of the team on their matters. Trainees play a key role within the team and often can be the main point of contact on transactions/cases. I speak to clients, the other side's lawyers and third parties on a daily basis.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I like being given the responsibility to run with things on matters and feeling like I am really contributing to the team!

What are the challenges?

Changing seats and having to get to grips with a new area of law after just getting comfortable in your previous seat!

How has your role developed and what are your career ambitions?

As I am going into my third seat, I can feel my role developing as I am given more responsibility. This comes with the confidence I have gained over the first two seats and feel able to build on my skills further. My career ambitions are to qualify and do the best job I can for our clients.

How do I get a training contract?

I can't stress enough the importance of transferable skills! I am a firm believer that everything is sellable if you put it the right way. Think about how hobbies and non-legal work experience have qualities that you believe would be useful in a legal environment and sell that in your training contract application!