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Applying to Lovells was an easy decision for me to make, as it had been recommended to me as not only a high-flying City law firm, but also as one of the most approachable firms within which to work. Accepting the offer was an even easier decision to make and one which I have not regretted.

Although I originally trained under the Bar Vocational Course, I decided to apply for a training contract at Lovells because the job security, supportive work environment and opportunities for client contact and secondments greatly outweighed the risks of self-employment at the bar. I also felt that sitting in four different practice areas during the training contract would enable me to find an area of law in which I would really want to specialise upon qualification.

Even within my first seat in Project Finance, the variety of work has been great and the responsibilities and direct client contact I’ve been given have been fantastic learning experiences. Additionally, the supportive environment and approachability of the associates, and even partners, have removed the otherwise inevitable stress of uncertainty when dealing with new tasks.

Opportunities such as working on pro bono cases (which I would highly recommend) and attending department conferences have also meant that I’ve met lawyers from other departments who have been able to offer insights in to, and suggestions for, my seat preferences. As a result, I felt a lot more certain about making my seat choices, and am looking forward to my experiences in Pensions, Pensions Litigation and then Banking.

When I joined, I was concerned that I did not have the requisite trainee solicitor skills, as I had not done the LPC. However, I have never felt at a disadvantage in my time here because there is a continuous stream of training, both general and department-specific, and supervisors and other trainees provide a lot of support and guidance.

For all these reasons, I would highly recommend applying to Lovells and all my initial reasons for accepting Lovells' offer have been confirmed within my first six months - the workload has been rewarding, the atmosphere has been supportive, and the social life within the firm has been great. It is with all this behind me that I am now looking forward to completing the rest of my training contract.