Case studies: Trainee solicitor: Claire Hill

Claire is a trainee solicitor at Beachcroft LLP. She studied English at undergraduate level and then studied for the graduate diploma in law (GDL), the LLB top-up and legal practice course (LPC) at BPP Law School, Leeds.

I studied English at university and obtained an LLB by 'topping-up' my GDL course. I am currently a trainee solicitor at Beachcroft. I attended BPP Law School to complete a conversion course and used the careers service there to ensure I targeted the correct firms. I really targeted my applications to specific firms that would recruit me taking into account my working experience and academic results.

I don't feel that my original degree was relevant to my chosen career but I do believe it gave me a thorough grounding in grammar and legal writing.

In my typical working day I begin work at around 8am and immediately in the morning I write a task list for the day and ensure I prioritise all urgent tasks. My job role as a trainee is to work for the team in general if urgent work arrives at my desk that I can still ensure that the other work is prioritised. I often have to work under pressure and to complete tasks for strict deadlines while still ensuring that I remain calm.

I hope to continue to learn and develop in my role as a trainee. I will be qualifying next September and my current ambition is to become a competent solicitor within my department; someone who can really assist the team. I also hope that eventually I will develop enough skills and experience within my legal area so I can assist others and take on a management position.

The most rewarding aspect to being a trainee is receiving praise from clients and the partners that you have completed tasks for. There are still times where I see how my research or work has contributed to a matter and I feel really proud.

The most challenging aspect to my job is managing my time efficiently. I have found it is very important to communicate with all the team members so they are aware of my workload and the time I have available.

While the job can be stressful there is a real opportunity to work directly with clients, which to me is a huge attraction. There is also great opportunity for young ambitious people to progress quickly.

I would advise other people that are aiming to enter the legal profession that this will be one of the most challenging careers you could pursue. Gaining a training contract is extremely tough but once you are working you realise that every aspect of your career as a lawyer involves competition. You will need a 'thick skin', the ability to take rejection and be extremely determined.