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At Accuflex, we take pride in supporting aspiring legal professionals to secure exciting opportunities that help launch their careers. This month, we caught up with Claire, who recently started a paralegal placement with a prestigious auction house’s legal team, to hear about her journey and what she has learned so far.
Claire, could you start by telling us a little about your background before joining Accuflex?
I graduated from LSE with both a qualifying law degree and a master’s in Intellectual Property. As an international student, I’ve always had to consider visa restrictions when planning my career in the UK, so securing a sustainable graduate role was a top priority after university. Accuflex was a great way to find that first step into the legal profession.
What first attracted you to Accuflex and the opportunities we offer?
A friend of mine had previously secured a placement through Accuflex, which first caught my attention. I was fascinated by the idea that such unique placements existed, particularly in organisations I wouldn’t have thought of, such as an auction house.
I was drawn in by how Accuflex offers flexible roles across interesting organisations, and after joining, I’ve really valued the personalised support. Compared to other recruitment agencies I signed up with, Accuflex stood out because they actively matched me with roles that aligned with my profile and aspirations.
How did you find the application process with Accuflex?
My route into Accuflex was a little unconventional. I actually wasn’t successful the first time I applied, but after meeting the team at a university careers fair, I was able to better tailor my application and interview to fit Accuflex’s mission.
It’s a selective process, but I feel that’s a strength, because once you’re through, you receive a lot of support and guidance. That made all the difference when it came to securing my placement.
You’re now working with a prestigious auction house – was that a role you were particularly excited about?
Absolutely. From an organisational perspective, working in the art world fits perfectly with my academic background, as I studied art law and cultural heritage law. On the role side, my placement is within the data privacy team. Initially, it wasn’t an area I had specifically targeted, but it has always been an area of interest alongside technology and emerging law. This role brought together my interests in art, technology, and privacy in the best possible way.
How did Accuflex support you in securing this placement?
The biggest factor was the matching process. This role wasn’t widely advertised, so being referred by Accuflex meant my profile was already aligned with what the client was looking for.
I also had a lot of support from Cara, a member of Accuflex’s recruitment team, who guided me through interview preparation, helped refine my CV, and provided insight into the job scope so I could tailor my answers effectively.
What does a typical day in your role look like, and what aspects have you enjoyed the most so far?
A lot of my work centres on onboarding a new data system, which has given me real responsibility from the start. I enjoy being hands-on and problem-solving, so creating workflows and finding solutions for my team has been very rewarding.
It’s also great knowing that the processes I’ve helped implement will continue to benefit the team long after my placement ends.
Have you faced any challenges, and how did you work through them?
Yes, some tasks, particularly around updating records of processing activities, can feel repetitive. I’m someone who thrives on variety, so I had to set myself internal deadlines and milestones to stay motivated. I reminded myself that this was necessary groundwork for bigger projects, and that perspective helped me push through.
What skills or knowledge have you developed since starting this placement?
Contract review has been a core skill I’ve developed, particularly in relation to GDPR compliance. More broadly, I’ve gained valuable insight into how an in-house legal team operates, which is very different from private practice. Being part of the decision-making process and advising proactively has been a great learning experience.
How do you see this experience supporting your long-term career goals?
In the next five years, I hope to qualify as a solicitor. This role has been a fantastic stepping stone, helping me build transferable skills such as contract review, policy development, and regulatory compliance.
It has also given me early exposure to data privacy as a practice area, which is highly relevant across many legal teams. I feel this experience has anchored my academic knowledge in real-world practice and helped me clarify the kind of roles I want to pursue going forward.
Finally, what advice would you give to someone considering applying for a paralegal role through Accuflex?
Be receptive to the roles you’re matched with. The Accuflex team members take the time to understand your strengths and interests, so trusting their advice is really important.
More generally, don’t apply everywhere just for the sake of it, but focus on roles that genuinely suit you, where you can contribute and develop. That way, you’ll give yourself the best chance of finding a placement that feels like the right fit.
Claire’s journey shows how resilience, openness, and the right support can lead to exciting and rewarding opportunities. If you’re considering applying for a paralegal role, Accuflex could be the pathway to discovering your own “dream placement.”
