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Starting out in law is rarely a straightforward path, and every trainee’s story has its own twists and turns. We spoke with Trisha, who has recently completed her training contract through Accutrainee and will soon begin her career as a lawyer in the corporate department at a top City firm. She shared insights from her journey, from attending her first law fair, to navigating multiple placements, and finding her footing in her new role.
Getting started with Accutrainee
Trisha’s journey began at a law fair where she first connected with Accutrainee.
I was fortunate enough to meet Andrea and another trainee who answered my questions no matter how small. Andrea encouraged me to apply for a training contract at the end of my GDL as I was approaching the LPC. The first stage was an HR interview and once I made it through to the assessment centre it was a case study, a presentation, an attention to detail task and a second interview. For securing my first secondment, Andrea gave me a call about six months after I’d started my LPC and briefed me on the firm. I then had an interview there and the rest is history.
Experiencing different placements
During her training contract, Trisha completed three secondments, two in private practice and one in-house.
I enjoyed every placement I had. The quality of the work and the people in the teams I worked with was the best part of each placement.
She credits the Accutrainee model for providing valuable exposure:
The exposure to different types of teams and types of practice really helped me develop as a trainee. It was crucial in deciding what kind of lawyer I wanted to be and in what kind of environment. I ended up deciding that a bigger firm was the best fit for me, and I wouldn’t have been able to make that decision without the various placement options.
The value of mentoring and peer support
Support from mentors and peers was another key part of Trisha’s journey.
My Accutrainee mentor played a huge role in my journey and continues to do so today. In addition to support during my training contract and throughout each placement, she has provided advice and guidance for my future career and I have no doubt I will continue to rely on her.
Being part of the Accutrainee trainee cohort also made a difference:
It’s always nice to have people in the same boat as you. But the best time for me was at my last placement where we had more than one Accutrainee. I was able to form a great working relationship with the other trainee that is still continuing.
Formative experiences
One of the most memorable moments for Trisha came halfway through her training contract:
Starting my third seat in my first in-house role and realising I was half way through my TC really stood out. Learning how to navigate the in-house environment and gauging whether it was for me in the long run was also an interesting question in my journey, one I wouldn’t have been able to ponder without Accutrainee.
Preparing for qualification
Accutrainee also helped Trisha prepare for the leap towards qualification:
I would say the placements I did were particularly rigorous and had a high level of responsibility which gave me potential glimpses and insight into what life as an NQ might be like in the future. Meera (the training principal) had told me to spend the latter half of my training contract acting as though I had the same responsibility as an NQ and to put myself in that mindset, which I think is great advice to trainees in any stage of their training contract everywhere.
Looking back and looking ahead
When I joined Accutrainee, I had no idea what I wanted in terms of a legal career, no idea what practice area, or whether I wanted to go in-house or be in private practice. Two years on, I’d like to think I’ve now got a good idea of what the rest of my career as a lawyer might look like. I’m still learning obviously, but I definitely feel a lot more confident than when I first started.
Her advice to new trainees?
Don’t rule anything out, a lot can change in two years.
As for the future, Trisha is now embarking on the next step for her career at a top City firm where she will be joining their Compensation, Employment, Pensions and Governance team.
Closing thoughts
Trisha’s reflections show how varied and rewarding the Accutrainee training model can be, offering exposure to different practice areas, environments, and mentors along the way. Her journey from law fair attendee to eventually becoming a lawyer highlights just how much can be achieved in two years with the right support, guidance, and determination.
And finally, when asked what she might miss about trainee life, Trisha laughs:
I think I’m happy to not be a ‘trainee’ anymore, though I will probably miss not having to explain to people what a pensions lawyer actually does!
