My First Year as a Trainee Solicitor in Dorset: Lessons and Reflections
When I began my training contract in October 2024, I felt both fortunate and excited to have secured the opportunity to start my career as a trainee solicitor in Dorset. I knew that entering the profession is not easy, and I was acutely aware of how competitive the process can be, which made the chance to train in such a well-established firm in my hometown even more meaningful.
The past year has been a journey of learning, challenge, and growth. I have rotated through three seats so far, each offering a distinct perspective on the practice of law. I completed my first seat in Private Client, second seat in Civil Litigation and Family and, most recently, I have been working in the Property department. This is where I plan to remain for the rest of my training contract, developing a deeper understanding of residential conveyancing, commercial transactions, and the intricacies of land law.
I am deeply appreciative of the time I have spent training and the guidance I have received along the way. Each seat has been shaped by the supervisors and colleagues who invested their time in my development. Their patience in answering questions, their willingness to involve me in meaningful work, and their encouragement when challenges arose have all been invaluable.
Interestingly, as I look back on this first year, I am struck by how much I have learned, but also by how little I know.
Reflection
Objectively, I am aware of how much I have absorbed – not only about the law itself, but also about the importance of adaptability, communication, and resilience in practice. I can look at my training records, recall meetings, check notes and tell you:
- My first seat introduced me to the complex law surrounding wills, probate, and estate planning. Here I learned the place empathy and precision hold in practice, dealing with clients at often difficult and emotional times while ensuring their affairs were handled with care and accuracy.
- During my second seat I gained exposure to contentious matters and family law. It showed me the importance of persistence and clear advocacy, and the balance between professional detachment and the genuine compassion that Nantes’ fee earners show to clients facing conflict.
- My time so far in the Property department has been a fascinating challenge to navigate the technical detail of land law and the commercial awareness required in transactions. I have learned the satisfaction this profession can provide when seeing tangible outcomes at the completion of transaction and meeting clients’ needs.
However, no memos, records, or notes can record how little I know. That awareness only comes from practice – from hitting a seemingly insurmountable wall of complexity in a matter or from watching the professionals work and realising how long the road to their level of proficiency stretches. After a year, my deepest reflection is how much more there is to learn, and how the journey to becoming a solicitor is as much about humility as it is about progress.
I do not think it’s a unique trainee experience to feel like an imposter. The feeling can appear as a weakness but, if viewed as a strength, I think it reminds me that I am constantly being tested, challenged, and confronted, and that is exactly where I thrive.
The discomfort of not having all the answers pushes me to ask better questions, to study and prepare more thoroughly, and keep learning through each day. Rather than dwelling on feeling like an imposter, I am trying to accept it as proof that I am growing, and as motivation to do as much as I can each day to become the solicitor I want to be.
The mentorship and guidance I’ve had at Nantes has built this mindset for me. Not once has someone made me feel stupid for not knowing, or incompetent for not doing. Every supervisor and colleague has been eager to teach, open to listen, and keen to involve me where I can. I’ve shadowed client meetings, site visits, court hearings, and fee earners’ meetings, and been given opportunities to try my hand at countless facets within each of my seats.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity Nantes gave me back in October 2024 and hope that I’ve shown that gratitude with my commitment to training. The aim is to qualify this time next year, then follow in the footsteps of my supervisors to provide excellent legal advice to Dorset.
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If you’re considering training opportunities or want to know more about life at Nantes Solicitors, contact our team or call 01305 771 000.
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