• Name
    Olivia
  • Job Title and Employer
    Solicitor Apprentice
  • Employer
    Kennedys Law LLP
  • Provider
    BPP Professional Apprenticeships
  • Levels
    Level 7 (Higher or Professional) Apprenticeship
  • Training Provider and Qualification
    Solicitor Apprenticeship (Level 7)
  • Occupations
    Law and legal
  • Apprenticeship Start Date
    Jan 2021
  • What are your interests outside of work?

    Outside of work and studying I love fashion and musical theatre. I also love to travel and I am a massive foodie! I have also recently started an Instagram page (@theparalegaldiaries) to promote all things Apprenticeships and to show an alternative to the traditional law route, which definitively keeps me busy.

GetMyFirstJob Ambassador

Hello, I Am Olivia

If you can do an apprenticeship - go for it! You won't regret it.

Tell us more about your experience

I work in the clinical negligence department of an international law firm, working for the Defendant NHS hospitals in my area and GPs who have claims bought against them. Day-to-day I manage my own low-value caseload and assist senior members of the team with more complex cases.

I deal with opposing Solicitors and the Court to run a case until we reach a settlement. This includes obtaining expert reports, creating statements of case and reporting to the client, assessing our strengths and weaknesses. One of my proudest moments since starting work as an apprentice must be completing my 'Paralegal Apprenticeship'. This was a 2-year course where I achieved a Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Legal Services. Knowing that I have a qualification under my belt, and I am on route to being a qualified Solicitor bought me a great sense of achievement!

One of the most exciting things I've done since starting my Apprenticeship was completing a secondment at one of our client hospital’s legal departments. I was the first person in the department to be offered a secondment at the particular client hospital and so it was a steep learning curve for me and them also. I learnt how our work fits into the client’s day-to-day role and how they assist us. I was also able to speak to patients and experience a different side to the legal profession having worked in private practise since I started my Apprenticeship.

“I love the independence an apprenticeship has given me, and I am so pleased I decided to do one!”

I really didn't want to go to university full-time and so I decided to do an Apprenticeship. I didn't particularly enjoy Sixth Form and I was fed up with being in a classroom all the time, so I decided to explore other options. I love the independence an Apprenticeship has given me, and I am so pleased I decided to do one! I would say to anyone that if you can do an apprenticeship - go for it! You won't regret it. My words of advice would be to be yourself and take any opportunities thrown your way.

I have received loads of support from my employer during my Apprenticeship – they are always willing to help with my studies and adapt my workload around exams to reduce stress. I am offered the same opportunities as others who are doing or have completed a traditional route into law and our work is looked upon the same. BPP University are also good at offering support when you need extra help with the content to help you get the grade you want.

At the end of my Apprenticeship, I’ll be a qualified Solicitor, and so I hope to have a position in the firm as a newly qualified Associate. After that, who knows what the future holds. I used GetMyFirstJob to search and apply for my apprenticeship. I found it through doing so many google searches of finding apprenticeships, only to find them in one handy website where I could also apply for them on too!

Interested in becoming an ambassador? Find out more!

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