My name’s Shakil and I’m a trainee solicitor in the Corporate and Finance team.
I’ve assisted on various transactions related to real estate finance, corporate finance and asset and share acquisitions. Most of the transactions I’ve worked on have had an international element and were completed within a tight time frame.
It’s been a fantastic experience which has given me a real passion to build a long-lasting career here.
Becoming Part Of The Team
Knowing that I could gain lots of responsibility, develop my legal expertise and interact with clients made applying here a simple choice.
I applied through the legal work placement scheme. I was invited to an assessment centre where I completed written exercises, a group exercise, and an interview.
Throughout my legal work placement, I was given the opportunity to sit within the corporate and employment teams. I also attended a trial at the Royal Courts of Justice which I extremely enjoyed.
My legal work placement confirmed my interest in pursuing a career at Irwin Mitchell. I was over the moon when I was told that I was going to be a trainee solicitor here.
Developing On The Job
I’m currently in my third seat out of the four six-month seats of my training contract. My previous seats were in regulatory and criminal investigations and banking and finance. I now sit within the corporate team.
The opportunity to train at Irwin Mitchell is unique and I feel very lucky to have secured a contract here. I spend lots of time working alongside solicitors on their transactions and it’s great to gain experience from colleagues who are highly qualified. I also get hands-on experience with clients and have learnt so much since starting my training contract. One of the things I really value is being able to learn and develop on the job, because it supports my career progression.
Inclusive And Diverse
The culture here is open and friendly. It’s great that this is a non-hierarchical firm because I can approach associates and partners and ask them questions at any time. It really is a supportive and welcoming environment, which makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Flexible By Choice
I’m grateful for the flexible approach to work here because I can work from home, or go into the office. I really benefit from this policy because I enjoy working from home as it means that I can go to the gym during my lunch break. However, I also like going into the office and collaborating with my colleagues.
What really stands out to me is that we’re trusted, which isn’t always the case for junior members of the team. We’re empowered to shape our day in a way that suits us, and as long as we deliver for our clients and our colleagues, everyone is happy. It’s a culture that breeds success.
Join Our Team
I’d recommend applying for a training contract at Irwin Mitchell. There are a variety of seats on offer where you’ll learn from experienced solicitors. As a trainee solicitor, you’ll play an important role in the team that you work for, and your work is valued by your colleagues. You’ll also be given the opportunity to take on positions of responsibility, which allows you to make an informed decision about your qualification role.
If you’re nervous about applying, I’d suggest applying for the legal work placement as it provides you with a valuable insight into life as a trainee solicitor.
We offer a wide range of apprenticeships and graduate opportunities, so you can learn from the best and kick start your career. You can apply for a training contract here.
