Why Slaughter and May?

I applied to Slaughter and May for numerous reasons. Its reputation as a leading international law firm initially caught my attention, but upon further research, it was the multi-specialist model that stood out to me. The idea of contributing to multiple sectors was fascinating, as I would have the opportunity to develop transferrable skills in different areas of commercial law.

Day-to-day life as a solicitor apprentice

One of the best parts of being a solicitor apprentice is that no two days are the same. The tasks I’m given and the skills I develop vary constantly, which keeps things interesting. 

For my first seat, I’m sitting in the Corporate group. Even in my first couple of months, I’ve had opportunities I wouldn’t have had through the traditional university route. I’ve attended multiple meetings, shadowed my supervisor and partners in client discussions and seen first-hand how those interactions work. Although I’m not yet ready to lead client conversations, observing them has been invaluable. I’ve also contributed to projects that will be presented to clients, which has helped me understand how my work fits into the bigger picture.

In terms of balancing work and study, we had training and induction sessions early on to help us build good habits and structure our time effectively. BPP gave practical advice on using study days wisely, and the firm provides dedicated study leave before exams which means we can prepare without any last-minute stress.

Building my network

Since I’m still in the early stages of my apprenticeship, the social side has been very enjoyable. I’ve had the chance to meet and network with people across the firm - whether that’s through internal events or simply bumping into colleagues around the office. What’s impressed me most is how approachable everyone is, from partners to trainees.

I’ve also really enjoyed connecting with other apprentices through university sessions and networking events. Building friendships with people who understand the unique challenges of a six-year programme has been invaluable. They can relate to things that others might not and having that support network makes the journey feel much more manageable.

Connecting outside of work

As well as contributing to exciting projects and developing new skills, a particular highlight so far was taking part in the firm’s interdepartmental football tournament.

Before starting, I was a little anxious about how I’d connect with people who were much older than me and came from very different backgrounds. However, the tournament was a great icebreaker - it showed me that we all have more in common than we think. Football is something so many people are passionate about, and it gave us a chance to connect outside of the office.