Alicia Orange — Solicitor apprentice

Alicia is studying towards the Level 7 Solicitor Degree Apprenticeship (LLB Law) with Fladgate’s and the University of Law in London

Why did you decide on a career in law?

Law is something that is constantly changing, which means that I will always be building on my learning throughout my career allowing me to consistently develop and progress no matter what stage I get to.

This, paired with my general approach to academics and my ability to take a step back from situations in order to analyse the facts objectively, led me to believe that law is an industry that I would be well suited to.

What attracted you to Fladgate?

Fladgate promoted themselves as an inclusive firm that strived to nurture the ambition of junior professionals. When looking for a firm, I found that the element of upmost importance was being in a supportive environment that was characterised by relationships of trust and respect, something that has proven to be a priority at Fladgate.

What’s a typical day like as an apprentice solicitor involve?

I am currently sat within the firm’s corporate department, which heads a variety of niche groups such as Private Client and Employment. A typical day includes keeping on top of correspondence with clients and preparing documents to be sent both internally and externally. This can vary from collecting due diligence documents, drafting letters to both clients and the other side, submitting filings to Companies House and more. Working with these niche teams also gives you increased opportunity for direct client contact, which is obviously a great benefit when training within the legal sector.

In addition to this, I occasionally get the chance to lead projects with an extended duration, which allows me to conduct cross-departmental work and gain exposure to more unusual tasks.

There are a lot of stereotypes about working in law, can you debunk a myth?

That all law firms are strictly hierarchical. Although there are tiers of fee earners, such as partners, associates and paralegals, the distinction is rarely felt directly. Fee earners, trainees and support staff work in collaborative teams, and everyone is treated as equals.

What are your career ambitions?

Although I wish to have a successful career as a solicitor within the legal sector, I’m not 100% sure yet what shape this will take. As I am only in my first seat, I don’t think it is beneficial to tie myself to one thing and wish to experience a variety of areas prior to making a decision. To qualify and get the opportunity to choose a speciality in itself will feel like a huge achievement to me.

Why should future apprentices consider Fladgate?

Apprentices and trainees are consistently reporting that they get lots of responsibility in their departments, without the downside of feeling like they have been thrown in at the deep end. Due to the ratio of partners to fee earners at the firm, there is a great deal of support and increased opportunity to work one-on-one with partners on new and exciting deals.