Newly qualified Paul Linsell relates his experience as a Barlow Robbins LLP trainee

What do you want from your training contract?

In these tough economic times, with law firms recruiting fewer trainees and making deferrals, this question is often overlooked in the quest to find the elusive training contract. It is all too easy to be swept away in the race to qualification and forget this all important question completely. But if you stop and think it is likely that you will already have strong ideas of what you want from your two years of training.
My answer to this question was that I wanted to work in a firm that offered a broad range of practice areas, but also a depth of work and experience, to ensure that I received the highest quality training possible. If I could also benefit from a healthy work/life balance and a friendly and welcoming working environment then that would be even better still.

So did Barlow Robbins LLP meet my requirements?

Having completed my training contract and successfully come out the other side I can give an emphatic yes. In fact in most cases Barlow Robbins LLP exceeded my expectations. Right from my very first day I was treated like a solicitor and was expected to earn fees by doing real work. This experience has proved vital as I have made the transition into the role of a newly qualified solicitor.

In each seat at Barlow Robbins LLP the trainee shares an office with their supervising partner, who is more often than not the head of that department. I found this to be highly beneficial as it allowed my skills and experience to develop quickly due to the quality of the work I was involved in. It really helped that there was always somebody there to answer any questions and give that all important feedback that is so vital for development.

I applied to Barlow Robbins LLP as the firm offered quality work in a diverse range of legal services, which included the areas of law I was interested in, and appeared to offer the type of environment that I would be happy to work in. I am amazed at just how high the quality of work has been and how quickly my skills have developed. I felt fully prepared to become a qualified solicitor and to take on all of the responsibility and accountability that goes with that role. I think that this level of preparation is in my mind the best commendation that I can give the training contract with Barlow Robbins LLP as ultimately it is what the training contract is all about.

Another attraction of Barlow Robbins LLP was their flexibility and willingness to adapt my training to suit my needs. I was fortunate to be able to qualify early by using time to count that I had gained prior to starting my training contract and the firm fully supported me in doing this. I felt this was reflective of the commitment that Barlow Robbins LLP makes to their trainees and was particularly notable given the current climate for retaining trainees upon qualification.
Barlow Robbins LLP’s commitment to training does not end when you qualify and I have been on numerous training courses and seminars since qualifying. I am also actively encouraged to obtain membership to relevant committees and professional groups and be involved in pro bono activities. I have recently been involved in the Prince’s Trust Million Makers Challenge, am a member of Resolution, mentor students from the College of Law and advise at the Citizens Advice Bureau.

While it is undoubtedly a tough time to be entering into a career as a solicitor I am glad I took the time to consider what I wanted to achieve from my training contract and where I wanted to be at the end of it and I am glad that I applied to Barlow Robbins LLP.