Training Contracts - Sarah McHattie, a trainee's story...
Sarah MacHattie, who is training with us, gives the lowdown on her training at the firm.Having joined TLT in September 2003, I am currently in my second seat in our Corporate Finance team. The prospect of joining a firm of TLT's calibre was a pretty daunting one, particularly as a trainee when after all those years of studying you finally start to put the theory into practice. I can however say that any unnecessary angst was dispelled straight away and that I felt welcomed and part of the firm from day one.
Since 1997, Bristol has been my "adopted" home city. I read Law, French and German at University in Bristol and then went on to complete the LPC at the College of Law, London until 2002. When the time came to apply to firms for a training contract I was lucky enough to have had the benefit of experiencing two quite different cities and decided that Bristol was the place in which I wanted to pursue my career. Vibrant, cosmopolitan, and extremely liveable, Bristol is constantly developing and rejuvenating itself. If you like fantastic bars and restaurants, a lively music scene, terrific theatres and eclectic shopping all within 20 minutes of beautiful countryside, you'll like Bristol. The city is home to several well known and respected firms, of which TLT is not only the youngest but is also the most exciting.
TLT is now four years old (the result of two well established firms merging) and since 2000 has steadily grown and flourished, this recently being reflected in our winning UK Regional Law Firm of the Year. From a trainee's point of view, it is very motivating to be part of a firm that is obviously going places.
My first seat was in the Banking and Finance Litigation team. I assisted a variety of fee earners on an array of contentious issues and was also given the opportunity to manage my own live files and attend Court on a regular basis. A large amount of this work concerned recovering both secured and unsecured debts on behalf of some of TLT's biggest clients. During the six month period as well as undertaking research, I liaised regularly with our clients, negotiated with our opponents, attended Court almost on a weekly basis and gained an insight into the process of taking a claim to trial. Such experiences not only made me feel more confident but also made me appreciate the fundamental difference between taking legal theory at face value as a law student and applying that theory to the commercial reality as a lawyer.
I am currently in the Corporate Finance team which has provided me with experience of "non-contentious" legal issues. Within my first week in the team I was involved in the completion of the purchase of a company and, at the opposite end of the spectrum, in the initial stages of the disposal of a company. This involved liaising with both clients and other professionals, collating information and drafting commercial documentation. This seat is proving to be an interesting contrast to my previous seat and has given me the chance to appreciate a new discipline and flex a different group of "lawyers' muscles". Both teams have been extremely friendly, supportive and very understanding of the trainee's position. I was particularly impressed with the way in which the firm made every effort to accommodate each trainee's preferences and to give everyone as wide a training experience as possible.
Professional development is key within TLT. I have taken part in a host of training workshops ranging from substantive legal refreshers to tips on time management. Our sports and social scene are also areas on which importance is placed. I am a subsidised member of our local riverside gym and have also joined the TLT netball team which brings us into contact with other Bristol firms as well as being a good way to get to know people across the firm. TLT also boast a thriving social committee, recent trips include shopping sprees to London and Birmingham and a trip to the Snow Dome at Tamworth (next year, Aspen!).
I am very happy with the choice I made and feel privileged to be part of a vibrant, successful and promising firm in a city I love.
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Claire Dennison, a trainee's story
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