I completed the Bachelor of Civil Law (European) degree at U.C.D. After graduating, I worked in the legal department of a telecommunications company for several years while studying for the FE1 exams. This role allowed me to get valuable legal experience in a professional setting, and it exposed me to what it is like to work in law in a corporate environment, as I had not worked/interned in a law firm before.
I then applied for a traineeship with William Fry. After passing the initial online application stage by completing an assessment and a form about myself (encompassing my experience, education and work history), I moved on to the formal interview process. I found this to be a bit daunting initially as there was a drinks reception organised for the evening before my interview. However, this was a great experience as it afforded all of the interviewees the opportunity to meet and chat informally to an array of partners in the firm. This aspect of the interview process helped cement that William Fry was where I wanted to train to be a solicitor, as all of the partners I met were approachable, friendly and willing to speak about their experiences in William Fry.
I was fortunate enough to be offered a traineeship with William Fry and the firm were willing to allow me to start my traineeship the following April. The traineeship structure covers four rotations across different practice areas within the firm. This allows for a trainee to get a rounded legal experience and helps a trainee to decide which department they would like to ultimately qualify into. I have really enjoyed my traineeship thus far. My first seat was in the Technology department which is at the forefront of legal developments in Ireland and the European Union. I was exposed to a broad range of tasks as a trainee which has aided my career development, such as researching, legal drafting and presenting.
The firm really invests in the development of its trainees, as evidenced by the wide range of resources provided to trainees. Trainees receive training and workshops on everything from IT systems and Microsoft Word and Excel, to legal drafting and presentation skills. There is also a Library team and Knowledge lawyers available to help us with any legal research queries. Trainees also complete mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews with the partners in their department. This is an invaluable learning opportunity to obtain tailored feedback regarding your work from experienced legal professionals with whom you have been working over several months.
There is also a great social side to being a trainee in William Fry. One of the main highlights is the trainee weekend away which occurs each year and is organised by the trainee social committee. This is a great opportunity to get to know your colleagues, in your intake and the other intakes, in a more informal environment. The firm trip to the Richmond Rugby 7s Tournament in London is another big event in the social calendar, as are the summer BBQ and the Christmas party. Throughout the year there are many social events and initiatives organised by committees within the firm, such as the Irish language coffee morning, pride events, employee wellbeing events, and the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association football tournament.