The Space: elevating early talent - episode four - Laura Pratt

Emma Dennis: Today I am delighted to be here with Laura Pratt, a Solicitor Apprentice in our Birmingham office to hear more about her journey into law so far. So hello Laura. Thank you so much for being here today.

Laura Pratt: Hi and thanks for having me.

Emma: So you joined the firm as a Paralegal Apprentice back in 2017.

Laura: Yes.

Emma: And now you are currently a Solicitor Apprentice and working towards qualification. I wanted to start, before we delve into that a little bit more, to ask was there a point you can remember that you thought, I want to be a lawyer?

Laura: To be honest, probably not really. I think I have always been interested in law and I think there was definitely a point when I was a teenager, before I was picking my A Levels, that I thought that being a lawyer might be an option for me. But I do not think I was ever super set on being a lawyer. I think I have just kind of taken the right steps and I am just kind of seeing where I goes now.

Emma: I think when I was doing some research, you went to university to study law but then decided that that was not for you. What made you make that decision?

Laura: Yes, because I think my whole life, my whole kind of school career and doing my A Levels, I always was fairly academic and I have got two older sisters and they both went to university so I was not really given any other option I think throughout school. I was always just told if you get good grades you should go to university and that is kind of the only option. So that is obviously what I did. So, I applied to university and I went to Cardiff and I think it was just a massive shock for me when I then actually went to university and it was just shocking to me I guess just how different the style of learning was. So I was very used to, throughout school, having fairly small classes where there was discussions and you could ask questions straight away and then when I went to university I think my course in particular was probably over 100 people in a lecture theatre and sometimes an hour or two hours you are just sitting there and listening to a lecturer and writing notes and I think at that point I realised that is just not how I learn. So I just found it really difficult to kind of stay focused and understand all the content. So I think at the time, because I did not see any other option, because I never thought of any other option, I just kind of pushed through and tried as hard as possible to keep going. But yes, it just got really difficult for me and I think after about a year before I sat my final exams, I kind of realise that I needed to have a break from university and so my plan was to defer it for a year so I was going to take a year out because I thought maybe I just needed a break rather than I did not really think that university was not for me at that point. I just thought I had been studying for so many years. I had done obviously my GCSEs and then my A Levels and then I had gone straight to university so I thought I just needed a break. So I took a year out and worked for a bit. Then I think during that year, that is when I discovered apprenticeships. I think it was probably my dad that suggest it when I was looking at what else I could do. That is when I discovered legal apprenticeships and then ended up applying to a couple and then got the one at Gowling.

Emma: So you found the route of legal apprenticeships and you were applying to a few of them. Were there any challenges along the way before you actually sort of got your spot here at Gowling?

Laura: Yes I think when I first looked for apprenticeships and applied, there were not that many firms at the time that were actually doing apprenticeships. So I am from Leeds originally so when I went to university I moved to Cardiff and then I was living in Cardiff at the time when I was applying for apprenticeships. So I had to try and find an apprenticeship somewhere. I think I wanted to stay in Cardiff at the time and I do not think there were any firms in Cardiff that offered apprenticeships. So when I looked obviously Gowling was one that offered apprenticeships but obviously they are based in Birmingham, well we also obviously have an office in London but I did not really fancy living in London at the time. So yes that was a bit of a challenge because I had never been to Birmingham before so the first time I had ever been was to do my interview. So that was a bit scary I think because I had to travel to Birmingham by myself to do my interview. Then obviously once I got the apprenticeship I then moved to Birmingham and I did not know anyone from Birmingham so I had to find a flat and I lived by myself for a bit. So yes it was challenging but it was also quite exciting because I think because I had lived away from home for a bit anyway whilst I was away at university and whilst I took my year in between but I had never lived by myself before.

Emma: So for anybody who does not know what it means to be a Solicitor Apprentice could you explain a bit about that for us?

Laura: Yes so when I first joined the firm I started on a Paralegal Apprenticeship which was a two year course and it is a Level 3 Apprenticeship so it is the equivalent of an A Level and I think I mainly studied the practice area that I was in. So it was mainly Real Estate because I started off in Real Estate and then also there was some practical modules that I studied. So I would have I think for apprenticeships 20% of your working week has to be studying. So I would spend one day studying and then the rest of the week working. Then after I completed that, after two years, I then moved on to the Solicitor Apprenticeship which is a similar format. I still have one day a week to study but it is a Level 7 Apprenticeship so you first work towards your law degree. So you work through all the standard modules that you do for any law degree but you do it part time and my course is all online so I kind of work through all the materials that I get from the university and then I think there was kind of assignments that I had to do every week. So kind of short essays and things. Then I have recently finished my degree course, or nearly finished, I have got a dissertation to submit later this year but I have finished the main bulk of my degree and now I am moving on to studying towards the SQEs the Solicitors Qualifying Exams. So I will sit my first one in a few months which is very scary.

Emma: What is the SQE like. What is your experience of that so far, studying towards that?

Laura: Yes it is quite daunting I think because it is in a very different format that I am used to. With my degree it was all, I either had coursework or an online exam. All the exams were open book so it was kind of easier to cram a bit more I would say. Not that I recommend doing that but that is kind of my method of studying really is just before the exam I do loads of cramming and write good notes but the SQE, the first one, is all single best answer questions. So basically you get hundreds of questions and it is multiple choice basically. You have to pick the right one. It is a very long exam. I think the first one is five hours with a break in between so, at the moment I am just doing lots and lots of practice questions and I just need to get used to doing them. I think it is going to be tough but hopefully I will be okay.

Emma: What is it like working and balancing that sort of studying as well? How do you manage that?

Laura: Yes, I mean as I said, I get one day a week just to focus on studying. Which is good because at least I have got the time off I guess to study but yes, it is tough because one day is not quite enough to do everything that I need to do. It can be tough and especially because it is quite long because I have been doing it for so long and you think I would be used to it I think after so long but I am still not used to it. It is still very challenging. But it is good because the firm are super supportive. When I get exams coming up, I get days off for study leave and my team, particularly, they understand that it is hard and I have a lot to do and so they are very supportive if I ever need to catch up on anything they are happy for me to kind of do it during work hours.

Emma: How long have you got left until you would qualify?

Laura: I have got about 18 months. So I sit the first SQE, well I should hopefully sit the first SQE in July 2025 and then it will take a couple of months for me to get my results back and then hopefully if I then pass that, I should sit the second SQE towards the end of that year. So then hopefully I will qualify early 2026.

Emma: That is not that long away you know really when you think about it. That is not that far away. What are the seat rotations that you go through as a Solicitor Apprentice like? How are they beneficial?

Laura: Yes, so you first start off, I think every firm does it differently, but with Gowling you start off in one team until you hit your fourth year of the Solicitor Apprenticeship. Then you take a year out and you do two six months seat rotations. So I started out when I first joined I was in the Real Estate team and then I did six months in the Corporate team and six months in the Pensions team. I think just before I was due to move I was super nervous about moving because I felt like I had gained so much knowledge in Real Estate, and I was so comfortable in what I was doing, I was so nervous to move to a new team and not know anything because I had not really felt like I had not known anything in a while but it was really eye opening to move because you just do not realise, I think when you are like me and you have spent so long in one team, you do not realise how different other teams actually are until you experience them. So, my team at the moment in Real Estate is very transactional. So it is very much you see a matter from start to finish. Corporate is quite similar but again a completely different area of law so it is completely different. The Pensions team is much more advisory. So it was more, you know clients would come to you and say we want to do this with the scheme, how do we do it? Then you have to do research and given them advice which is completely different to what I have done before. It is really interesting.

Emma: I think we are going to take a short break now and then when we are back I have got lots more questions to ask you Laura.

Laura: Okay.

Emma: So welcome back to Part 2. So, Laura I want to kick off with some questions to try and get to know you a little bit better. I will start with an easy one. What was you first job?

Laura: I was a cashier at Homebase.

Emma: Lovely. What is your favourite animal?

Laura: I feel like I should say cats because I have got two cats and I love them but I really like cows. I think cows are probably my favourite animal.

Emma: Cool. Is your bed made right now?

Laura: Yes I think so. Yes.

Emma: Well done.

Laura: But I think my boyfriend got up after me, so it is about whether he made it or not.

Emma: So, unknown. You are not 100% sure. What time do you usually wake up in the mornings?

Laura: It depends if I am coming into the office or not. I do not live too far away. I only live a 20 minute train journey away. I usually get up at about 07:00'ish if I am going into the office. If I am working from home probably more like 08:30 maybe.

Emma: Yes, I am the same. What is your favourite movie?

Laura: I always find this a really tough question because I am not a huge movie person but I love Clueless.

Emma: Clueless is a classic.

Laura: I love Clueless. It is one that I probably watch it two or three times a year probably and I never get tired of it.

Emma: That would definitely be in my top five. Clueless. What is your dream holiday destination?

Laura: I love visiting cities so probably I will say Berlin. I have been a couple of times but I just love it.

Emma: I have never been to Berlin but I have seen lots of videos of people that have been there and it does look really interesting. What is your hidden talent?

Laura: It is probably not that hidden because I think I talk about it all the time, but I love to crochet and I think I have got quite good at it recently. I started during lockdown and I think that is why I said that I am not that into movies because I just like to crochet whilst I am watching TV. So, if anything too complicated is on, then I will not pay attention to it because I am crocheting. But yes, crocheting.

Emma: I love that. I learnt to crochet in lockdown as well and I still do it but I go in fits and starts but I have to have something in the telly that I don't need to look at.

Laura: Exactly yes.

Emma: What is your go-to karaoke song?

Laura: I do have a go-to karaoke song. It is probably strange though because probably kills the mood but I always do Video Games by Larna Del Ray.

Emma: Nice. What is your favourite biscuit and why?

Laura: My favourite biscuit? Probably a bourbon.

Emma: Ooh yes.

Laura: I do not know why. I think it is because it is just a classic. It is an easy one to get hold of I guess.

Emma: I like a bourbon. What is your favourite season?

Laura: It is hard to chose between Summer and Autumn I think because I just feel happier in Summer I think with the sun. But then I also love just wearing a coat and scarf and I like the coziness of Autumn.

Emma: Are you a Swifty?

Laura: I would say mildly but not super. Some of my friends are massive Swifties. I do enjoy Taylor Swift. I like her music, but I would not say I am like a hardcore Swifty.

Emma: We get to find one in this series. What would be your favourite era? Are you Swifty enough that you have a favourite era?

Laura: Um yeah, I would probably say Folklore. I think that is like when I became a mild Swifty, I really liked that album.

Emma: Brilliant and then a couple more just quickfire ones I think I know the answer to the first one. Cats or dogs?

Laura: See I…

Emma:

Laura: Yeah, I have cats, and I love cats, but I also love dogs but dogs, not cats…maybe that was my brain saying dogs. No, I'll go for cats yeah cats.

Emma: Are more of an introvert or an extrovert?

Laura: Introvert.

Emma: A night out or a night in?

Laura: Depends, but probably a night in.

Emma: Pineapple on pizza yes or no?

Laura: Yes.

Emma: Yeah. Night owl or early bird?

Laura: Night owl.

Emma: thank you. That's the end of the quickfire ones. So, what I just wanted to just ask you next what advice would you give to anybody who is currently looking at apprenticeships as an option for them? Is there anything that you can take from your experience to guide them on the way?

Laura: Yeah I think it is difficult for people who are looking for apprenticeships now because I think when I first started and when I was first applying they weren't that common so I don't think they were that competitive but now because people have realised how great they are I think most of the big firms offer them now and loads of firms across the country offer them so I think they are quite competitive now so I think I had to when before I started I think I only applied to about two whereas I know from speaking to some of the new apprentices that they had to apply to quite a lot before they go one. Yeah, my advice would just be obviously to work hard. I think if you, I mean I'm sure people who were applying to legal apprenticeships do appreciate that they are difficult. I think there is still a misconception about them that they are for people who weren't smart enough to go to university which obviously isn't true. I mean to be honest I don't know what I expected when I started the apprenticeship. I obviously knew it was going to be hard wot particularly as you are still studying a degree, it is the same degree as someone who has gone the traditional university route would do. It is just obviously part time, and you are working at the same time so it is still very challenging and you need to work hard and something that I would give as advice for incoming apprentices would be to try and experience as many different areas as possible because I think as I have mentioned earlier about when I was doing my seat rotations really don't realise just how different just I just go up one floor in the firm, in the office and they are doing a completely different type of work and I think especially most people who aren't in law have a very narrow view of what they think law is and it is so wide and if you experience an area, say you get you end up being in a team where you are not that interested in the work I have got no doubt that there will be some area that you find interesting because they are just so different so I think I found it really valuable being able to get experience in different teams so if you get that opportunity as an apprentice I would definitely recommend making the most of it.

Emma: And I guess it helps you build your network across the firm as well, doesn't it?

Laura: Yeah.

Emma: Meeting different people. What keeps you motivated at work, what motivates you to keep going?

Laura: Um I think from a study perspective it is just finishing my course and that's a big motivator especially because I am so close now. Yeah, I can see qualification there very close. Yeah, and I thinking taking every step as it comes instead of just thinking you know I'm not thinking of what I am going to be doing in five years. I am thinking OK I've got this exam coming up and once I've done that, I'll have this one and then after that I'm doing the SQEs and then I just need to, I'm taking it step by step basically. I think it can be very overwhelming particularly if you are doing the solicitor apprenticeship which is about six years. It can be very overwhelming to think it as this six year thing. You can easily get demotivated by that I think it's so long but if you take it step by step, you know exam after exam then it makes it yeah and you can celebrate each win along the way as well which is nice.

Emma: Yeah. What sort of support systems or resources or things that you have found most helpful during the apprenticeship because everything we have talked about with it being the amount of work you are doing you are studying alongside what has helped you get through that here at the firm?

Laura: Yeah, well definitely other apprentices at the firm because they are really the only ones that truly know what you are going through and it is nice because of kind of how long the process is. You know there are people that there are other apprentices that I started with on day one and we have all been through the same thing and we are studying the same course so if we are struggling with anything, we have got each other to speak to and we will always support each other which is really nice and also I think I'm quite lucky because my intake was the second intake of apprentices that they, legal apprentices that they took and the intake above that started just before me. They recently have just qualified so they are also an amazing support because they have not only been through what I have been through, they have made it to the end so that's another thing going back to your previous question about what motivates you, that motivation is seeing them qualify, that made it really real for me then, but they are also super helpful and they are happy to answer any questions I have about what's next on my apprenticeship so yeah.

Emma: It's really nice to have that support around you and like you say people that have been through it, people that are going through it with you at the moment as well.

Laura: And I think also just my team as well have been super supportive. Again like I said even though they haven't been through it themselves, they understand that you know my team have also been super supportive, they understand how hard it is to work and study at the same time and they are very supportive when I need to take time off for exams leave and if there is anything I need to catch up on they are very happy to support me.

Emma: Brilliant, and looking back over your experience so far, is there any one moment that really sticks out for you being just like something that you are really proud of or just a really, something that is a really strong moment memory for you?

Laura: Yeah, I think I've done, I've had the opportunities mainly non-work things kind of extracurricular things you could say that I've done with the firm. I think the one that sticks out for me the most is the Commonwealth Games because I think the firm were the official legal advisors of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and I had the opportunity to be one of the volunteers at the Games to represent the firm and that was just incredible. I was a workforce volunteer so every volunteer and every member of staff that came on to the site I was based at Alexander Stadium, had to be checked in so I was sat behind the desk checking them in and all the other volunteers were amazing like it was so nice to meet people and I got to speak to loads of people as they came in and that was great.

Emma: I bet there was a real buzz. There was a buzz across the City, anyway but to be there.

Laura: It was amazing, it was a really good couple of months.

Emma: Fantastic. My next question was going to be being an apprentice isn't all about the legal work as the other stuff you get involved in as well outside of that. Is there any other things you have had the opportunity t get involved in outside of the day job and the studying?

Laura: Yeah, I mean there are tonnes of opportunities to get involved in lots of pro-bono things which I found just really rewarding. I have recently started volunteering at a legal clinic at Birmingham City University and that is based around benefits in general so I've been able to some training about benefits which I didn't really know much about before and then people ask questions at the clinic and then whilst I am there, I can do like research and try to help them and I am speaking to people on the phone and it is really nice and there are other pro-bono work that I have done that is still similar to the work that I do now but it will be for a charity so I am in real estate at the moment and I deal with a lot of leases but then I have picked up a couple of pro-bono cases where we are still doing leases but it will be for a community centre or something like that and it is just nice like it's a nice extra rewarding bit of work to do.

Emma: Yeah, I think you need those other things don't you as well? I think everybody as well as the day job those other things that give you that sense of purpose as well and give it back. How do you balance all of the different demands that you have got from work and studying and then your personal life and stuff you want to do outside of work as well how do you find that balance and I say balance, but I think things always skew one way or the other but how do you manage that?

Laura: Yeah it is difficult I think, it is something that you get better at, the more you are in it, yeah it can be difficult particularly when your friends aren't in the same position as you but yeah I think you need to, even though things can get so busy like work's very busy, studying is very busy but it is so important I think still to make time to relax otherwise I think I'd implode I think if I had to, if I didn't make any time for myself so it is still important to, you know there are some days when I think I'm so busy I should probably stay and you know do one more hour of work or studying but then I think you no I'll feel more refreshed tomorrow if I just stop and go home and relax and then I can just pick it up tomorrow. I think yes, some things can wait.

Emma: Yeah, that's really good, it is good that you realise that because sometimes people can get stuck in a cycle can't you of not making time for yourself and you just keep going and like you say you are not going to feel refreshed unless you actually stop. You mentioned earlier how you sort of look at sort of what the next thing is that you need to do so what's the next exam? What's the next step? I just wondered whether you have had a think about what your aspirations are for your career sort of after qualification.

Laura: Yeah, honestly not really, I am just like I said, I just take everything as it comes. I think if I start thinking about what I want to do after qualification I don't know. I guess…

Emma: You've got enough going on just with everything.

Laura: I think I'm very I need to be to keep motivated, I need to be very focused on a specific thing.

Emma: Yeah.

Laura: So, I haven't yeah hopefully once I've qualified, I'll then have all these amazing aspirations afterwards but at the moment, I am just my aim is to qualify then I'll figure out when I get there.

Emma: Yeah. Has there ever been a piece of advice or anything anyone has every said to you that sort of helped you keep going and striving forwards?

Laura: Yeah, I can't think off the top of my head kind of a specific piece of advice that anyone has ever given me but I think definitely my parents are like my biggest supports so they are always pushing me you know there have been times where I have been incredibly overwhelmed and I just think I'm ready to give up, I thought that is low even for me but my parents are always there saying like no you can do it and when I was at university and I was really struggling then and I was panicking about what to do next, they came down to visit me and they were very much it's OK like we can figure out when you can do and like I say I think it was my dad that suggested an apprenticeship so yeah they are always there to support me and they always give me great advice. I can't think of any specifics…

Emma: There are too many examples to pinpoint one, and then my final questions to you Laura is what is the best thing that has happened to you over the last week?

Laura: Over the last week well…

Emma: It doesn't have to be work related by the way it can be anything.

Laura: Well, like I said my family are from Leeds but my sister has just recently got a new job in Birmingham so she is coming to live with us this week for it is kind of a long story I guess but she is getting married next month and her and her fiancé don't want to worry about trying to move house or anything so she is just temporarily coming to stay with us for the first couple of weeks whilst she starts her new job so yeah it has been really nice to…

Emma: So, you've got your sister. Oh, that's really nice. Well thank you. A massive thank you for sitting down and having a chat with me today. I really appreciate it.

Laura: Great. Thanks for having me.

Emma: So, we will be back next week to get to know more talented people here at Gowling WLG. Thank you for listening and have a wonderful week.