The Space: elevating early talent - episode five - Keira Temple

Emma Dennis: Today I am really delighted to be here with Keira Temple, a paralegal apprentice in our Birmingham office to hear more about her journey into law so far. So, morning Keira.

Keira Temple: Morning.

Emma: Thank you for being here.

Keira: Thanks for having me.

Emma: You joined the firm as a paralegal apprentice I think last September?

Keira: Yeah, last September.

Emma: What has your first year been like?

Keira: Wow, well I just cannot believe the years… it has already been a year. So yeah, I came straight out of sixth form, so I finished sixth form I think it was June last year, I finished my A Levels so three months later I was in a big law firm. It has been quite a year but I have really enjoyed it cos it was… this is my first job as well, so like, it is the first job and it is quite a first job to have.

Emma: It really is.

Keira: But yeah I really enjoyed it and I am really glad I took this pathway and I have met so many great people and yeah, it has been an amazing year.

Emma: Oh brilliant, and then I presume, so you are a paralegal apprentice at the moment I think that is a two year… is that a two year?

Keira: Yeah, it is two years, yeah.

Emma: And then I presume the aim then is to move towards a solicitor apprenticeship and then qualify?

Keira: Yeah, that is the aim. So next year I am in my second year, to be honest I think second year starts any time now, so then it is just the end point assessments for the paralegal apprenticeship and then yeah, the solicitor one I think would probably start September, so hopefully I can get on to that one.

Emma: Yeah, exciting.

Keira: Yeah, it is really exciting.

Emma: Is there a point you can remember of thinking that this is the path you wanted to take, that you wanted to work towards being a lawyer?

Keira: I think I have always wanted to be a lawyer but I just did not know how I wanted to get there. I just thought I would do the traditional route of doing the degree and then doing a training contract, doing the LPC, that sort of way, but in my mind I always wanted to do an apprenticeship but I just knew how competitive they were. But yeah, I think, I do not know. I would not say it has always… this pathway has always been in my mind, just because I just did not think I would be able to get it.

Emma: Yeah.

Keira: I know a lot of people applied and they just did not get in, so I just though, it is what I wanted to do but I just thought the only way I would be able to do it is by doing a law degree first. So yeah.

Emma: What did you study for you 're A Levels?

Keira: I did history, English literature and langue, philosophy and Mandarin Chinese.

Emma: Wow.

Keira: So at my school, for my sixth form I went to a grammar school so they wanted us to do an ex… three A Levels but then an extra qualification.

Emma: Yeah.

Keira: And I have not… did not do a language at GCSE so I thought it may be good to have a language on my CV and they offered Mandarin Chinese and I had never really heard of that for… as an option in other schools so I though it would be a good option to do. I did really enjoy it. I do not really remember much but I did enjoy it at the time.

Emma: Oh fantastic. When I was researching for today, I saw that you had done lots of different work experience placements, so things like the Crown Prosecution Service, West Midlands Police and lots of different things. How do you think those experiences benefitted you?

Keira: I think, they ex… they benefitted me in two main ways. One way was that they helped me… my understanding of law. I think particularly the… I did work experience at two Magistrates courts in my area and I actually got to watch in on cases and then I was sitting next to magistrates and I was able to talk to them and then after a case I would go in to another room and speak to them, yeah, it was probably one of my favourite work experience/things I have done. And it gave me, I enjoyed it because it was more practical, so they put me in to a court room and I was able to, but I think the work I do right now is more transactional, so… but I think it definitely still benefitted me, just understanding how… what being in court is like and how the hearings are, I think that did. And I say in the other way it benefitted me, more in people skills and those sort of skills, so meeting new people and just feeling more confident to network, I think that is just another thing that benefitted.

Emma: Really helpful isn't it. You mentioned earlier sort of, presuming that you would go to university, do a law degree and the traditional route. What made you take the apprenticeship route?

Keira: Well, so initially, my journey has been quite different to probably others in that I wanted to do a law degree but then I decided last minute before we had to apply to universities that I wanted to do English and history as a joined honours just because I did that at A Level and everyone was saying to me you can do the conversion course after, just… so that is what I wanted to do. So all of my university offers are for English and history, but then, so yeah I had applied to Gowling and I think it was in April/May time, I think that is when applications were. I remember I was sitting revising for my A Levels and I had applied, did not really think I was going to get in, I just thought I would apply because I knew I wanted that, but I did not set my heart on it just because I was still thinking oh yeah, I will probably have to go to university but then it started to become quite serious when I got offered interview, and then the assessment centre, then it started and I was like wow, this might actually be an option. I might actually be able to do this. And then that is when it all started to… I think it was the assessment centre… the day after the assessment centre Jordon called me saying that I had been offered a place and that is when it really hit and I was like yep, I am definitely taking this, I do not really want to go to university any more.

Emma: Amazing.

Keira: But yeah it changed quite quick for me.

Emma: Yeah, that is quite a short time line isn't it.

Keira: It was such a short… it was such a hectic three months, I was sitting my A Levels and then I was doing all this as well so you do need to be quite resilient and yeah, it is a lot.

Emma: Yeah, definitely. And for anybody who does not know what it means to be a paralegal apprentice, can you explain a little bit more about day to day, what your role is at the moment?

Keira: Yeah, so four days a week you are at work, so for me I am in the housing development team, I have my own matters now, I have about 30 of my own matters and I am doing… I basically see them from the start to the end, so I do all of your title investigation, drafting of legal documents and then speaking to the other side, so it is like I am seeing the whole transaction at the moment. So that is my day to day really, speaking to clients all the time and being involved in some complex cases as well. So that is really my day to day. I would say that one day a week is when we do our study, so it is like a university study day. In that, I do think it takes more than one day because yeah, it is not… you do not get all your study done in one day, but in that you go through, I watch my lecture for the week, and we usually have these tasks called SUTs, and I usually do that as well which is usually an essay or something, a problem question and that is what I usually do on that day, but I do think you need to allocate, you need to really schedule your time.

Emma: Yeah.

Keira: Because just like organise really. I say that is the main thing and make sure that on that study day you just study, you do not do any work, you just completely just do that one thing and then you will be fine really. Just got to stay organised.

Emma: Yeah cos I was going to say, how do you balance that working and the study?

Keira: Yeah. It is tough, it is tough at times, but it definitely is manageable. So yeah, it is kind of, as soon as, my study day is on a Wednesday at the moment so as soon as Wednesday comes I just study and try not to mix the two up together. Keep them separately. And then sometimes if I need to, in an evening if I have got an assessment or I have an assessment next week Tuesday, then of an evening I will just do some revision for it. But yeah, I think you just need to keep them separate.

Emma: Yeah, and are the team supportive in that?

Keira: Very supportive. My team are the best. They are so nice, my supervisors are so nice. Whenever I tell them I have got an exam or an assessment or something coming up they are just like just focus on that, do not worry about work, we will step in and look after your matters and look after stuff, so they have been really good.

Emma: Oh good. That is really important.

Keira: Yeah, it definitely is. I think having a supportive team is like probably the main thing. I did not mind what area I got put in to, I did not mind whether I had got in to corporate or real estate, but what I did mind, I did want a team that were supportive, especially for the apprenticeship as well because it is a lot of juggling and then when the assessments come round, sometimes the supervisors are needed so it is important, yeah.

Emma: So, I think we will take a short break now and then when we are back, we will find out more about your experiences at the firm.

Keira: OK.

Emma: Welcome back to part two. I want to kick off Keira with just some quickfire questions to try and get to know you a little bit better. I'll lift that up so that you can't see…what was your first job?

Keira: This. This is my first job. I have never worked before so yeah this is my first job.

Emma: Amazing. What is your favourite animal?

Keira: Um I think dogs. I had a Westie before, but I think at the moment, I love sausage dogs. They are all over Instagram and I really want one. They are so cute.

Emma: They are so cute. There are lots of things with sausage dogs on as well. Is your bed made right now?

Keira: Probably not.

Emma: Mine isn't either.

Keira: No, my room is a bit of a mess.

Emma: What time do you wake up in the morning?

Keira: Um I'd say usually seven.

Emma: Yeah.

Keira: Yeah, seven and then I commute into work. I don't live very far so got up about seven-ish.

Emma: What is your favourite movie?

Keira: Anything horror to be honest. Literally anything like Condron or Annabelle, any of those horror films.

Emma: You like to be scared?

Keira: Yeah, I like watch them sometimes at like one o'clock in the morning and go to straight to sleep after. I don't get scared. I think I watched so many. That is just like.

Emma: I love horror films but I tend to watch them in the daytime, but I don't get scared or awake all night. That is your dream holiday destination?

Keira: Um probably The Maldives. I thinking that or maybe even like Jamaica or something.

Emma: Somewhere nice and warm?

Keira: Tropical yeah definitely.

Emma: What is your hidden talent?

Keira: Probably literally watching, I don't really know but watching horror films so late. Everyone always says I don't know how you do it and don't get scared. I don't get scared.

Emma: I think that is allowed.

Keira: I go to sleep like the second after.

Emma: What is your favourite biscuit?

Keira: Probably digestive?

Emma: Why?

Keira: Don't know it is quite chocolately, but it's not too intense because it has got like the oat underneath so it's not too much yeah.

Emma: Just the right balance.

Keira: Yeah.

Emma: What's your favourite season?

Keira: Summer. I don't know see I think this like summer like the last few months has been so bad, the weather's not been great so usually I'd say like summer but I am getting excited for winter now just because that's when Christmas is and Halloween like that sort of time so I don't know probably both.

Emma: A little bit of both.

Keira: Yeah a little bit of both.

Emma: Are you a Swifty?

Keira: I'm not.

Emma: I'm not finding any Swifties this year.

Keira: I think when I was younger, I used to really to like love her and listen to her, but I think like now just no.

Emma: No swiftness?

Keira: No. No swiftiness for me.

Emma: And then a couple more questions which are either or questions. I think I know the answer to the first one. Cats or dogs?

Keira: Dogs.

Emma: Are you more an introvert or an extrovert?

Keira: Probably introvert now I think yeah. I think it changes.

Emma: Night out or a night in?

Keira: Probably a night out yeah.

Emma: Yeah. Pineapple or pizza yes or no.

Keira: No.

Emma: That was an immediate no.

Keira: Absolutely not. No.

Emma: Night owl or an early bird?

Keira: It depends in the week days definitely am an early bird but at the weekends I am more of a night owl. I don't know a bit of both. Just whenever I wake up whenever I get up.

Emma: What advice would you give anybody who is currently looking at an apprenticeship?

Keira: I would say networking is the main thing, get on Linked In, if you want to do a paralegal apprenticeship and you are thinking of a certain firm, connect with the apprentices that are there, speak to them, I've had a few people speak to me saying can you reconnect, like can you give me some advice and stuff and I think that is the best thing to speak to me saying can you recommend, like can you give me some advice and I think that is the best thing to speak to, people who already work there and that was like the main thing, that is the one thing that I did not do so when I had applied, I didn't have Linked In or anything and I think that did kind of put me at a bit of a disadvantage just because other people that also had applied, they had spoken to people and kind of had tips and they were already known, I think that is really an important thing. I think it is about partly about who you know as well but yes that is the main thing really.

Emma: What keeps you motivated at work with everything you've balancing with sort of work and the studying, what keeps you going, what keeps you motivated?

Keira: I think it is the end goal really of where I want to be so I do want to be qualified so just keeping that so when there is an exam or something stressful, I just think just keep going through it, it will be fine and you are working to this end goal but I also think it is so important to stay motivated, to do things outside of work as well because sometimes that actually does help so like meeting up with your friends like finding hobbies, I like to do painting and travel and stuff like that, that to me is important helped you stay motivated so when you come back, you can focus better.

Emma: I think it is really important because one of my questions was going to be how do you get that balance between work and then stuff that you want to do outside of work.

Keira: Yeah, I'd say just surround yourself with things that you enjoy as well so painting and doing a lot of traveling at the moment, I am enjoying that but yeah…         

Emma: Where have you been?

Keira: This year I went to Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Egypt, yeah.

Emma: Wow.

Keira: So quite a few places this year, but I do think that as an apprentice, you do get, as you are working as well, you can travel, and I think it really does help to stay motivated for work as well. I do really enjoy it.

Emma: Have you get any other travel plans to the end of the year?

Keira: Yeah. I'm thinking of going back to Poland. I love Poland so much. I think it is like a great place to go so thinking of going to Krakow at the end of this year for my birthday but yeah so, it's fun.

Emma: That's good. Looking back over your experience so far at the firm sort of the last year, is there any one moment that really sticks out for you either from a client perspective or a personal perspective in work of like wow that was just fantastic or something that really sort of sticks out is a really good memory for you so far?

Keira: I'd say there has been quite a few but I would say one was a few of the client meetings that I've had and it does kind of still feel a bit surreal for me like getting to speak to clients, actually meet them and then after especially if we have been able to resolve something or talk about something it does feel great after but I would also say just I have been involved in a society at the moment, the Birmingham Trainees Solicitors Society so we had a ball for that and loads of the trainees and the apprentices went and it was great and after it just felt like wow like that was really nice and nice to get to like speak to other apprentices at the firm and other trainees, other juniors really and meet from different firms as well so I would say that was quite great especially as I did that in November so I was only at the firm for two months and it was like wow this is crazy, the venue was amazing and it was great.

Emma: Fantastic. My next question is around which you touched on a little bit was around it isn't all just about the day job and the studying and the legal work, there are other things you can get involved in, I just wondered at the firm is there anything outside of the day job that you have been involved in?

Keira: So, the Society that I have spoken about. I am also a diversity and inclusion ally but then I am also part of a few other networks so Thrive, Embrace, I'm part of so I join any talks or when there are like times you can read books and stuff, I do try and get involved in that. I would say that is the main ones I am doing at the moment.

Emma: I guess looking forward what are your aspirations for the future, for the rest of your career?

Keira: Well the first one is to finish this paralegal apprenticeship, that is the first one and get a place on the solicitor one and then yeah, I would say it would be, I love my team and I really enjoy the work but as I didn't do a law degree, well as I am working through it right now, I don't really know other areas of law as well so it would be nice to like get to know other parts of the firm and what everyone does and then sit in my seat rotations and then become qualified that I would be. It is quite a while away yet, but I don't know this year has gone really quick so…

Emma: Time flies.

Keira: I'm just trying to enjoy the moment at the moment.

Emma: Brilliant and can you think of a piece of advice that anybody has ever given you that has really stuck with you and helped you so far?

Keira: I would say just do the best that you can, I know it is quite generic sometimes I do get stressed and think oh no, I need to do this and I need to do that it is, I know like a few of the colleagues just do what you can today and just like don't worry, everything will be fine anyway and that is the best advice because it is easy to get stressed and think oh no, I haven't answered this email, I haven't done all my reading yet, I've got an exam next week and I haven't done this and it is easy but just do what you can because there is always going to be something more you can do and it is not always viable so I tend to do what you can.

Emma: That's a good piece of advice because I think you never finish everything on your to do list and the sooner you realise that you are never going to finish everything, you just need to figure what to do first and when you stop stressing as much.

Keira: Definitely I think a lot of my family say that so my mum and dad have been so supportive throughout all of this and my boyfriend as well, he was also an apprentice at another big company and he did influence my decision to get an apprenticeship so I think all of them and like my friends have been so supportive and they do say to me just do when you can like, you can't do anymore than that. My to do list is sometimes so long that I can't get through everything but that is the main thing I would say to anyone who is looking to be an apprentice.

Emma: Something has just come into my mind, I just wondered what it was like, you are doing the apprenticeship, you are working, I presume you have got friends who have gone the university route?

Keira: Most of them.

Emma: How does that play out? It is a very different life isn't it?

Keira: Yeah so I met up with a few of my friends last week, we went out for dinner and I was like oh yeah I've got like tomorrow morning. I can't stay out long and they were all like oh yeah, they are off from university at the moment so it can be hard. I mean there is a stigma that apprentices don't have social lives, and I have seen that a lot but I don't think that is true, I think we do have social lives but they are just different to that so someone who has gone to university. I obviously don't have summers off or anything even for university don't have anything like that off so I think it is just something you have got to get used to but my friends are off at the moment, I think they are off for like two months so like trying to see them at times and stuff everything just has to be after work or on the weekend but then on the weekend I sometimes a bit tired because I've worked but yeah it can be quite amusing trying to organise things and…

Emma: But you've got the advantage of you've got a job so you are doing all the travelling…more of a struggle for them absolutely.

Keira: That's the thing so I had all my student finance and everything set last year so it was all ready to go and I remember on results day I was like absolutely not I'm not doing this anymore I'm going to cancel my, I withdrew my student finance but I do think university is still a good route for people. I do think just think about apprenticeships and university is different but for me, and I do think the apprenticeship was the route for me but I do think it is probably the route for a lot of people, I just don't think, I think maybe more people are looking into it now but I just think even at school it was like it is not really spoken about much and that is one thing that I would have liked for at school. It was mainly just go to university and that is it. It was never there are other routes because yeah it is not for, university is not for everyone because some people prefer to do more practical things that actually get into work but I do think it is beneficial.

Emma: Yeah. It definitely needs more awareness around it as a, my son's just finished his apprentice as a quality engineer.

Keira: OK.

Emma: But I must admit when he started that two or three years ago, I didn't have any idea what it was so my daughter, Mattie, goes like you finish you 're a levels, you go to university more awareness around these other options.

Keira: My mum was telling family and friends and I lot of people still think that apprenticeships are something to look down upon or they are jut kind of like oh yeah if you don't get into university you can go and do an apprenticeship but for me I think getting into university was probably easier than getting into an apprenticeship because they are so competitive even at the assessment centre like everyone, our assessment centre last year was so good and it was competitive so I think arguably it was actually harder to get in, I don't think it is a back up option at all. It's not. But yeah.

Emma: And then finally, what is the best thing that has happened to you this week? I can be work related, it can be in your personal life, the best thing.

Keira: Um I think the best thing that happened this week is let me think, I think it has been quite a stressful week and I'm busy with exams but I said to be honest I think so for my exams, I'm doing contract law at the moment and there are ten units and I am nearly finished the tenth unit now, for revision, so I think that was like a really good thing that happened this week, it means that I am on track and prepared but I think in my personal life, I have been doing painting at the moment so like you know the paint by numbers and I have finished and that and my mum really likes it so she is going to put it on the wall.

Emma: Fantastic.

Keira: And that was great as well like just putting in the last bit of paint on the canvass but yeah.

Emma: So, you are achieving things already?

Keira: I was so excited to finish it, I have been working on it for months now so it was great.

Emma: Fantastic. Well thank you so much.

Keira: Thank you.

Emma: for joining us today, really, really enjoyed speaking to you.

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