I am currently two weeks away from qualification and so I would like to say a few words about my training and training in general at Aston Bond Law Firm.
Approachability
Aston Bond provide exceptional training. The most important thing for me is a trainee is to have approachable supervisors because this will directly impact how much you learn on the job. Each supervisor at this firm is incredibly kind, patient and knowledgeable and will answer all questions thoroughly and to the best of their ability.
Responsibility
You are trusted to be given a lot of responsibility from day one of your training contract. However, you will not be given anything which is unfair to give to a new trainee. Having said that, once you start learning how to do certain tasks, you are trusted to take the reins on a matter and run with the file on your own. This is key as it teaches you responsibility and accountability from an early stage in your career. It is also very rewarding and gives you confidence. You can leave your training contract and qualify knowing that you have done a task on your own before and are capable of it.
Varied Workload
I currently work in the Commercial Property Department, and the workload is incredibly varied. We deal with all sorts of matters from refinances to sales and purchases, to assignments and lease extensions.
Office Culture and Atmosphere
You will not find another law firm like this one. Every single employee within the company gets along with each other. We also attend events such as Windsor Racecourse in the summer, we go on London outings, have memorable Christmas Parties and we even went on an office trip to Paris! In a work context, there are no silly rules preventing you from cracking on with the job quickly and efficiently. However, work is still done to a very high standard and we take pride in our work.
My background
After my A Levels, I did an undergraduate degree at Keele University in Business Management and English (Dual Honours). At this stage, I had not considered a career in law at all. When I finished my degree, I worked at a small Marketing company in Maidenhead but quickly realised that this was not the correct career for me. When lockdown hit in 2020, I looked into becoming a lawyer, and decided to start a one-year course, which was the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at the University of Law, London Moorgate Campus (also called the law conversion course). At that time, if you did not have a qualifying law degree at undergraduate level, doing the GDL followed by the LPC was pretty much the only route to qualification. Accordingly, after the GDL, I carried on at the University of Law and completed the LPC with masters. Both degrees were highly academically challenging (although from what I hear, the new SQE route is even harder!).
Once I had completed and passed my law degrees, I sought legal experience and started off in a city firm in London called Clyde and Co in the Business Acceptance Unit as a Paralegal. This job was amazing and the people were awesome, but it was not legal experience which would lead to qualification. As such, I left after only 3 months to start a Paralegal role at a high street firm in Wimbledon. I stayed here for a year and gained experience in Private Client and Employment Law. Unfortunately, the role was too far from home, and I did not get on with the firm culture, so that is when I joined Aston Bond.
At Aston Bond, they recommend that you always work for 6 months as a Paralegal before you start your training contract. This can be frustrating at the start but in hindsight, this is highly valuable, not only because you get to see if the firm is a good match before you get tied into a 2 year training contract, but you also gain the basic skills that you need before you become a trainee and learn the firm’s house style. You do not want to run before you can walk – trust me!
At Aston Bond, I worked in Private Client for around 6 months before moving to the Commercial Property team. In Private Client, I was trusted to have my own files after a few months. I conducted Will meetings, drafted the Will, gave the advice and closed the files all by myself. I then moved to the Commericla Property department where I did the remainder of my training.
Tips for Being a Trainee
- Ask the right questions but always give the task a go yourself beforehand.
- Show willingness and enthusiasm
- Set yourself personal targets and challenges throughout your training
- Put yourself outside of your comfort zone
- Work on your attention to detail
- Try to make notes and precedents as you go along
Summary
I cannot recommend Aston Bond highly enough to train at. It is truly a safe space to learn, with an unforgettable culture.
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