Addleshaw Goddard Trainee Profiles

Aksa Khalid, Trainee

University attended: University of Leeds

Degree qualification and year of graduation: Law (LLB), graduated in 2022

I chose Addleshaw Goddard primarily because of the quality of work, and the great culture. From my vacation scheme, I could tell that the firm focused on employing people who were personable and able to be themselves. This was very important to me as I wanted to be somewhere where I could work hard, and also have an enjoyable experience. During the application cycle, I attended one of AG's Ethnicity.Talent.Law events, which showed me the firm's forward-thinking and proactive approach to diversity and inclusion. It was clear that the firm wanted its employees to embrace, celebrate, and share their differences.

The best parts of the job, in my opinion, are getting involved in big projects and seeing all the parts come together. For me, it is when everything 'clicks' at the end, and I can see the bigger picture, e.g., why X document was important for X reason. For example, I enjoy reviewing large numbers of documents, making connections between various bits of information, and then translating those findings into an advice note for the client. I enjoy working with my colleagues and thinking about solutions to problems. One of the downsides for me is when there are multiple conflicting deadlines that I need to meet. This can be a pressurising situation but can be dealt with through organisation and delegating where necessary. Even in difficult times, I have found that the team pulls together to get to the end point. 

In terms of day-to-day life as a trainee, each day is different! I have been involved in many tasks, including: drafting documents; undertaking legal research; managing cases; and reviewing documents. As a trainee, I feel incredibly valuable in each of my seats, and I can see the direct impact of the work that I do. Every day is a learning today, which keeps things interesting. As I have developed through my training contract, I have noticed that I am more able to prepare for the next steps of a transaction and take independent action. 

I have received a good amount of high-quality training since I have been at the firm. When it comes to changing seats, trainees receive seat-specific training. Throughout the seat, we also have more specific and tailored training. For instance, when I started my seat in Construction & Engineering Disputes, construction training was delivered by people in the team, focusing on the key statutes and work that trainees are involved with. During my seat, I attended various virtual litigation training sessions, including sessions on bundling and disclosure. We also have monthly training sessions, where we discuss key cases in the litigation world. Trainee development is ongoing, and each team makes sure that its trainees are equipped with the information / skills that they need to excel in the seat.  

I am involved in the AG Embrace network, which is a group that focuses on ethnicity and inclusion. As a South Asian trainee, this network has been very significant as it is a place for members of the firm to come together to have meaningful conversations about race, difference, and culture. The network is open to everyone at the firm, so it is a great way for colleagues to find out more about other colleagues. For instance, the firm hosts an annual event for South Asian Heritage Month and Black History Month, where colleagues come together to explore cuisine, music, culture etc. 

Overall, I believe AG is a fantastic place to work as every single person genuinely wants the best for you and your career development. The firm has excellent clients, and this is reflected in the work that it gets. 

Nicole Hoffie, Trainee

University attended: The University of Edinburgh

Degree qualification and year of graduation: LLB Law (Hons), graduated 2018

I was initially drawn to AG by their extensive portfolio of international clients, and the opportunity to undertake high-profile work. After researching the firm further, I was inspired by AG's modernism and contemporary approach to business issues. With several years of experience in the financial services sector, finding a firm that would support my transition from industry professional to trainee solicitor was crucial. AG stood out as the optimal choice, due to their distinctive culture focused on individual development and their high retention rate of trainee solicitors.

A typical day in the life of an AG trainee may involve tasks such as attending client calls and taking notes, undertaking legal research and preparing advice notes, drafting and amending documents, proofreading, attending training sessions and managing files and document control.

Recently I have formed part of a core team advising the Ministry of Defence on a next generation engineering and facilities management programme covering Ships, Submarines and Naval Bases in the UK. This has involved reviewing and interpreting operational contracts, drafting client reports and attending client meetings. 

One of the best bits about my job is the opportunity to work on high-profile transactions and contribute substantive work, allowing me to develop key skills. The firm's social culture is also a standout for me, from team socials and firm-wide events to informal gatherings in our social area, there are many opportunities to engage with colleagues across different departments and have fun.

At the beginning of each seat, trainees receive extensive training applicable to the department and sector that they will be working in. This training continues throughout the duration of the 6-month seat, often delivered by a mix of AG knowledge lawyers, peers and external lawyers. I have attended a large variety of training sessions so far, including topics such as framework agreements, taking security over property, procurement law and the energy sector.

As my training contract has progressed, I've been given more autonomy to manage files and push transactions forward with little supervision. In my latest seat within the Infrastructure, Projects, and Energy team, I have effectively managed transactions to completion and acted as the main point of contact for all parties involved.

I have been involved in AG Embrace, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion network. This network meets once a month with colleagues around the business to embrace positive progress and to build and maintain an inclusive culture at AG.

AG combines the opportunity for professional growth with a supportive and inclusive environment, making it a great place to work and advance my career. My role here has allowed me to engage in a diverse range of activities, from legal research into new and substantive points of law to managing complex transactions, with the support and direction of my team. The opportunity to attend client events and practice business development skills has also been invaluable to my development.

As a trainee, there are a variety of secondment opportunities which range from international secondments to in-house legal teams in the UK, allowing trainees to better understand client needs and develop a well-rounded perspective on legal practice.

The emphasis on culture and individuality ensures that AG is a firm where people can thrive professionally and personally, fostering an environment where diversity is celebrated in a supportive and dynamic community. This is further enhanced by the approachability of our senior colleagues. Partners operate an open-door policy and sit among the team, ensuring that junior members have the ability to ask questions and work directly with partners.

I look forward to completing my training contract with AG and seeing what the future holds.

Reveen Reji, Trainee

University attended: University of Aberdeen

Degree qualification and year of graduation: LLB Law with English, graduated in 2022

When in secondary and slowly the increasing pressures of having a planned-out life approached, I struggled to truly commit myself to a particular path. What I did know was that I wanted to be involved in a career which I could understand the underpinnings of the major events that go around in the world and have varied work. Upon completing work experience I found that law provided an exceptionally strong foundation to understand major deals and that it also provided varied work with clientele in various sectors querying about a variety of different issues or goals that they wanted to achieve. This propelled me to choose law as my undergraduate and further progress until I got my training contract.

In addition to the fact that the firm has been continually growing and regarded as one of the best and major firms in the UK, I was attracted to apply due to the culture that it has fostered. The firm puts genuine effort in developing their early talent and has ambitious growth plans. This was evident from the research I carried out and the many testimonials I sought. 

If I could sum up my training contract in one word it would be "rewarding". I have been exposed to multiple different types of deals and different events and opportunities, all of which contribute to my professional and personal growth. I have been able to gain knowledge from both internal and external sources and learn about facets of law that I previously had in the periphery of my day-to-day life. 

On a "typical" day the most common task is time recording. More seriously, tasks are dependent on what seat you are in, but can broadly range from researching information for partners/clients, drafting documents for deals, investigatory work in relation to questions or issues and liaising with clients for information. If there are any big deals, trainees will usually be responsible for managing the data room. They will also be responsible for taking notes in client calls, drafting of documents, legal research and communicating with clients in relation to specific matters.

As with any job there are challenges, but my own personal challenge is maintaining a high standard of accuracy and attention to detail. This career has highlighted me the importance of these skills. It's important to remember to that it's about the quality of the work that is produced, not the quantity. 

I think one of the myths (which may not even be a myth) is that partners and associates see you as a nuisance and don’t have time for you. Whilst it is true that they may be very busy, I have found (at least in AG) that they will always support and provide guidance no matter how busy they are. They are very proactive in AG about involving trainees directly with clients and including them in projects that they manage.

The best advice I can give is that don’t be afraid to carry out the work and make mistakes. I have learned a lot from my mistakes and my work has improved as a result. In addition, it's important to show initiative.

I have received a tremendous amount of training both internally by the firm for the various seats that I have been in (including in person and online) as well as specialist training organised by the firm in relation to specific matters. There is also weekly training on the latest developments relevant to each sector. This is all in addition to other mandatory training such as to meet CPD requirements.

In my opinion, there are three things which make AG one of the best firms to work for. The people, the culture, and the quality work that we attract. Being part of a firm which is constantly innovating with technology is also very exciting as you benefit from the advantages it provides to assist you in daily work.

Dami Odunsi, Trainee

University attended: University of Liverpool

Degree qualification and year of graduation: LLB Law, graduated in 2017

I started my time at the firm in 2019, as an inexperienced aspiring solicitor, fresh out of the LPC which I completed straight after my undergraduate studies. I joined as a paralegal in our Leeds office and it quickly became obvious to me that this was a place I could see myself at for the rest of my legal career.

It’s the consistent description whenever anyone asks about AG – 'the culture is second to none' – but that is just the reality of it. From my early days as a paralegal, and even more so now, it was apparent that this wasn’t like other firms. The collegiality, between offices and between teams, is so intrinsic to everything we do here, and the people here really own and embody that ethos. 

It is best exemplified with an anecdote: I was about 6 months in as a paralegal and had been working on a project with a legal director in a different office. I didn’t have much experience, but I was beginning to grasp the concepts and wanted to try something new, so I asked if I could draft an ancillary document for the real estate part of a large corporate deal. The fee earner didn't hesitate to allow me to try, but they challenged me to draft the main lease, based on our precedent. I was apprehensive, but their trust in me gave me the confidence to try, so I did. The result was far from perfect, but they sat me down afterwards to review and gave me so much useful feedback to build from. They didn’t have to do this, they had no responsibility to do so, especially amid such a large, time-sensitive deal, but they did. This is just one recollection, but I have so many other stories that mirror this sentiment, and when you're exposed to this attitude every day, it's impossible for you to not project that same philosophy.

I have certainly felt this even more so as a trainee, allowing me to work on such a variety of tasks as a result, which leads nicely to another seemingly unavoidable cliché of as a trainee "no two days are the same". But you learn quickly that these cliches exist because they are so true - a day in my life as a trainee can vary so vastly. There are days when I am drafting extensive legal documents on international deals and working to very strict deadlines to avoid serious financial consequences for our clients. There are other days when I am preparing 1000-page bundles to deliver to court and then attending the hearing to take note of the verdict And there are some days when I'm meeting clients, discussing their business and potential future workstreams that we may become involved in. And some days, I'm doing all of the above in some capacity or another!   

I say this all to say there isn’t a 'trainee task' here, and you get whatever you can (reasonably) take on. Yes, I have drafted my share of research notes and articles, but if anything, they have helped build my understanding of what will be for most trainees, a novel area of law. There are prerequisites to being a trainee: attention to detail, resilience, having good communication, but if you have that basis, there are very few tasks that are beyond you. That really is one of the best parts of the job - watching your ability and confidence grow in that field through the experience you gain from those workstreams.

Things can be very difficult to grasp at first. Personally, having been a real estate paralegal for many years before starting my TC, I was very comfortable and assured in my knowledge, but joining a new team and starting a square one was quite unnerving. However, keeping an open mind has helped me work through that, and appreciating that this is a "training" contract and that 'I am "training" to be the best lawyer I can be' keeps me grounded through the tougher times.

Diversity in law is also important to me. There aren't many people who look like me or who have come from a similar background to me in law, and I didn’t have anyone to lean on for those wise words early in my career. So, it has been a commitment of mine for as many aspiring lawyers to find that person in me as possible and hopefully in turn, they can be that person for someone else, and we can build that network. AG has allowed me to do that through their genuine commitment to improving awareness and understanding of the issues around D&I, and through that, I have met some real committed allies myself, so I have been incredibly grateful to have had that opportunity.