Hannah is a Trainee Solicitor at Shoosmiths. In this blog, she shares her journey from graduating university to securing a training contract, and why gaining experience, staying resilient and embracing different opportunities helped her achieve her goal.
Published: 28 August 2026
Author: Hannah O’Brien, Trainee Solicitor
When I started studying Law and Politics at the University of Manchester, I had a fairly simple view of what it took to become a solicitor. Like many law students, I understood the broad outline: complete a law degree, secure a training contract and eventually qualify. What I underestimated was that the path between graduating with an LLB and actually starting life as a trainee solicitor is not always linear, and there can be several important steps along the way.
After graduating in 2021, one of the first practical realities I had to consider was funding. As someone from Northern Ireland, I was not eligible for the full Student Finance England funding that many students rely on to support postgraduate legal study. Funding the LPC independently would have been a significant financial commitment, so I quickly realised that securing a training contract with sponsorship would be the most realistic route for me.
With that goal in mind, I focused on gaining as much practical experience as possible. Shortly after graduating, I secured a part-time fixed-term role in Shoosmiths’ Data Protection team, working three days a week. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work at a firm like Shoosmiths so early in my career. It was my first corporate role and my first real experience of working in a professional services environment.
Looking back, that role gave me much more than experience. It gave me confidence. It helped me understand what working in a law firm looked like day to day and made the profession feel more tangible than it had at university.
After my time at Shoosmiths, I joined the General Medical Council as a Tribunal Assistant. Although I was there for less than a year, it was an incredibly valuable experience. I was exposed to tribunal proceedings, observed barristers advocating, liaised with counsel and gained an insight into a very different area of law. That experience broadened my understanding of the legal profession and confirmed that I wanted to continue pursuing qualification as a solicitor.
An opportunity then arose to return to Shoosmiths as a Paralegal in the Banking and Finance team. I knew this would be an important next step. Training contracts are extremely competitive, and it can also be difficult to secure paralegal roles at leading firms. I saw the role as a chance to develop my legal skills, learn how to be an effective junior resource and build my internal network.
During my time as a Paralegal, I learned so much about working in a busy legal team. I gained insight into the corporate world, developed relationships across the firm and began to understand the importance of being reliable, proactive and willing to learn.
In summer 2023, I secured my training contract with Shoosmiths. I was beyond thrilled. I then began studying for the SQE at BPP in September 2023. The SQE was the biggest challenge of my journey to becoming a solicitor so far, but thankfully I passed on my first attempt.
Before starting my training contract, I took two months to travel through Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Qatar and Thailand. I then rejoined Shoosmiths as a Paralegal in the Banking and Finance team before beginning my training contract in March 2026.
I am now in the final weeks of my first seat in the Property Litigation team and have enjoyed every second so far.
If I could give one piece of advice to aspiring solicitors, it would be not to compare your journey to anyone else’s. I underestimated the number of steps that can sit between graduation and qualification, and my route was not entirely linear. It included temporary roles, experience outside private practice, paralegal work, professional exams and plenty of uncertainty. Each stage taught me something valuable and helped prepare me for life as a trainee solicitor.
There is no perfect route into the profession. Stay open to opportunities, be resilient and trust that every experience can help move you closer to your goal.
Explore more of our recent blogs for insights and inspiration. If you have questions, our FAQ page is a great place to start.
Still curious or need advice? We would love to hear from you – email us at joinus@shoosmiths.com and our team will be happy to help.