Legal eagle
flying high
“Nothing great ever came easy”. I saw
this quote while I was studying for the
Legal Practice Course and found that
it had significant application to my
year of study!
My decision to take the Legal Practice
Course (LPC) at the University of
Law, Guildford, was a simple one as
after studying law at the University of
Southampton I was certain I wanted to
pursue a career in law. Obviously my
interest in law was the main motivation
for deciding to take the plunge and sign
up for the Legal Practice Course, though
the mounting difficulty graduates face
when trying to enter the legal profession
certainly influenced my decision too.
Having the Legal Practice Course under
my belt certainly made me feel like I was
taking a step in the right direction.
When leaving Mayo Wynne Baxter to
tackle the ten month full time course,
one of the partners told me to treat it
like a full time job and that comment
was left ringing in my ears the whole
year. Although I didn’t actually have the
chance to treat it is as a job, since the
volume of work involved made sure that I
had very little spare time throughout the
course! I absolutely loved the course and
relished the challenges it presented to
me. It is a great introduction to the sorts
of things you would be doing in practice
and has a real emphasis on the practical
side of working in the legal profession.
After an intense load of exams and the
nerve-wracking wait for results, I was
awarded a Distinction in the Diploma
for Legal Practice. I was so happy to
have achieved this, as I really felt I
had worked so hard throughout the
year. I was also awarded the Michael
Fellingham Memorial Award for Private
Client. This was a brilliant surprise and
I attended the awards ceremony at the
Guildford University of Law to accept
the prize and see my name engraved
on the library plaques. Hard work really
does pay off!
Obviously, there is a risk when you leave
a job that you may have difficulty finding
another one at a place you already
know you will fit in. I loved my year on
reception at Mayo Wynne Baxter but
obviously I knew that eventually I wanted
to work within law. That year I spent
with the firm was invaluable, not only
because it allowed me to save for the
course but also because of the support
and advice I received while I was there.
I had a wealth of people I became
comfortable with so that I could seek
their advice and ask them questions. I
was encouraged by everyone when I left
to do the LPC.
What is apparent at Mayo Wynne Baxter
is that they support their staff. Everyone
fully understood why I left and though I
was sad to leave behind so many friendly
faces, I knew my colleagues were behind
me and that I would keep in touch with
many of them.
I was so delighted when the opportunity
came up for me to return to the firm, albeit
in a different role at a different office, and
I’m looking forward to developing my
career with Mayo Wynne Baxter and of
course I’ll get to catch up with everyone at
all the firm’s social events.
By Vicky Schofield
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