My path to training at Gordons by Dymphna Lewis

As someone who embarked on my legal journey two years ago, the start of my training contract has been a whirlwind. Hitting the month mark this week has encouraged me to reflect on my academic career, the past two years as a legal novice and generally, how I got to where I am today.

Undergraduate Degree

In 2017 – at 19 years old, with the sweet smell of freedom and Irn Bru in my nostrils- I moved to Glasgow to study English Literature at the University of Glasgow. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, I embraced my Scottish lifestyle with open arms for the next four years – burying my head in books, only to emerge for my part-time job at Urban Outfitters with a particularly spectacular discount, to play in university football matches, or to welcome an invitation for a night at the Students’ Union. Looking back fondly at this period of my life, I had no idea what I wanted to be; all I knew was I was good at writing, and that I enjoyed finding an answer where it wasn’t immediately obvious.

It wasn’t all plain sailing – I had setbacks, I was five hours away from home, and I somehow burnt a pizza on my first night in halls which almost resulted in a call from the fire brigade – but what my undergrad taught me was how to be independent, resilient, and most importantly hardworking, whilst also allowing me to grow up and really prepare for life after graduation.

In 2021, having studied the last year and a half of my degree from a social distance, I decided that although my time in Glasgow was sadly coming to an end, I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to studying. The obvious transition seemed to be teaching, but having come from a family of teachers, I’d been warned off the late nights, constant paperwork, and the ongoing battle with the other side. So, I chose law!

Work Experience

Moving home to Sheffield, and having no real experience of this area and nobody to ask, my mum suggested I get some experience (and money) to confirm the gut feeling I had in my stomach that this was the road for me. After two arduous interviews at Citizens Advice, I landed myself my first ‘proper’ job as a Help to Claim Adviser. Following the pandemic, the Charity had become entirely remote meaning I was launched into my role as a telephone adviser for vulnerable people who needed help calculating and claiming their benefits. Not only did this year enable me to learn about benefit law, it also taught me how to communicate with clients and third parties, handle my own case load, and most importantly how to navigate the workplace. This role has allowed me to work in a team, and increased my confidence in finding an answer on my own. It confirmed what I had thought.

Post-graduate Degree

As redundancy hit the Help to Claim team, I knew it was the right time to start looking into converting my degree. The biggest hurdle at this stage was wading through the conflicting information online of what was the quickest and cheapest route. I settled on the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and moved to Leeds to start my new adventure in September 2022. Within days of starting my course, I knew I’d made the right decision- I was back in the books, with a fire in my belly and a membership of the LUU Irish Dancing Society to my name. However, it soon became obvious that there was more to the course than studying, something new – competition.

The stark contrast between the safety of my warm and familiar study space and the daunting prospect of training contracts made me feel nothing less than overwhelmed and under-prepared. So, I chose to attend a University Careers Fair to get a feel for potential future employers and the tedious procedure involved in getting a job. Dressed to the nines with a belly full of butterflies, I waded through my list of questions and the sea of keen compares, only to find one firm that stood out to me, Gordons.

Applications

Having followed my head in deciding to take the pressure off and apply for training contracts after my GDL, I followed my heart to the Gordons’ insight evening in November 2022. Welcomed by a spectacular buffet and a room full of friendly faces, I again knew I’d made a good choice. I spent the evening talking to Trainees, Juniors, and Partners and left with a buzz of excitement and one question on my mind- why not? Amid a festive break and a frantic exam season, I slaved away at my application, getting advice from anyone and everyone who would give it – careers advisers, legal mentors, my parents. I submitted my application with a deep breath and my fingers crossed.

When I received an offer to interview, I was thrust into a state of shock. I began to prepare – pre-empting questions, reciting answers, doing a huge M&S clothes order – the lot. However, come the day, I was so ready for the interview, I’d failed to take one huge step in my preparation – to check that the video link worked. One improvised telephone interview and a wasted dress later, I felt disappointed and exhausted. I set aside my dreams of a Training Contract for another year.

Until…

I got an email from Gordons offering me a place on a week-long Vacation Scheme for Summer 2023, following my GDL. I couldn’t accept quick enough. The time soon came around and I pootled along to the firm with an overwhelming sense of cluelessness – having never done a vac scheme, a test centre, or an application anywhere else. After a week of written tasks, group presentations, partner interviews, and a whole lot of imposter syndrome, I left with a solid love for the firm and a really good idea of what I wanted from an employer.

When I got the call offering me a 2024 training contract, I couldn’t quite believe it. Having heard about the competitiveness of this sector, I had anticipated years of arduous applications and lots of let-downs. It felt as if I had stumbled upon a pot of gold.

Training Contract

A year on, having completed my studies and my first month at the firm, my view of Gordons from the application process has proved correct. Not only have I delved into the realms of Commercial Litigation, but I have also been welcomed into the firm with open arms and an encouraging smile.

Since joining the firm, I have been immersed in a rich tapestry of social events, training sessions, and coffee-meets with my fellow cohort and junior peers and I have also mingled with more senior members of the firm. I have weekly supervision with partner, Catherine Woodward, we have regular all-firm lunches (often showcasing a delicious selection of cakes), and Gordons has even organised a senior mentoring scheme. My senior mentor is Nick Chamberlain, property partner and member of the Executive. At our regular catch ups, we talk about life as a trainee at the firm as well as my future career. This has created a sense of welcome and belonging for me and my fellow trainees and reinforced the idea that everyone in the firm, no matter how senior, is here to support us.

The work I have been set has been both challenging and exciting. Having had the opportunity to work alongside both the litigation team and interventions team, I have been exposed to a variety of contentious cases as well as niche areas of law. I have already been given a large amount of responsibility. Day to day, I draft letters and emails, file court forms, take phone calls, and sit in on client meetings, but no day, case or client is the same. An obvious highlight so far has been my solo trip to a London listing hearing for an intervention on behalf of the SRA. Not only was this a real ‘Suits moment’ for me, but it also highlighted the trust that Gordons places in its trainees. I was asked to take notes and feedback to my colleague, talk to counsel and to generally get experience and enjoy myself – and I really did.

Looking to the future, I’m excited for what’s in store at Gordons. If it’s anything like my first month, I’ll be chuffed. Looking back, if my past has taught me anything, it’s to be resilient, to focus on my own journey rather than the journey of others, and to follow my heart.

Dymphna’s top tips for the training contract application process:

1. Follow your instincts and find firms that resonate with you
2. Look for opportunities to get legal work experience to prove that this is the career for you
3. Treat your application forms like a piece of university coursework and take plenty of time and care.
4. Prepare carefully for interviews and make sure all video links are working properly!

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