Following the successful completion of her traineeship, Emily has qualified as a solicitor and will continue her career within the Private Client team at Miller Samuel Hill Brown.
To celebrate this important milestone, we spoke to Emily about her experience as a trainee, the lessons learned across two very different departments and what she is looking forward to as a newly qualified solicitor.
Why did you choose a career in law and decide to join Miller Samuel Hill Brown?
I chose a career in law because I enjoy working through complex problems and finding practical solutions that can make a meaningful difference to someone’s life.
I was attracted to Miller Samuel Hill Brown because of the firm’s strong and long-established reputation. It was also very important to me to work in an environment with approachable colleagues, where I would be supported and encouraged to learn as much as possible throughout my traineeship.
Although I was always fairly certain that I wanted to qualify into Private Client, I wanted to train with a multi-service law firm. This gave me the opportunity to understand how different departments operate and how colleagues across the firm can work together to provide clients with comprehensive advice.
What was your experience of working across different departments?
I was fortunate to complete two very different seats in Private Client and Licensing, each of which offered distinct experiences and opportunities.
Licensing was heavily focused on business relationships, advocacy and working to tight deadlines. Private Client involved building more personal relationships with clients, often during emotional or challenging periods in their lives. It also required considerable self-discipline when planning and structuring my workload.
The skills I developed in both departments are highly transferable and will stand me in good stead throughout my career. Each seat gave me a different perspective and helped me to understand where my strengths and interests lie.
What skills and insights did you gain during your traineeship?
Moving between departments developed my adaptability and confidence. I had to quickly understand new areas of law, learn different processes, and work with different teams while maintaining the same high standard of service for every client.
My traineeship developed both my technical legal knowledge and my wider professional skills. I became much more confident in analysing complex information, conducting research, drafting legal documents, and communicating advice clearly.
Most importantly, I learned that being a good solicitor is not simply about knowing the law. It is also about listening carefully, understanding each client’s individual circumstances, identifying what matters most to them and providing accurate, practical advice in a way they can easily understand.
What has been a particularly memorable part of your traineeship?
I was fortunate to have a great deal of direct client contact, with every matter presenting something different.
During my Licensing seat, I particularly enjoyed helping achieve outcomes that initially seemed unachievable due to last-minute developments and very tight deadlines. Working through a matter from beginning to end and then knowing that the event was able to go ahead successfully was incredibly fulfilling.
In Private Client, I have had the privilege of meeting clients who initially felt stressed, overwhelmed or emotional. Seeing them become noticeably more relaxed by the end of an appointment—and knowing that I have helped to ease some of their concerns—is extremely rewarding.
How did your colleagues support you throughout your traineeship?
The support I received throughout my traineeship was invaluable. I was fortunate to work with colleagues who were always willing to take the time to explain things and give me increasing levels of responsibility while continuing to check in and ensure that I was comfortable with the work.
I particularly valued being able to ask questions without feeling that I should already know the answer. That supportive environment allowed me to learn and improve continually. The constructive feedback I received has also helped me to feel confident in my abilities as I take this next step in my career.
Why did you choose to qualify into Private Client?
I enjoy being able to provide answers and practical support when people are facing important or difficult issues. Private Client law also allows me to build strong, trusted relationships with clients, which I find particularly rewarding.
At some point in life, most people will experience bereavement or need to consider putting their personal and financial affairs in order. Knowing that I can help ease that burden and guide clients through these important decisions gives me a great deal of professional satisfaction.
What are you looking forward to as a qualified solicitor?
I am looking forward to taking the next step in my career and building on everything I learned during my traineeship.
I am excited to take greater ownership of matters, develop my own client relationships and continue expanding my legal knowledge. In the longer term, I hope to become a trusted expert within my area of specialism while continuing to provide clients with clear, practical and compassionate advice.
What advice would you give to future trainee solicitors?
My advice would be to embrace every opportunity and make the most of each seat. You may find yourself in a department that you would not initially have chosen, but the skills and experience you gain will be transferable and can prove invaluable later in your career.
Ask as many questions as you can, do not be afraid to put yourself forward for new tasks and try to observe as many client appointments as possible. Most importantly, take the time to build good relationships with your colleagues. The people around you will play an important part in your learning, development and overall experience as a trainee.
Looking to the future
We are delighted that Emily will continue her career with Miller Samuel Hill Brown as a solicitor in our Private Client team. We congratulate her on this well-deserved achievement and look forward to supporting the next stage of her professional journey.
If you require advice about wills, powers of attorney, executries or estate planning, our experienced Private Client solicitors are here to help.
Contact our Private Client team: Private-Client@mshblegal.com
Interested in developing your legal career with Miller Samuel Hill Brown? Visit our Careers page to learn more about working with the firm and follow us on LinkedIn for future opportunities.
