I joined Bristol Law Centre in August 2023, after making the decision to change career to social welfare law following over 10 years in business development and corporate partnership roles.

Bristol Law Centre provides a safety net to so many in the local community, and I am proud to be able to support the solicitors in the work they do. The team are a group of focused, experienced, and compassionate people who are deeply dedicated to representing the most vulnerable members of society and making a tangible difference in their time of need. They really know their stuff and are incredible mentors to me whilst I study towards my own qualification.

The staff are also a community in their own right – there is no real sense of hierarchy, and I have felt totally supported from day 1, coming into the role with no legal experience. The team have given me a wide range of projects to get my teeth into and are always on hand to support me through new tasks, whilst giving me the space to work independently and at my own pace. My work is varied, from attending client meetings or court hearings, billing legal aid matters, to drafting advice letters or reviewing records. Given the breadth of matters the team cover, I am honing a wide range of skills that will stand me in great stead when I qualify.

The Law Centre have offered lots of flexibility especially during exam periods, and they are all cheering me on as I progress through the SQE process.

Paired with a shared team passion of baked goods and coffee, it is a great place to work!