Meet Lucy

‘A day in the life of Lucy Channing, Trainee, Addleshaw Goddard.’ 

What is your role, when did you join the firm?
I am a first-seat trainee in the Corporate Debt team. I joined the firm in March 2026 after attending the Easter placement scheme in 2023. I graduated from the University of Liverpool with a first-class LLB in 2023.

What inspired you to apply to this law firm?
Addleshaw Goddard stood out to me for its strong reputation, rich history and its clear trajectory for growth. Since I joined, the firm has opened offices in Abu Dhabi, Warsaw, Berlin and has entered the legal markets in Madrid and Amsterdam following mergers in those regions. 

I was also attracted by the firm’s strong sector focus and the broad range of practice areas available during the training contract. The calibre of clients the firm advises was especially appealing. The relatively small trainee intake was another important factor, as I wanted to train somewhere that values trainees and gives them real responsibility on interesting and challenging matters. I am happy to say that those expectations have been fully met.

What does a typical work day look like?
I usually arrive at the office at 9am and begin by triaging my inbox to catch up on any overnight developments, which helps shape my to-do list for the day. After touching base with the deal teams I am working with, I get started on my tasks.

Typical work in my seat includes managing the conditions precedent process by liaising with borrower and lender clients and keeping a detailed record of progress. I also review a wide range of documents and have been trusted to draft documents such as legal opinions, security documents and corporate authorisations.

As a trainee, I am encouraged to speak directly with clients and the other side to help keep transactions moving smoothly. When a transaction completes, I will often run the DocuSign and signing process, check signed documents from the other side and confirm completion to our client and the relevant parties. This is one of the most rewarding parts of the seat, particularly in finance, because trainees are often able to see the full lifecycle of a deal from opening a matter through to completion.

What are your working hours like?
My working hours vary, but on average I leave at a reasonable time, usually around 6 or 6.30pm when there are no urgent matters to deal with. There is, however, an expectation that deal teams will work later when transactions are progressing, particularly as a deal approaches closing.

What is the single most important thing you have learned so far as a trainee?
The most important thing I have learned is to be enthusiastic and willing to get stuck in. Challenging myself to try new tasks, whether that means picking up the phone to speak to the other side or drafting a security document, has been essential in developing my skills as a trainee. Being enthusiastic and willing to help on busy matters helps you become an important part of the team, and that is something people really value.

What are your top tips for someone applying to this law firm?
It can be difficult to stand out in a competitive market, but my top tip is to be yourself, especially during the in-person stages. For written applications, I would suggest thinking not just about the firm generally, but about why you genuinely connect with its client base, sector and practice strengths, and culture. That will make your application feel more thoughtful and personal.

I would also say that a lack of legal experience should not put you off applying. It is important to think about non-law jobs, volunteering or extracurricular activities and the transferable skills you have developed through those experiences.

For in-person assessments, the firm is trying to get to know you as well as test your technical abilities. Make good use of the case studies and think about how you can strengthen your answers by referring to the firm’s capabilities and demonstrating your understanding of the business.

What’s the best piece of work you’ve been involved in?
One highlight was a transaction I worked on from inception to completion involving acquisition finance for a care home portfolio. This was at the point at which the experience I had built up during my first three months started to click. I developed a strong relationship with both the client and the other side and helped manage the conditions process and signing through to a smooth completion. We marked the completion with a lunch with the client, which was a great opportunity to meet the wider client team.

I have also been fortunate to work on large-scale syndicated transactions towards the end of my seat. These matters involve greater complexity because of the number of parties involved, and they have given me a valuable opportunity to keep developing my skill set.

What makes this law firm a great place to work?
The culture at AG creates an environment where people are encouraged to collaborate and develop at every level of experience. Everyone I have met, from trainees and other fee earners to the catering and reception staff, has been friendly and approachable. This creates a genuinely supportive atmosphere and makes the firm an enjoyable place to train and grow professionally every day.