Meet Eloise - Trainee

First/second year trainee and current department

Dentons Milton Keynes office. First year trainee in the People Reward and Mobility (Employment) team. I spent my first seat in the Litigation team.

Degree qualification, university and year of graduation

Law (LLB) with European Law at the University of Nottingham, spending a year on Erasmus at Charles University, Prague. I graduated in 2021.

Why did you decide on a career in law?

My aspiration for a career in law was deeply rooted in my passion for problem-solving and my ability to think swiftly and effectively under pressure. At University I was captivated by the intricate ways in which the law governs society and the profound impact it has on every facet of our lives. The intellectual rigor of understanding complex legal frameworks, coupled with the dynamic nature of legal challenges, has always intrigued me. I am driven by a commitment to justice and the desire to use my legal knowledge to advocate for fairness and equity. The law is a powerful tool for change, and I am eager to wield it responsibly to help individuals and communities navigate the legal landscape and to ensure that justice is not just a concept, but a lived reality for all.

Why did you choose to train with Dentons?

I was fortunate enough to work for Dentons as their Campus Ambassador during my last year at university. This was a great opportunity for me to get to know some of the Dentons team and their work from the inside, so to speak. I loved my time in this role, and it inspired me to apply for their summer vacation scheme. It was through the vacation scheme that I was offered a training contract.

More broadly, Dentons really appealed because of its global reach; and the opportunity this presented to work on international transactions and litigation. It has a wide array of practice areas, so I knew I would have a great choice of seats to choose from. Dentons was also well known for its high-quality training and professional development that I knew would stand me in good stead for a successful legal career.

Tell us about your training contract. What does this involve?

To give you a taste of what my training contract involves, I typically, work from home two days a week and go into the Milton Keynes office three days a week. I rarely have a pattern to the work I produce, which I love. The role is such a dynamic one and allows me to work on all sorts of task with all sorts of people; internal and external. Some typical chargeable tasks I have completed through my training contact include attending client meetings to take notes, advising clients of ad hoc employment advice, reviewing documents for disclosure, drafting correspondence, calling courts for updates, instructing counsel, making court applications, research for witness interviews and attending internal planning meetings. As trainees we also do a lot of non-chargeable work which is aimed at improving our professional development. Non chargeable work can involve, reporting on new legal guidelines or case law in team meetings, preparing training slides and speaker notes for client training and writing blogs and articles for our website. Throughout our training contract we are also strongly encouraged to partake in Pro Bono work. In the last few months, I have gotten involved in producing parliamentary reports for charities, providing advice to prisoners, helping our local food bank, drafting residential housing advice for an individual, presenting careers in law to local schools and drafting cease and desist letters for a charity.

How do you strike a healthy work/life balance?

Having the flexibility to work from home has really helped strike a healthy work life balance. By saving on travel time into the office, I am able to attend, my Pilates classes after work and catch up with friends, whether that is on a dog walk or at the local pub! I also look forward to the days I am in the office because most weeks colleagues and I will socialise after work, or we will go for lunch together or have coffee catch ups in the day. Dentons promote socialising within teams and office wide and offer a variety of social activities across all our offices. There is rarely pressure to work outside of our normal hours which means you feel like you can properly switch off after work in the week and my weekends are unaffected.

What three qualities are important for a career in law?

Proactiveness, good communication skills and analytical skills

Can you debunk a myth about working as a solicitor?

One common myth about working as a solicitor is that it is a dry and uncreative profession, focused solely on tedious paperwork and the mechanical application of laws. This myth fails to capture the dynamic and intellectually stimulating nature of legal work.

In reality, solicitors often need to be highly creative and innovative thinkers. The practice of law is not just about applying existing statutes; it often involves crafting novel arguments, finding unique solutions to complex problems, and navigating evolving legal landscapes. Solicitors must interpret legislation, case law, and contracts, which can require a great deal of creativity, especially when dealing with cases that set new precedents or when laws are outdated and need to be applied to modern situations. The role of a solicitor can be incredibly varied, involving negotiation, advocacy, and strategic planning. Solicitors must understand their clients' needs and objectives, which can involve industries ranging from technology to entertainment, and issues from intellectual property to human rights. This diversity requires solicitors to be adaptable and innovative in their approach to legal services.

Therefore, the myth that solicitors are confined to monotonous and unimaginative work is far from the truth. The profession offers a challenging and rewarding career that combines analytical rigor with creative problem-solving.

What are your career ambitions?

My career ambitions are to have a successful private practice career at Dentons before hopefully embarking on teaching in law schools or on the professional skills courses we complete to inspire the next generation of lawyers.

What advice can you give to other aspiring solicitors?

Focus on achieving strong academic results, as these are often the first criteria firms consider. However, remember that practical skills and a well-rounded character are also highly valued. Seek out internships, vacation schemes, or work placements to gain hands-on experience. This not only strengthens your CV but also gives you a taste of what being a solicitor entails. Try to cultivate skills that are essential for solicitors, such as attention to detail, analytical thinking, effective communication, negotiation, and time management; these soft skills can be difficult to work on but keeping up to date with legal developments and industry news can help this and so can working to build a professional network through events, social media, and professional associations. Networking can also provide mentorship opportunities and potential leads for training contracts.

The path to becoming a solicitor is unique for everyone, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Stay focused on your goals, be proactive in your career development, and remain open to the many opportunities the legal profession offers.