Meet Amy

Tell us a bit about your background. What did you study at university, and when did you join the firm?

I studied Law and Criminology at the University of Sheffield before completing the LPC at The University of Law.

I joined Gowling WLG as a trainee solicitor in September 2025 and am now a year into my training contract. So far, I have completed seats in Non-Contentious Construction and Planning and Environment, and I am currently in my third seat, Intellectual Property.

Why did you choose Gowling WLG?

I chose Gowling WLG because it genuinely felt like a place where I could develop and be myself.

During the recruitment process, everyone I met was approachable, supportive and enthusiastic about the firm. That culture was a huge factor in my decision and has definitely matched my experience since joining.

I was also attracted by the quality and variety of the work, as well as the opportunity to take on real responsibility as a trainee. From a very early stage, I have been trusted to contribute meaningfully to matters, whilst knowing there is always support available when I need it.

What is the most interesting piece of work you have been involved in to date?

One of the most interesting pieces of work I have been involved in was preparing a supporting statement for a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) concerning a site where the building had already been demolished.

What made it particularly interesting was that I effectively had to work backwards. The building was no longer there, so I had to investigate the site's history using planning records, historic documents, photographs, satellite images, and other evidence to establish what had happened and when. I then brought all of that evidence together into a detailed statement demonstrating that the demolition works had been carried out lawfully.

I really enjoyed the investigative aspect of the work. There was no single document containing the answer, so I had to piece together the story from a range of different sources and turn it into a clear and persuasive argument. It felt a little like solving a puzzle whilst also requiring careful legal analysis and drafting. As an added bonus, the application was ultimately approved by the council!

What are your top three tips for someone looking to pursue a career in law?

1. Stay curious:  You do not need to know everything. The people who learn the most are often those who are willing to ask questions and understand why something is done a certain way.

2. Get involved in as much as you can: Some of my best learning experiences have come from volunteering for things that were outside my comfort zone or completely new to me.

3. Remember that communication matters: Being organised, approachable and able to communicate clearly is just as important as having strong technical legal knowledge.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

I normally get into the office before 9am to work through my emails and put together a to-do list for the day. I am nothing without a to-do list!

One of the things I enjoy most about being a trainee is that no two days are ever the same. A day might start with reviewing emails and prioritising tasks before moving between drafting correspondence, carrying out research, preparing notes or reviewing documents. Recently, that has included everything from drafting letters and reviewing pleadings in a patent dispute, to assisting with an international IP project and liaising with counsel from different jurisdictions.

Before I log off in the evening, I like to review what I have completed during the day and make sure I have a good idea of what the following day is likely to look like. It helps me stay organised and means I can start the next morning knowing exactly what I need to focus on.

What is the single most important thing you have learned so far as a trainee?

The most important thing I have learned is that communication solves most problems.

As a trainee, you are often balancing multiple deadlines, supervisors and competing priorities. Early on, I thought the best approach was to try and deal with everything myself. Over time, I have learned that it is far more important to communicate clearly, ask questions when you are unsure and be honest about your capacity.

Keeping people informed builds trust, helps manage expectations and ultimately leads to better outcomes for everyone involved. It is a lesson I think will stay with me throughout my career.