Your name and role?
My name is Chloe, and I am a Supervisory Paralegal at Clifford Chance Newcastle, working as part of the Corporate practice area.
How has the route been from doing your apprenticeship to your current role?
Since joining the firm in 2019, I have successfully completed the apprentice programme and spent two years working as a Paralegal in the Corporate team post qualification. I have also had the opportunity to progress into a Supervisory Paralegal role which has been incredibly rewarding. The firm is wholly invested in your development and values the apprentice population as a huge asset to the Newcastle office. As a result, the firm provide so many opportunities to develop your skills and lead on workstreams or projects, giving you the chance to demonstrate your skillset and to take on further responsibility. I have always found there to be huge support for anything I have wanted to do and the firm has played a huge role in my development over the last 4 years.
How does Clifford Chance support your work-life balance?
There is so much support available, particularly as an apprentice. As an apprentice, 20% (1 day per week) of your time is set aside exclusively for studying. This is a huge investment over the course of the 24-month programme and allows you to keep on top of apprenticeship deadlines during the working week. The Newcastle office's working hours are between 9:00-18:00 and any overtime in addition to that is completely optional. This has been great for balancing work with other commitments and socialising. I have even been able to study towards a law degree in my spare time over the last two years, thanks to the culture at the Newcastle office.
How have you felt working with senior leaders and different clients?
The most rewarding part of the apprentice programme was being able to work on large, newsworthy matters for our big clients. Having this exposure so early on in my career was a huge learning opportunity and one of the biggest advantages of the apprenticeship route. Clifford Chance has a global network of people and resources, and it has been great to learn from senior leaders in the Newcastle office as well as within the deal teams I have worked with across the CC network. Everybody is really appreciative of the work you do and are often really keen to get you involved in as much of a project or transaction as possible. I was able to complete a client secondment to a large private equity house within a year of qualifying from the apprenticeship. This was an amazing opportunity to represent the firm, develop commercial awareness, and to influence client relationships as a junior member of the firm.
What's been your biggest achievement?
My biggest achievement has been carving out my own route towards my chosen career. The apprenticeship programme showed me that there are so many opportunities to be taken advantage of, which aren't necessarily talked about or included in careers advice at school. Since completing my apprenticeship I have gone on to lead teams on large matters across jurisdictions and have recently been promoted to a Supervisory Paralegal. I am also studying towards my LLB through the University of Law in my spare time. While challenging, I wouldn't change the route I have taken at all – I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunities I have been granted so early in my career!
