Trainee solicitors Chloe McCall and Ashleigh Smith are taking the next step in their legal careers with Winn Group.

As a company, we’re keen to progress our employees and provide them with the opportunities to grow and develop with us.

After completing the first week of their training contract, we caught up with the Personal Injury Department trainee solicitors to find out more:

Is this something you always hoped to do?

CM: Prior to starting university, no, I had no idea what I wanted to do career wise but after starting university and learning more about the law and the careers you could go into, being a Solicitor was always the end goal.

AS: Yes, I remember being at university and people were applying for their training contracts in second year and I always knew that obtaining one was something that I wished to do, but I really wanted to go travelling first. I am over the moon to have been able to obtain the training contract, especially after being with the firm for such a short period of time.  

Does it feel like a big milestone step in your career?

CM: Yeah it really does, I have wanted to be a Solicitor and worked towards this for years now and so to be starting the last step towards qualifying feels really surreal.

AS: Yes! This is the final hurdle to becoming fully qualified and I will finish the training contract 10 years after I started university, so it is a huge step.

What do you hope to learn? What do you hope to achieve?

CM: I hope to learn more about the different departments and roles here at Winns and how the different departments work to support each other. I hope that this will allow me to keep progressing in my role at Winns as both as a Fee Earner, a trainee and as a Solicitor in two years time.

AS: By completing work for other departments I hope to gain valuable experience and knowledge and further build upon the skills required to make a good solicitor.  

What were your emotions on the first day?

CM: I felt a little nervous but I am really looking forward to getting started now. After finding out I was successful in getting a training contract in May last year I feel like the nerves have had a chance to settle down a little bit. It also helps that I am starting with Ashleigh; we have worked together since our first day here and I am glad we can continue to support each other throughout the next step in our career.

AS: I feel quite calm about the training contract, I think my nerves have settled a little since being offered the role but I am more excited for the next two years.

Jo Amos, Training Principal and Head of Compliance Management, said: “Ashleigh and Chloe had to fight off stiff competition to be selected for training contracts and both deserve to be embarking on the next stage of their legal career.

“I am sure that they will work hard over the next two years to make the most of the opportunity and meet the challenges they will face as trainee solicitors. 

“I wish them every success in achieving their goal of becoming qualified solicitors.”