Meet the apprentice
How have you found juggling work with your study days?
I have one day a week out of the office, which I use for studying. I’m managing well so far and have not yet had to study on additional days, except when I’ve had upcoming exams or coursework deadlines. I am conscious that as the demands of work and the course increase, it might become more difficult to balance the two – although I am pleasantly surprised with how it’s turned out so far.
Chris Howes Mayer Brown International LLP
Chris is in the first year of the solicitor apprenticeship programme at Mayer Brown International LLP.
What is the most enjoyable aspect of being an apprentice?
It’s been very enjoyable studying areas at university that I have already come across at work. I learn best through doing things and my job brings classroom topics, such as the theory of contract negotiation, to life in a practical way.
Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship?
I had been out of education for a year and didn’t feel that university was right for me. I wanted to work and start doing something. An apprenticeship seemed like a good opportunity to get a degree, work and make a positive difference. I had previously considered a career in law and this apprenticeship was a good compromise between work and education.
What advice would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?
It’s a big commitment. It’s important to keep motivated and focused on the end goal, while making the most of what you’re doing throughout the six years of the apprenticeship. In addition, make sure that you fully research each firm’s individual apprenticeship programme before applying – they’re not all the same! One of the major advantages of an apprenticeship at Mayer Brown is that we rotate every six months and are exposed to a wide variety of skills and areas of law. However, at other firms you might stay in the same area for four years. You should think about what you want in a job and what you want to spend the next six years doing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in order to gain a greater understanding of what the programme entails. Make sure you know what you’re signing up for!
What is a typical day at work like?
One of the big positives of undertaking the solicitor apprenticeship at Mayer Brown is that we change seats every six months. As a result, the work is very varied and it’s difficult to describe a typical day. I currently work in the business intake department and spend two days a week doing tasks such as client onboarding and due diligence, and two days working on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) related matters. This regulation governs people’s privacy rights and who can access personal data. I review and negotiate contracts and advise on GDPR-related issues under the supervision of a lawyer in the risk and compliance team. My work also involves dealing with vendors and ensuring that what we’re doing at Mayer Brown complies with GDPR.
6
7
Sponsored by
Sponsored by
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online