Apprentice Paralegal Review

My job title is Apprentice Paralegal. I carry out a variety of daily tasks, ranging from basic admin to assisting with different cases. I interact with external contacts almost daily, such as service providers, as well as internally within the team.

I am currently working towards becoming a qualified paralegal and so my apprenticeship programme is actively helping to build up my knowledge. There is also plenty of opportunities to get involved with internal training, many of the courses being mandatory. My personal skills, such as confidence, has dramatically improved as I am often encouraged to go out of my comfort zone.

The programme has exceeded my expectations and I am really enjoying it. The atmosphere in the office is always friendly and relaxed and the work that I am given is suitable to my skill level. The company really promotes charities and important work-life aspects such as mental health, which makes me happy to work here.

The team I work with is supportive of my role and are always happy to help. I am often involved in matter discussions, even if there is no work for me at that moment in time, in order to develop my knowledge. This makes me feel valued and it's nice to know that my colleagues want me to do well.

As I have developed further into the programme, it has become much more clear and organised. At the start, the training provider was not very clear in certain aspects, which led to confusion on both sides. However with the support of my external assessor and my supervisor, everything is now running smoothly. The training that I receive from the training provider is structured and is always relevant to my job role.

My training provider has a positive attitude in regards to providing support. I have an assessor who checks my progress on a regular basis, as well as a subject tutor who is happy to answer any queries about aspects of the course. Support is easily accessible if needed.

The whole team is more than willing to help out if I have any questions about my work. My manager is someone who I feel I can speak to if I have any issues about the programme. I have built strong bonds with other colleagues who are extremely supportive of the apprenticeship. The firm has a positive attitude when it comes to support and there are plenty of internal contacts who I feel I could turn to if need be.

Despite having a daily commute of around 1.5 hours (in total) due to the location of the office, my salary is sufficient enough to cover these costs and so this is not an issue for me. The salary is well above the minimum apprenticeship wage and on top of that, employees also receive a generous benefits package.

The company actively encourages us to get involved in different internal events, the majority being for charity. Each employee is allocated 14 hours which they can use to volunteer in the local community. Events are held to help build and maintain relationships with clients, as well as events which allow you to socialise with colleagues and celebrate achievements.

Yes

The company is extremely welcoming and ensure to provide as much support as you need. They continue to encourage you and provide plenty of training that allows the development of new skills. There are also excellent benefits that employees can take advantage of, with plenty of events to get involved with.

The main advice to give is to be yourself throughout the whole application process. Ensure to present yourself professionally, however don't forget to be friendly and approachable. Do your research and keep in mind that the person/people who interview you are likely to be your manager/s so make a good first impression!