Paralegal Review

I am a disclosure paralegal and a lot of my work is describing and reviewing documents for different fraud cases. I work in the unauthorised business department so all of the cases we deal with are unauthorised and a breach of the law. I also deal with spreadsheets, creating bundles and disclosure schedules for court. I listen to PACE suspect interviews and review transcripts too. I work closely with a big team and it's really enjoyable work.

I have improved on my written and oral communication skills. I am a lot better at writing clearly and concisely as I have attended some training sessions. I have also improved my excel skills, as I wasn't very good when I started. I have also done an investigation course, where we did fake interviews so I have definitely gained the skill of being able to conduct interviews and learning how to prepare for one.

I enjoy my programme a lot. My colleagues are really friendly and provide a really nice environment to work in. The work I do day to day is really interesting and challenges me, which I really enjoy. The company has good values, great staff benefits and seems to really care about its staff. It is definitely above my expectations and it is overall very fun. BPP are a little bit unorganised but have definitely improved since september, when I started the apprenticeship.

The FCA and my manager are very organised in terms of providing training, different experiences and tasks for the apprenticeship. They are very helpful and there is a really good structure within the company that makes the apprenticeship clear and easy to do. However, I had some issues with BPP (the training provider) as at the beginning they were unorganised and unsure of different key dates, what we were doing etc. They have really improved the past few months though and I dont feel stressed about their organisation anymore.

I receive a lot of support! My manager is always helpful, sets me really good tasks so that I can meet my portfolio outcomes and is incredibly supportive. I always ask questions and he either always answers or finds out the answer for me. My manager is now leaving as my contract is up but I have a new manager who is also really good. The transition between the 2 was smooth and they both give me the support I need to do really well.

At the start we received a lot of support but the support wasn't very helpful as it was either incorrect, delayed or unorganised. However, BPP have really become a lot better and support me very well. I have opted to finish my apprenticeship early and they have made great changes for me so that I am able to do this. They are supporting me as an individual (as I am the only one that chose the early finish) and are really preparing me for my end point assessment and supporting me with my portfolios.

My qualification allows me to understand the laws that i need to in my role and gives me a better overall understanding of my work. It improves my communication and written skills which are very important in my role as a paralegal. Also with my portfolio outcomes set by BPP, they allow me to complete a range of different tasks at my workplace which means i experience many different sides to being a paralegal which is very helpful.

At my work there are a load of different activities to get involved in. We have a monthly newsletter that is sent round by email which contains opportunities such as a netball team, learning a different language, theatre tickets etc. We also have team meetings and 'away days' where we can bond and get to know eachother better inside and outside of work. There are lots of different opportunities and they are always adding new ones.

Yes

The FCA is a fun, vibrant and inclusive place to work. It seems as though everyone really cares about each other and everyone is very friendly. The office is in a good location and is a nice modern environment to work in. There are many different perks for working at the FCA such as an onsite gym, hairdressing discounts and yearly bonuses. The people are super friendly and the work is very interesting. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Be yourself! That is very important as you work closely with a lot of different people, so if you're not yourself then people probably won't trust you, which is important. Do a lot of research about the company as it is obviously a good thing when you know who you will potentially be employed by. Also be polite and professional. Although everyone is super friendly, it is important to be professional and show that you will be doing a good job if you get hired.