Solicitor Apprentice (Employment)

Bridget Walton

Solicitor, Legal/Law

Degree Apprenticeship

DLA Piper

What have you learned from your experiences at DLA Piper?

From my time so far in the firm, I’ve learned so much about employment law and other practice areas too. I’ve been able to observe tribunal hearings and contribute to the preparation by creating hearing bundles and attending witness statement calls. I’ve had the opportunity to draft settlement agreements and witness statements which has helped develop my drafting skills.

My experiences at DLA Piper have been very insightful and have allowed me to see behind-the-scenes of cases from start to finish. Being given research tasks has helped improve my understanding of employment law and how it applies to each client’s situation, and in what context they may best be advised.

How would you describe the culture at DLA Piper?

The culture at DLA Piper is genuine, friendly, and supportive. In the Birmingham office, people are open and approachable. It’s easy to work with people in other teams – for example, by working on a pro bono case together. This means the office feels like a community and is a place where strong interpersonal relationships can be developed. People make an effort to help juniors excel and are always happy to explain the reasons behind certain decisions.

Everyone is devoted to charitable opportunities and if there are calls for donations or volunteering, a large number of people donate their time consistently. I feel like this expresses DLA Piper’s giving and community-driven culture.

What pro bono or sustainability-related activities have you been involved in?

I have been involved in two pro bono cases so far, both of which are still ongoing. The cases involve obtaining British Citizenships for our clients and assisting them through the Home Office application process. This also involves advising them of the best course of action financially and creating a fee waiver (a signed waiver reducing the amount in full or partially) relating to how they are impacted financially by the cost of the applications. I’m a huge advocate of working on pro bono cases, and I’d recommend them to anyone as a good way to give back to the community.

I’ve also been involved in several client initiatives which focussed around gathering hygiene products and legal textbooks to give to charities which then distribute these products amongst those who would benefit from them the most. These initiatives are always great fun!. People love getting involved and there’s always a large number of donations. Last Christmas, I had the amazing opportunity of dressing up as an elf with other colleagues and giving out gifts to the children at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital.