Traineeships

What first attracted me to Square One Law was the quality of its clients and of course its lawyers. It attracts work from international and national companies as well as regional organisations due to its experienced lawyers and I felt that this was a firm in which I would receive a high quality level of training, and due to its size, close client and senior lawyer contact.

As an entrepreneurial commercial firm it really stood out from the crowd for me in terms of its fresh approach to client focus, its service delivery culture as well as its commitment to investing in technology. I felt that Square One Law was an innovative law firm and one in which I could develop my legal career.

I currently sit with the corporate team and I have been involved with various matters from beginning to completion, assisting with drafting, due diligence and disclosure. These matters include the secondary fundraising of an AIM-listed pharmaceutical company, the purchase of the entire issued share capital of a plant hire company and amongst others, the asset sale of a care home.

I have also had the opportunity to get involved with Square One Law’s support of the Tees Valley Enterprise Advisor Network. This initiative involves visiting local schools and discussing the alternative and more accessible routes to a legal career.

A particular highlight for me, would have to be the successful completion of the first matter I assisted with. The corporate team advised Futura Medical plc, an AIM-listed pharmaceutical company, on its secondary fundraising through placing, subscription and open offer of more than 83.5 million shares.

It was my first experience of the biosciences sector and it involved quickly having to understand the client’s products, business and objectives. It was a fast paced deal, involving long hours, but the close contact and open communication within the corporate team and with the client made it an enjoyable and invaluable experience.

Due to the size of the firm, trainees are exposed to a wide variety of quality work which you would usually not expect to receive at such a junior level. Square One Law’s different and innovative approach attracts high quality work from international clients which has given me fantastic experience of seeing valuable complex claims progress through the court system and to trial.

Whilst we are supervised by more senior solicitors, trainees are encouraged to take more responsibility and become heavily involved with cases.

I began as a Paralegal in the commercial litigation team in October 2017. My role included assisting with drafting different documents such as Letter of Claim, Witness Statements and Instructions to Counsel. I was lucky enough to be able to attend a mediation on a contentious probate matter and attend a final hearing on a debt recovery action which was an invaluable experience. During my time as a Paralegal, I was treated as a Trainee by my team and allowed me to learn more about the firm and its culture prior to starting my Training Contract starting in February 2018.

I am originally from Newcastle and whilst I moved away for University, I always intended to return and begin my career in the region.

The North East is a wonderful place to live and is home to a number of growing sectors such as advanced manufacturing, energy, and digital which create exciting new legal opportunities. For instance, Square One Law is working on a new project in the Tees Valley with Armstrong Energy who are investing in innovative technology to try and deal with plastic waste and have chosen Teesside due to its skilled workforce and having the necessary infrastructure already in place.

As a market leading firm in the North East, Square One Law was always top of my application list. The entrepreneurial and common-sense approach taken by the firm is refreshing in the legal market and one which really attracted my attention as an innovative way of providing a high-quality service to clients.

I was initially drawn to the firm as it has a reputation for attracting talented lawyers with a wealth of experience. I was confident the team would provide a high-quality level of training and the ability to work alongside an experienced team and working on interesting projects for fast growing businesses clients would provide me with the experience I need to successfully progress my legal career.

The application was challenging but less formal than other firms. During my vacation scheme, I felt that the firm was more interested in getting to know me as a person and how I would gel within the Square One team.

During my vacation scheme everyone took time out of their busy schedules to introduce themselves and took a genuine interest in me as a candidate. The various tasks during the week allowed me to show my personality and interests outside of work as well as testing my legal knowledge.

The firm’s relaxed and friendly atmosphere makes it an enjoyable place to work (even on a Monday!) and I believe this sets it apart from its competitors.

Everyone is treated equally and is a valued member of the team. Even as a junior member of the team, I am given a significant amount of responsibility and trusted by senior lawyers to carry out a wide variety of challenging work for key clients. The friendly and professional atmosphere is a fantastic place to learn, as I feel comfortable to ask questions and it also allows me to receive a high-level of feedback to continually develop my legal skills.